New Cross Stadium

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New Cross Stadium
New Cross Stadium
Location Old Kent Road, South East London, England
Openedearly 1900s
Closed3 April 1969

New Cross Stadium, Hornshay Street, Old Kent Road, in South East London was opened in the early 1900s as an athletic stadium but was mainly used for greyhound racing and speedway. The ground was adjacent to The Old Den, [1] the then home of Millwall F.C. and was used as a training ground by the club when they did not have facilities of their own. The track was often referred to as 'The Frying Pan'. It was built inside the greyhound track and had banking all the way round. [2] At the time of its closure in 1969 the stadium had a capacity of 26,000. [3] The stadium was demolished in 1975.

Contents

Greyhound racing at New Cross Stadium c.1950 Greyhound racing at New Cross Stadium c.1950.png
Greyhound racing at New Cross Stadium c.1950

Stock car racing

The birth of oval track stock car racing in the UK and the first ever BriSCA Formula One Stock Car Racing took place at the New Cross Stadium, London on Good Friday, 16 April 1954. The final was won by car 11, Chevalier D'Orgeix. Racing continued here until 1956. Three meetings also took place in 1968 whilst Harringay was being revamped.

During 1966 racing at the stadium was promoted by Spedeworth International and had its own team, the London Sparrows, who also had Wimbledon Stadium as its home track. The London Sparrows team included Del Stickings, Dave Pierce, Graham North, Johnny Melia, Ken Lambert, John O’Hagon, John Watts, Les Collins, Todd Sweeney and Harry Andrews.

Speedway

The New Cross Lambs (1934–35), then the New Cross Tamers (1936) speedway teams raced there before the second world war. The New Cross Rangers speedway team rode at the venue from 1937 to 1963. [4] [5] The New Cross club colours were a black Maltese cross on a burnt orange background. The significance of the cross was purely down to the 'Cross' in the team's name. The colours were brought with the team from Crystal Palace when promoter Fred Mockford transferred the whole operation. The official speedway track length was 262 yards from 1934 until 1953, [6] when the track reopened in 1959 until its final closure in 1963 the official speedway track length was 278 yards. [7]

On 28 August 1935, English rider Tom Farndon was involved in an accident with Lambs team mate Ron Johnson in a second half scratch race final. Farndon collided with Johnson which hurled him through the air and saw him land head first on the track (some reports say that he hit the outside fence before hitting the track). He died two days later on 30 August in Miller General Hospital in Greenwich, without regaining consciousness. Farndon had won the Star Riders' Championship (the forerunner to the Speedway World Championship) in 1933. He had also won the London Riders' Championship in 1934 and 1935 when a member of the Lambs.

In an era when death in speedway racing was generally accepted due to the relative lack of safety, Farndon was the only rider to die as a result of a crash at New Cross Stadium.[ citation needed ]

It was the filming site of the 1949 film Once a Jolly Swagman (released as Maniacs on Wheels in the US) starring Dirk Bogarde as a speedway rider and Sid James as the team promoter.[ citation needed ]

Greyhound racing

History

The greyhound track was constructed and had opened by June 1933, it was small compared to the average London track and the racing was initially independent (unaffiliated to a governing body). The track was a very tight circumference of 354 yards with a surface of peat, short straights of 86 yards and heavily banked bends. The stadium could accommodate 25,000 people. [8]

Before the start of the war the stadium became fully licensed with the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) with the first meeting under rules taking place in January 1938. The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) also took a controlling interest during 1938. [9] Early trainers included Albert Bedford, John 'Jack' Kennedy’, Bill Smith and Harry Spoor. In 1939 the track introduced the Berkeley Cup over 415 yards as their principal event and it soon became a prominent race on the open race circuit. [8]

After the war Totalisator turnover figures peaked at £3,095,736. [10] The healthy bank balance of the New Cross Greyhounds Ltd Company and the GRA allowed the construction of three new covered stands, two on the home straight and one on the back straight. Restaurant buffet bars, tea buffet bars and licensed bars were to be found in all three enclosures. [8]

In 1946 a new competition called the Greenwich Cup was introduced at the track. The hare system used was a 'Sumner' and the kennel facilities for the New Cross trainers were situated at nearby Silwood Street within ten minutes walking distance of the track. [11]

Trainer Jack Tallantire joined the track in 1952 and Joe Pickering experienced great success that included a double English/Scottish Grand National win by Prince Lawrence in 1954 and 1955. Pickering also lifted the Trafalgar Cup with Our Tim II. A third major competition called the Ben Truman Stakes was introduced in 1962 when the training ranks consisted of Norman Chambers, Sanders, John Shevlin, Smith and Charlie Smoothy. [11]

John Field arrived as the new Racing Manager in the 1960s and in August 1968 the usual racing schedule of Thursday and Saturday nights was altered after the introduction of Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service (BAGS) fixtures when the Stamford Bridge closed to greyhound racing. [11]

Closure

The BAGS racing lasted less than one year, when the stadium closed with relatively little notice on 3 April 1969 after difficulties over the lease with landowners British Rail. [12]

The stadium was left derelict for several years until it was demolished in 1975 as part of a plan to redevelop the football ground, although those plans fell through. The site is now a public open space called Bridge House Meadows. Millwall F.C. have since moved to a new site north of the stadium, with houses now occupying the location of their old ground.

Competitions

Greenwich Cup

Berkeley Cup

YearWinnerTrainerTimeSP
1939 Return Fare IIArthur Jonas (Stamford Bridge) 25.115-2
1941 Ballynennan Moon Sidney Orton (Wimbledon) 30.0713-8f
1943 Wavecrest IITom Johnston Sr. (Private)30.233-1
1946 Winsome SealGordon Nicholson (Catford) 24.391-5f
1947 Latest SelectionLilah Shennan (Private)24.857-1
1948 Jacks ArrowStanley Biss (Clapton) 24.37100-8
1949 Buzzing AfterwardsAlf Turner (Catford) 24.135-1
1950 DerrycrussanTom Smith (Clapton) 24.224-9f
1951 Pluckanes Belle Jack Harvey (Wembley) 24.105-1
1952 Kale SeedGunner Smith (Private)24.125-2
1953 Home LuckStan Martin (Wimbledon) 23.681-6f
1954 Baby JoeHarry Spoor (New Cross)24.088-1
1955 Rosey CoaldustPaddy McEvoy (Private)24.088-1
1956 Rosey CoaldustPaddy McEvoy (Private)24.242-1jf
1957 Charming StyleHenry Parsons (Crayford) 24.267-4f
1958 Town Prince Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) 23.9711-10f
1959 Sporting MaggerDal Hawkesley (West Ham) 24.43100-7
1960 Victory StreakJohn Shevlin (New Cross)23.802-1
1961 Wonder BlueErnie Butler (Private)23.6433-1
1962 Greenane BoulevardeDennis Hannafin (Wimbledon) 24.48
1963 Greenane BoulevardeDennis Hannafin (Wimbledon) 23.99
1964 Tralong JetJohn Shevlin (New Cross)24.544-1
1965 Mimi III.M.Regan (Private)34.80
1966 Fawn PoacherErnie Butler (Private)34.90
1967 Big RocketHenry Parsons (Crayford) 35.34
1968 Local ViewJohn Shevlin (New Cross)35.22

(415 yards)

Ben Truman Stakes

YearWinnerBreedingTrainerTimeSP
1962 Greenane BoulevardeChampion Prince – Lady ItemDennis Hannafin (Wimbledon) 34.86
1963 Riobally ChumRiobally Shaun – Ivys TormentB.Saunders (New Cross)34.94
1964 Little BaytownBaytown Drone - Little PussG A Harding (Private)34.6411-8f
1965 Feakles FootFeakles Luck – Oxgrove DinkieErnie Butler (Private)35.36
1966 Galtymore FireThe Grand Fire – Nancys TwilightNorman Chambers (New Cross)35.02
1967 Wattlehurst RiotWattlehurst Rocket – Charity BallSid Ryall (Private)35.10
1969 Meanus DonalMovealong Donal – Todays BestWilf France (Harringay) 4.695-2jf
1970 Sing The SongLovely Chieftain – Much ObligedTim Forster (Harringay) 34.432-1
1971 Pepper JoeShanes Legacy – Kirbys TurnCharlie Coyle (Private)35.341-2f
1972 Ramdeen StuartSallys Story – Any Streak Norman Oliver (Brough Park) 35.0311-8f
1973 Case MoneyBooked Out – JamboreeTed Parker (Harringay) 35.441-4f
1974 Gay KathyMonalee Champion – Kals Kathy Tom Johnston Jr. (Wembley) 35.302-1
1975 Portlairge TippSpectre – Hack It TippMike Smith (Catford) 36.424-1
1976 Kings CometCobbler – Robins SilverMike Smith (Catford) 35.304-9f
1977 Glenvale PrinceEmpty Pride – April LeeTerry Duggan (Romford) 35.182-1
1978 Quakerfield FunSupreme Fun - MenaceStan Gudgin (Harringay) 35.3028-1
1979 Quest For GoldFaction Fighter – Noble LynnJohn Cox (Slough) 36.007-2
1980 Dans ArrowItsachampion – Ivy Hall Sally Pat Mullins (Cambridge) 35.112-5f
1981 MetalinaGaily Noble – Double DisasterJim Sherry (Reading) 35.8220-1
1982 Coomlogane StyleSatori Style – Mountleader IncaJohn Horsfall (Catford) 34.906-4
1983 Double HandfulGlin Fane – SolieadoArthur Hitch (Oxford) 46.519-2
1984 Lakefield BlueXmas Holiday – Sheila Alone Kenny Linzell (Walthamstow) 46.267-1
1985 Rosewood GirlSail On II – Leafy Glade Kenny Linzell (Walthamstow) 45.985-1
1986 LamalighterBrief Candle – Andreas BlueJenny March (Peterborough) 46.377-1
1987 Winsor WayMcKays Way – Lady SundayFred Wiseman (Milton Keynes) 46.374-5f

(1962-67 New Cross), (1969–70 Charlton), (1971-87 Catford)

Track records

Distance
yards
GreyhoundTimeDate
415Bantown Banner24.0231 May 1938
415Floating Dingy23.9213 July 1946
415Home Luck23.4813 April 1954
550Prince Norroy32.2625 October 1941
550Tuturama31.261963
600Kinauld Demonstrator35.1726 July 1938
600Shadowlands Delight35.026 September 1947
600Gambling Dick34.95September 1951
600Silent Leader34.5027 August 1964
770The Black Freak46.12November 1958
770Magic Brooklyn=46.12December 1959
770Buckwheat45.3826 October 1963
880Ray-O-Vitol52.622 June 1962
415 HKnockbrack Flyer24.826 April 1938
415 HVintners Cup24.1613 April 1957
600 HMira Chara36.5724 August 1939
600 HMazel Tov36.22November 1958
600 HR.S.II35.471 September 1962

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References

  1. Aerial photo of New Cross Stadium and The Den from 1962
  2. Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. ISBN   0-7524-2210-3
  3. "New Cross Stadium Guide: Address, Capacity, Build Date and Much More".
  4. Jacobs, N. Speedway in London, ISBN   0-7524-2221-9
  5. http://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk, New Cross Speedway
  6. Official New Cross speedway programme (1946). Track measurements, 25 September 1946. New Cross Speedway.
  7. Official New Cross speedway programme (1960). Track measurements, 31 August 1960. New Cross Speedway.
  8. 1 2 3 Tarter, P Howard (1949). Greyhound Racing Encyclopedia. Fleet Publishing Company Ltd. p. 63.
  9. ""Greyhound Racing Association Trust." Times, 1 Feb. 1938". The Times . February 1938. p. 20.
  10. Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses. Licensing Authorities. 1946.
  11. 1 2 3 Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
  12. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 419. ISBN   0-948955-15-5.

51°28′55″N0°2′56″W / 51.48194°N 0.04889°W / 51.48194; -0.04889