Athletic Grounds, Rochdale facts for kids
| Full name | Athletic Grounds |
|---|---|
| Location | Milnrow Road, Rochdale |
| Coordinates | 53°36′46″N 2°08′07″W / 53.61278°N 2.13528°W |
| Record attendance | 41,831 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1894 |
| Opened | 1894 |
| Expanded | 1954 |
| Closed | 1988 |
| Demolished | 1988 |
| Tenants | |
| Rochdale Hornets (1894–1988) Greyhound racing (1932–1969) Speedway (1928–30 & 1970–71) |
|
The Athletic Grounds was a famous sports stadium in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. For over 90 years, it was the home of the Rochdale Hornets Rugby League Football Club. Many different sports were played there, including speedway, BriSCA F1 Stock Cars racing, and greyhound racing.
Contents
The Stadium's Beginning
The Athletic Grounds first opened its doors in 1894. It was built in the eastern part of Rochdale. Soon after opening, it became the new home for the Rochdale Hornets rugby league team. The stadium was easy to get to from Milnrow Road. It was also located right next to the Oldham & Rochdale railway line.
Rugby League at the Grounds
The Rochdale Hornets rugby league team moved to the Athletic Grounds in 1894. Their very first game there was in September 1894 against a team called Crompton. For a few years, from 1896 to 1900, the Rochdale Association Football Club also played at the stadium.
In 1900, the Hornets officially became the main tenants of the ground. In 1901, the stadium was temporarily closed by the Northern Union due to some issues during a game.
Big improvements were made in the 1911–12 season. The stand next to the railway was covered, and a new covered area was built on the other side. The Rochdale Hornets club bought the stadium in 1913, making it their own.
The biggest crowd ever at the Athletic Grounds was in 1924. A massive 41,831 fans came to watch the Challenge Cup final. Wigan beat Oldham 21–4 in that exciting match.
Sadly, a fire destroyed the main stand, changing rooms, and offices on September 18, 1935. But a new stand was quickly built in its place. It opened on March 7, 1936, for a game against Liverpool Stanley.
On April 1, 1939, a part of the railway stand roof collapsed during a Challenge Cup semi-final game. This accident caused injuries to many spectators, and sadly, two people died.
After the Second World War, new facilities were added for fans. A Supporters' Club bar opened in 1947. A tea bar followed in 1949, offering refreshments to fans during games.
In 1954, the Hornets borrowed money to make more improvements. They built a new covered wall around the field and new turnstiles for the entrances. The highest attendance for a regular league match was on October 16, 1954. 19,654 fans watched the Hornets lose to their local rivals, Oldham.
More upgrades happened in the late 1950s and 1970s. A new stand was built by the Supporters' Club, adding more covered seating. The old railway stand was also rebuilt after being damaged.
Amazing Kick by Martin Hodgson
The Athletic Grounds is famous for a world record in rugby league! On April 13, 1940, in very windy conditions, a player named Martin Hodgson made an incredible kick. He scored a penalty goal from 77¾ yards away during a game between Hornets and Swinton. This is still the longest goal kick ever recorded in rugby league!
International Rugby League Matches
The Athletic Grounds also hosted some big international rugby league games. Teams from other countries came to play against Great Britain or England.
| Game# | Date | Result | Attendance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 February 1908 |  New Zealand def.  England 8–5 |
4,013 | 1907–08 England vs New Zealand series |
| 2 | 15 January 1930 |  The Lions def. .svg){kind=small} Australia 3–0 |
16,743 | 1929–30 Ashes series |
Touring Teams at the Grounds
The Rochdale Hornets also played against international touring teams. These teams came from Australia and New Zealand. The Hornets played many matches against these strong teams from 1907 to 1967. Even though they tried their best, Rochdale never managed to win a game against a touring team.
| game | Date | Result | Attendance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 December 1907 |  New Zealand def.  Rochdale 19–0 |
1907–08 All Golds tour | |
| 2 | 10 October 1908 |  Australia def. Rochdale 5–0 |
3,000 | 1908–09 Kangaroo Tour |
| 3 | 23 December 1911 | Australasia def. Rochdale 18–6 |
4,500 | 1911–12 Kangaroo Tour |
| 4 | 12 November 1921 | Australasia def. Rochdale 16–2 |
12,000 | 1921–22 Kangaroo Tour |
| 5 | 7 December 1926 | New Zealand def. Rochdale 11–9 |
7,590 | 1926–27 New Zealand Kiwis tour |
| 6 | 7 September 1929 | Australasia def. Rochdale 36–3 |
6,521 | 1929–30 Kangaroo Tour |
| 7 | 5 December 1933 | Australia def. Rochdale 26–4 |
3,603 | 1933–34 Kangaroo Tour |
| 8 | 13 October 1937 | Australia def. Rochdale 6–0 |
2,400 | 1937–38 Kangaroo Tour |
| 9 | 15 September 1959 | Australia def. Rochdale 27–14 |
10,155 | 1959–60 Kangaroo Tour |
| 10 | 19 October 1963 | Australia def. Rochdale 26–4 |
8,637 | 1963–64 Kangaroo Tour |
| 11 | 16 October 1967 | Australia def. Rochdale 25–2 |
2,676 | 1967–68 Kangaroo Tour |
Speedway Racing
Speedway races were first held at the Athletic Grounds on August 4, 1928. However, interest in the sport faded, and the last race meeting took place on July 12, 1930.
Speedway made a comeback on March 29, 1970. The Rochdale Hornets speedway team raced against Crewe. But this revival was also short-lived. The team moved to another location by the end of the 1972 season.
Greyhound Racing
Greyhound racing came to the stadium in 1932. The first race meeting was on June 18, 1932. The track was 450 yards around. The kennels for the racing dogs were located behind the main grandstand.
Greyhound racing continued at the Athletic Grounds for many years. However, in December 1969, greyhound racing stopped for good. The company running the races said they were losing too much money. Also, the stadium owners decided not to renew their lease.
Stock Car Racing
BriSCA F1 Stock Cars racing was introduced to Rochdale in May 1970. The track was used for stock car races until 1972. One challenge for the drivers was the high granite kerb stones. These stones were designed to protect the rugby pitch.
Stock car racing returned in 1974 and continued until 1984. It was known as a big, fast track made of shale. Rochdale was also home to two of the sport's biggest stars, Stuart Smith and Doug Cronshaw.
The Stadium's Closure
By 1987, both the Rochdale Hornets rugby club and the Rochdale A.F.C. football club were having money problems. The Hornets received an offer from a company called Morrison's to buy the Athletic Grounds. They accepted the £2.6 million offer.
After selling their stadium, the Hornets bought half a share in Rochdale A.F.C.'s Spotland Stadium. This smart move helped save both clubs from financial trouble. Today, a large Morrisons supermarket stands where the Athletic Grounds used to be.
