The Boulevard (stadium)

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The Boulevard
The Boulevard rugby league ground Hull.jpg
The Boulevard in May 2006
The Boulevard (stadium)
Full nameThe Boulevard
Location Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England
Coordinates 53°44′22″N0°22′9″W / 53.73944°N 0.36917°W / 53.73944; -0.36917
Capacity 10,500
Construction
Built1895
Opened1895
Closed2009
Demolished2010
Tenants
Hull F.C. (1895–2002)
Hull Vikings
Hull KR (1892-1895)

The Boulevard was a multi-purpose stadium in Hull, England. The venue was saved from demolition and reopened on 25 October 2007 as the home of greyhound racing in the city. There were plans for it to be used as a community stadium hosting rugby league matches and speedway, [1] but it eventually closed and was demolished in August 2010.

Contents

History

Looking north towards the backs of houses on Carrington Street Boulevard Stadium, Hull - geograph.org.uk - 1129524.jpg
Looking north towards the backs of houses on Carrington Street

In the past the ground was used mostly for rugby league matches and was the home stadium of Hull F.C. before the opening of KC Stadium. The main entrance was on Airlie Street, giving rise to Hull FC's nickname as 'the Airlie Birds'. When it closed, the stadium's capacity was 10,500 people. The Boulevard also hosted four matches in various Rugby League World Cups, as well as tour matches between Hull and visiting nations such as Australia and New Zealand. The ground had a strong connection with the city's former fishing industry being not far from Hessle Road.

The stadium has also been used for football with Hull City A.F.C. using the ground at times for their home matches.

In 1970, British League Division Two speedway returned to Hull for the first time since 1949 and proved to be exceedingly popular with large crowds cheering on the Hull Vikings each Wednesday. Hull had the dubious distinction of being the last league speedway team ever to appear at the famous West Ham Stadium, on 23 May 1972, when they beat the closing Hammers 40–38. Subsequent years saw their promotion to the first division and the inclusion of world champions Barry Briggs, Ivan Mauger and Egon Müller to ride for the team. Promotional changes, falling crowds and financial problems eventually saw the Vikings demise until their resurrection some years later at Hull's other rugby league and speedway stadium, Craven Park.

The Boulevard was also the host of the annual Yorkshire Television Trophy meeting during the 1970s, and early 1980s. With the British leagues home to not only the best British riders such as 1976 World Champion Peter Collins, 1980 World Champion Michael Lee, Dave Jessup and Malcolm Simmons, but also to many top class riders from around the world including World Champions Briggs, Mauger, Müller, Ole Olsen and Bruce Penhall, plus Billy Sanders, Dennis Sigalos, Shawn and Kelly Moran, and Phil Crump (the inaugural Yorkshire TV Trophy winner in 1974), the meetings often attracted fields which were as good in quality as many World Finals.

The 380 metres (420 yards) long speedway track surrounded the rugby league field without intersecting it at the corners. This saw the Boulevard have fast, almost 100 metre long straights and tight bends. The run off the corners onto the straights was narrow due to the fence not following the curve of the track but being straight from back in the turns.

The ground consisted of three stands, the most popular being the Threepenny stand, where the majority of singing and chanting occurred. It was given its name when the stadium opened as it was 3  old pence for entry. In July 1985, Hull's threepenny stand closed for safety reasons. A plaque was unveiled on the 'new' threepenny stand some years ago by STAND and Hull FC.

Greyhound racing

1927–1934

The stadium first hosted greyhound racing in 1927 when the Associated Greyhound Racecourses Ltd promoted a meeting on 2 July. The track was soon to be one of three greyhound stadiums operating in Hull after two more followed suit, within one year Craven Park stadium had opened and in 1934 the Craven Street track opened but the latter was short lived. [2]

The football team moved out after finding a new home at Boothferry Park in August 1947 and the greyhound racing soon followed after coming to an end on 11 December 1948. Despite the Boulevard being considerably bigger than Craven Park the difference in popularity and tote turnover was significant. In 1947 the tote turnover of Craven Park was £578,628 compared to the Boulevard's £23,263. [3]

2003–2009

Greyhound track at The Boulevard c. 2003 Greyhound track at the The Boulevard c.2003.png
Greyhound track at The Boulevard c.2003

In 2003 Hull F.C. found a new ground at the KC Stadium joining up with the football team and putting the stadium under imminent threat of closure. The greyhound operation had just finished at the New Craven Park and transferred to the Boulevard saving the stadium from closure. [4] The track was constructed with a circumference of 387 metres and distances of 270, 460, 655 and 845 metres. Racing started in December 2003 with Friday and Saturday night racing under the supervision of Racing Manager, David Gray.

After the council refused to extend the greyhound racing lease the stadium remained unused until 25 October 2007 when it reopened again for the first time in 28 months. Racing changed to Thursday and Saturday nights and Mick Smith was brought in as Racing Manager.

Track records

Distance
metres
GreyhoundTimeDate
270Top Matt16.926 December 2003 [5]
270Killavarrig Ruby16.5329 October 2004
270Centenarys Pass16.3721 November 2004
270Ballymac Charley16.3622 December 2007
270Bradford Lad16.354 October 2008
460Hesley Nikita29.0627 December 2003
460Pamelas Nikita29.0327 December 2003
460Thorsman28.8717 January 2004
460Malton Merlin28.7514 February 2004
460Pamelas Pride28.5128 February 2004
460Quiet Chant28.4624 April 2004 [5]
460Parkview Dot28.3827 December 2004
460Zero to Hero28.2810 September 2005
460Rushmoor Major28.273 November 2007
460Stevens Court28.1522 December 2007
460Linfit Robert28.0222 December 2007
460Tango Star28.022 February 2008
460Rossacredibility27.859 February 2008
655Split the Pack41.0630 May 2004 [5]
845Tipp the Breeze55.3010 November 2007
847Bernis Emma55.4625 July 2004 [5]

Closure and demolition

On 17 June 2009 it was announced that the Boulevard would close to greyhound racing once again after less than 2 years. After going to once a week racing, promoter Dave Marshall pulled the plug on funding for the stadium. [6] On 22 August 2010, BBC Humberside reported that the stadium was in the process of being demolished after a council inspection due to safety concerns. [7]

Rugby League Test Matches

List of rugby league Test and World Cup matches played at the Boulevard. [8]

Test No.DateResultAttendanceNotes
15 November 1921Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia def Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 16–221,504 1921–22 Ashes series
213 November 1927 England Flag of England.svg def Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 21–117,000 1926–27 England vs New Zealand series
325 October 1970Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand def Flag of France.svg  France 16–153,824 1970 Rugby League World Cup Group Stage
47 March 1992Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain def Flag of France.svg  France 36–05,250 1989-1992 Rugby League World Cup Group Stage
510 October 1995Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea drew with Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 28–285,121 1995 Rugby League World Cup Group B
623 October 1999Flag of England.svg  England def Flag of France.svg  France 50–203,0681999 Anglo-French Challenge
74 November 2000Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia def. Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 110–43,044 2000 Rugby League World Cup Group 1

Rugby League Tour Matches

Other than Hull F.C. club games, The Boulevard also saw Hull and the county team Yorkshire and a combined Hull F.C. and Hull Kingston Rovers XIII play host to international touring teams from Australia (sometimes playing as Australasia) and New Zealand from 1907 to 2002. New Zealand did play Hull F.C. as part of their 1980 tour of Great Britain and France, though that game was played at Boothferry Park.

GameDateResultAttendanceNotes
116 November 1907 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg New Zealand def. Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. 18–13 1907–08 All Golds tour
25 November 1908 Australian colours.svg Australia def. Yorkshire Flag.png Yorkshire 24–113,500 1908–09 Kangaroo Tour
330 January 1909 Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. def. Australian colours.svg Australia 9–810,000
44 November 1911 Australian colours.svg Australasia def. Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. 26–76,000 1911–12 Kangaroo Tour
524 December 1921 Australian colours.svg Australasia def. Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. 26–1012,000 1921–22 Kangaroo Tour
64 November 1929 Australian colours.svg Australasia def. Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. 35–210,000 1929–30 Kangaroo Tour
725 December 1933 Australian colours.svg Australia def. Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. 19–516,341 1933–34 Kangaroo Tour
823 October 1937 Australian colours.svg Australia def. Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. 22–1215,000 1937–38 Kangaroo Tour
923 September 1948 Australian colours.svg Australia def. Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. 13–316,616 1948–49 Kangaroo Tour
108 September 1952 Australian colours.svg Australia def. Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. 28–015,364 1952–53 Kangaroo Tour
1115 October 1956 Australian colours.svg Australia def. Canadacolours.png Hull F.C. / Hull KR XIII 37–1417,172 1956–57 Kangaroo Tour
1226 October 1959 Australian colours.svg Australia def. Canadacolours.png Hull F.C. / Hull KR XIII 29–915,944 1959–60 Kangaroo Tour
1312 October 1963 Australian colours.svg Australia def. Canadacolours.png Hull F.C. / Hull KR XIII 23–1010,481 1963–64 Kangaroo Tour
1429 October 1978 Australian colours.svg Australia def. Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. 34–210,723 1978 Kangaroo Tour
1516 November 1982 Australian colours.svg Australia def. Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. 13–716,049 1982 Kangaroo Tour
1616 November 1986 Australian colours.svg Australia def. Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. 48–08,213 1986 Kangaroo Tour
1714 November 1990 Australian colours.svg Australia def. Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. 34–413,081 1990 Kangaroo Tour
1822 October 2002 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg New Zealand def. Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. 28–1112,092 2002 New Zealand Kiwis tour

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References

  1. "Dogs back on track at Boulevard". BBC News Online . BBC. 25 October 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
  2. "Greyhounds, Saturday 13 October". Hull Daily Mail. 1934.
  3. Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses. Licensing Authorities. 1947.
  4. Hobbs, Jonathan (2003). Greyhound Annual 2004. Raceform. p. 158. ISBN   1-904317-21-9.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Hobbs, Jonathan (2004). Greyhound Annual 2005. Raceform. p. 176. ISBN   1-904317-58-8.
  6. "Hull to close Saturday". Racing Post . 25 June 2009. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  7. "Demolition work to begin on Hull FC's Boulevard stadium". BBC News Humberside. BBC. 22 August 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  8. "The Boulevard results". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 8 December 2014.