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Sport is woven into the fabric of North East life. From cock fighting pits and the Quoits grounds of mining communities to the concrete cathedrals of modern football, it is still the backbone of our region.

Scroll down to find the lost sports grounds of yesteryear, and the treasured community spaces of today.

Ashington Recreation Grounds in 1924. Source_ © Historic England. Aerofilms Collection    EPW010629 flown 14 June 1924

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Football, Rugby, Cricket, Quoits, Tennis, Cycling, Athletics, Archery, Handball

Ashington Recreation Grounds

Ashington

Ashington AFC (1889 - 1909), Ashington Rising Star, Ashington Hotspur, Ashington Albion, Ashington Black Watch, Ashington Old Boys, Ashington Spartans, Ashington and Hirst RFC, Ashington Rugby Club, Ashington Welfare CC

Updated:

18 Mar 2025

Walker Park in 2023

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Bowls, Tennis, Rugby, Football

Walker Park

Walker

Walker Neptune (1890s), Walker Park (- 1930s), Walker Park Bowling Club

Updated:

17 Mar 2025

The Scrogg Inn, used as the changing rooms and headquarters of the clubs AGM's through the 1890s. Taken in March 2025.

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Rugby

Scrogg Road, Rugby Ground

Walker

Walker Rugby Club (1890s)

Updated:

17 Mar 2025

© Historic England. Aerofilms Collection    EPW053949 flown June 1937

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Tennis

Church Street, Tennis Ground

Walker

Updated:

13 Mar 2025

Portland Park c1935, just before the Greyhound track was instituted. The shot is facing the north stand. Source: Billy Embleton

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Football, Greyhound (1936 - 1993), Speedway (1972)

Portland Park

Ashington

Ashington AFC, Ashington Arrows

Updated:

11 Mar 2025

Postcard of the pavilion in the 20s or 30s. Source: Golfs Missing Links: https://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/england/north-east/northumberland/311-amble-golf-club-northumberland#:~:text=The%20club%20was%20founded%20in,the%20station%20to%20the%20course.

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Golf

Amble Links Golf Club

Amble

Amble Golf Club

Updated:

4 Mar 2025

Amble Bowling Club can be seen on this hazy shot from 1932. Source: Historic England. Aerofilms Collection    EPW038811 flown June 1932

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Bowls

Amble Bowling Club

Amble

Amble Bowling Club

Updated:

4 Mar 2025

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Bowls

Rectory Bowling Green

Amble

Amble CE Bowling Club

Updated:

4 Mar 2025

Alnwick Curling Pond in February 2025

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Curling

Alnwick Curling Pond

Alnwick

Alnwick Curling Club

Updated:

27 Feb 2025

Alnwick Play Ground in February 2025

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Athletics, Quoits, Cricket, Football

Alnwick Recreation Ground

Alnwick

Alnwick AFC (1880), Alnwick St Andrews, Alnwick Albion

Updated:

26 Feb 2025

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Horse

Whitehouse Sands Racecourse, Amble

Amble

Updated:

18 Feb 2025

Site of the Gloster Terrace racecourse in the 1940s, some half century after use. Source: Historic England Archive (RAF photography)    raf_4d_uk675_3_v_1879 flown 12 September 1940

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Horse

Gloster Terrace Racecourse, Amble

Amble

Updated:

18 Feb 2025

Map
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Background photo: Photograph of the Scottish Women's team preparing before a match against the North of England in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1938.

Historic Maps provided by

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