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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.

The Sports Archive aims to uncover and memorialise the North East's lost and historic sports grounds, helping us contextualise how sport was a vehicle for their communities.

Sports Archive.

The curling pond can be seen on the extreme left of this shot next to the railway after some 20 years of disuse. Source: Historic England Archive (RAF photography)    raf_540_611_rp_3343 flown 9 October 1951

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Curling

Berwick Curling Pond

Berwick

Berwick Curling Club

Updated:

30 Sept 2025

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Skittles

The White Swan, Skittle Alley

Berwick

Updated:

30 Sept 2025

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Bowls

Palace Green Bowling Green

Berwick

Updated:

30 Sept 2025

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Cricket

Belsay Cricket Ground

Belsay

Belsay Cricket Club

Updated:

9 Sept 2025

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Shooting

Bellingham, Rifle Range

Bellingham

Bellingham Rifle Club

Updated:

9 Sept 2025

The only known image of Bellingham Football Club in 1905, perhaps taken at the Fairstead. Source: Northumberland Communities

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Football

Fairstead Football Ground

Bellingham

Bellingham Football Club

Updated:

2 Sept 2025

The club in 1905, perhaps on the Fair Stead. Source: Northumberland Communities

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Football

Riding Haugh

Bellingham

Bellingham Football Club

Updated:

2 Sept 2025

The golf course at Bellingham in 1948. Source: Historic England Archive (RAF photography)    raf_541_a_442_rs_4392 flown 30 July 1948

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Golf

Bellingham Golf Club

Bellingham

Bellingham Golf Club

Updated:

2 Sept 2025

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Wrestling

The Spital, Wrestling Grounds

Newcastle

Updated:

28 Aug 2025

An impression of the Infirmary in 1803, long before the railway which infringed some of this land. Source: Newcastle Libraries

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Wrestling

Old Infirmary, Wrestling Ground

Newcastle

Updated:

28 Aug 2025

The old pub today, taken in July 2025

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Handball, Quoits

The Queens Head, Leadgate

Leadgate

Updated:

18 Aug 2025

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Football, Cricket, Tennis, Bowls

Boldon Colliery Welfare Ground

Boldon

Boldon Star, Boldon CA, Boldon Colliery Welfare CC

Updated:

18 Aug 2025

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

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