Hartlepool Stadium

The site was first used as a cricket ground in 1881 when the Hartlepool Cricket Club moved there from Burn Road. They continued to play at the ground until 1911.^[2]

After the cricket team vacated the ground it was converted into a football stadium on the south side of Victoria Park (Hartlepool) which was the home of West Hartlepool R.F.C.^[3]

A greyhound track was constructed around the ground in 1938.^[4] The first meeting was held on 14 September 1938 drawing an attendance of 4,000 and the first winner was a greyhound called Arran Beg.^[5] During the war the track suffered considerable bomb damage.^[6]

Owned by the Hartlepool Greyhound Racing Company Ltd (HGRC) the track had a small 365 yards circumference and race distances of 266, 460 and 640 yards. There was a covered stand, a restaurant, 35 kennels and an 'Inside Sumner' hare system was used. There were seven on course bookmakers and the principal event was the Vaux Tankard. Facilities included a licensed bar and cafe.^[7] The racing was independent (unaffiliated to a governing body).

West Hartlepool played at the stadium from the 1920s until the 1970s.^[8]

Greyhound racing continued to be promoted by the HGRC until 1999 when the stadium closed. It was later demolished and redeveloped into a large Morrisons supermarket.