NEHL - The Miners Welfare ground was opened simultaneously with the Rising Sun Colliery before the 1910s as a means of rest and relaxation for the colliery workers. Football and cricket matches were played here against competing collieries and shipyards (notably Swan Hunter teams), as well as more novel sports such as whippet racing. There was facilities to play Quoits also, as well as pitch and toss.

Illegal gambling and cock flighting was said to have taken place here, as it's documented special lookouts were placed around the ground in case of police raids.