South Yorkshire Sports Stadium was a greyhound racing and speedway stadium on Station Road in Wombwell, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire. It was one of two greyhound tracks in the town; the other was called the Wombwell Greyhound Stadium.

Origins

The South Yorkshire Sports Stadium was constructed north of Station Road, south of Bulling Dike and accessed on a small road called Kent Row at the time.[1]

Opening

It opened unofficially on Saturday 17 April 1928 with 3,000 spectators raising £15 (the nights entrance fees) for local charities. One week later on Saturday 21 April 1928 the stadium officially opened charging 1/-, 2/- or 3/- for the relevant enclosures.[2] Speedway followed in 1929.[3]

History

The greyhound racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the National Greyhound Racing Club) and was known as a flapping track which was the nickname given to independent tracks.

In February 1932 the end of speedway was confirmed because the circuit was converted to accommodate a new greyhound racing track, which had been the original purpose of the track back in 1928.[4]

After World War II, the track was a popular venue with totalisator turnover peaking in 1946 at £64,255.[5] The Wombwell public were also keen for speedway to return and formed a Supporters Club in January 1947,[6] which was duly followed by the construction of a speedway oval around the greyhound racing track ready for the 1947 Speedway National League Division Three season.[7]

The greyhound racing finished during May 1956.[2]

Speedway

Speedway was held sporadically from 1929 to 1965; the team were known as the Wombwell Colliers.[8]

The stadium was demolished and later became the Valley Road industrial area.

References

  1. ^ "OS County Series Yorkshire 1931". old-maps.co.uk.
  2. ^ a b Barnes, Julia. Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  3. ^ "Wombwell Venture". Sheffield Independent. 10 May 1929. Retrieved 19 August 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ "The World of Sport". Sheffield Independent. 17 February 1932. Retrieved 22 February 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses. Licensing Authorities. 1946.
  6. ^ "Wombwell Speedway". South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times. 25 January 1947. Retrieved 22 February 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "Wombwell Speedway". South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times. 12 April 1947. Retrieved 22 February 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ "Wombwell Speedway". Defunct Speedway Tracks.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Yorkshire_Sports_Stadium
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