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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.

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Horse

Dents Meadow, Race Course

Ryton

Updated:

20 Nov 2024

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Football

Horatio Street, Football Ground

Sunderland

Sunderland AFC (1883 - 1884)

Updated:

20 Nov 2024

Roker Park, undated but from before the Roker End's capacity was reduced. Source: Krisread, Flickr

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Football

Roker Park

Sunderland

Sunderland AFC (1898 - 1997)

Updated:

20 Nov 2024

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Bowls

Roker Park, Bowling Green

Sunderland

Northumberland and Durham Bowling Association

Updated:

20 Nov 2024

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Cricket

Redheugh Haughs, Cricket Field

Gateshead

Updated:

20 Nov 2024

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Tennis

Bunker Hill Tennis Ground

Philadelphia

Updated:

20 Nov 2024

The pavilion can be seen in this shot after the war, some 7 years after closure. Source Historic England Archive (RAF photography)    Historic England Photograph:  raf_cpe_uk_2352_rp_3309 flown  04/10/1947

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Golf

Pallion Golf Club

Pallion

Sunderland Golf Club

Updated:

20 Nov 2024

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Football

Pallion, Football Ground

Pallion

Updated:

20 Nov 2024

Source Historic England Archive (RAF photography)    Historic England Photograph:  raf_540_1792_f21_0251 flown  13/03/1956

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Football

Pallion, Football Ground

Pallion

Updated:

20 Nov 2024

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Quoits

Quality Row, Quoits Ground

Ouseburn

Updated:

20 Nov 2024

West End Park Bowling Green, 1910. Source: Newcastle Libraries

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Bowls

West End Park, Bowling Greens

North Shields

Updated:

20 Nov 2024

Kings Meadow Island can be seen in this pre 1850 watercolour by T M Richardson.

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Wrestling, Horse

Kings Meadow Island

Newcastle

Updated:

20 Nov 2024

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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