NEHL - A football ground was opened in a larger recreation/welfare ground around the 1920s, and was likely the home of Waterhouses AFC. Another team, Waterhouses Rovers, played closer to Esh near the cemetery.

The ground did not feature identifiable facilities, apart from the pavilion which was part of the wider park for the bowling green and tennis court.

The history of Waterhouses AFC is murky, but may have originally been known as Dearness AFC. They were perhaps workers of the brickworks on the other side of the river. References to Waterhouses AFC are scarce, with one mention in 1943 to Mr Harry Splevins who was secretary of the football and cricket club and became the president of the Miners' Lodge.

The ground is still used, though has been reconfigured to sit horizontally. It is the home ground of Esh Winning FC. They bought the welfare ground from the National Coal Board as Waterhouses Colliery was about to be closed and subsequently developed the site.