County Ground, Southampton facts for kids
| Ground information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Southampton, Hampshire | ||
| Coordinates | 50°55′10″N 1°24′36″W / 50.91944°N 1.41000°W | ||
| Establishment | 1885 | ||
| Demolished | 2001 | ||
| Capacity | 7,000 | ||
| End names | |||
| City End Northlands Road End |
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| International information | |||
| First ODI | 16 June 1983: Australia v  Zimbabwe |
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| Last ODI | 30 May 1999: Kenya v  Sri Lanka |
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| Only WODI | 19 July 1998: England v Australia |
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| Team information | |||
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| As of 5 September 2020 Source: CricketArchive |
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The County Ground was a famous sports field in Southampton, England. It was used for both cricket and football. This ground was the home of the Hampshire County Cricket Club for 115 years, from 1885 to 2000. It was also where Southampton Football Club played their home games from 1896 to 1898.
Contents
About the County Ground
Before the County Ground, early Hampshire cricket teams played at the Antelope Ground. This was in Southampton, starting in 1842. Later, the team moved to Day's Itchen Ground. But they soon returned to the Antelope Ground.
In 1863, the Hampshire County Cricket Club was officially formed. They became tenants at the Antelope Ground. In 1883, a new plan began to lease land on Northlands Road. This land would become the new home for the cricket club. An agreement was made, and Hampshire played their last match at the Antelope Ground in August 1884. They moved to Northlands Road for the 1885 cricket season.
History of the Ground
Early Years and Football
The County Ground opened on May 9, 1885. Elizabeth, Countess of Northesk, officially opened it. She was the wife of the club president. The first big match was between South Hampshire and North Hampshire.
The first important cricket match was in June 1885. Hampshire played against the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). Hampshire lost this match. Ten days later, Hampshire played their first county match there. They lost again, this time to Derbyshire. In 1886, Hampshire lost its top-level cricket status. But they still played smaller matches at the ground.
In 1893, the Hampshire County Ground Company bought the land. They paid £5,400 for it. Hampshire got their top-level status back in 1895. The County Ground then hosted its first County Championship match.
Southampton F.C. also used the County Ground for important football matches. This included FA Cup games. In 1893, Stoke played a friendly match against Southampton St Mary's. Southampton lost badly, 8–0. But fans still enjoyed the game.
Soon, a football stand was built next to the cricket pavilion. Southampton played all their home matches there for two seasons. However, the rent was £200 a year. Also, up to 12,000 fans came to matches. The football club decided the rent was too high. They also needed better facilities. So, they moved to a new stadium called The Dell in 1898.
Ground Improvements and Famous Matches
The County Ground continued to improve. A new front was added to the main pavilion in 1896. A ladies' pavilion was also built. In 1900, the football stand was updated. Eleven years later, a new scoreboard was put up.
Around this time, Hampshire cricket club faced money problems. There was even talk of closing the ground in 1904. But it never happened. In 1912, Hampshire famously beat the touring Australians. This was their first win against a touring team. Phil Mead scored 160 runs without being out. Alec Kennedy took 11 wickets in the match.
Between the World Wars
During the First World War, top-level cricket stopped in England. No major matches were played at the County Ground from 1914 to 1919.
In 1921, the touring Australians set a record. They scored 708 runs for 7 wickets. This was the highest team score at the ground in a top-level match. The match ended in a draw.
In 1930, many fans came to see Don Bradman. He was a famous Australian cricketer. Bradman scored 191 runs in the Australians' first innings. During this time, Phil Mead was a star player for Hampshire. He scored 138 centuries in his career. Mead played 187 times at the County Ground. He scored 14,504 runs there.
Cricket stopped again during the Second World War. Southampton faced many bombing threats during the war.
Later Years and Closure
The County Ground was home to Hampshire's County Championship winning seasons in 1961 and 1973. It also hosted its first List-A match in 1965. This was a one-day game.
In 1983, the ground hosted its first One Day International (ODI). Australia played against Zimbabwe in the 1983 Cricket World Cup. Australia won that match.
In 1996, Cardigan Connor took 9 wickets for 38 runs. Also, Kevan James took four wickets in four balls against the touring Indians.
The ground hosted its last two One Day Internationals in the 1999 Cricket World Cup. New Zealand played the West Indies. The West Indies won. Then, Kenya played Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka won this match.
Hampshire sold the County Ground in May 1998 for £5 million. After 115 years, the 2000 season was the club's last at the ground. The last top-level match saw Yorkshire as the visitors.
The County Ground hosted three One Day Internationals. It also hosted 565 first-class matches and 211 List-A matches. In 2001, Hampshire moved to their new home, the Rose Bowl. The old County Ground is now a housing estate.
Cricket Records
International
One-Day International
- Highest team total: 275/8 (50 overs) by Sri Lanka v. Kenya, 1999
- Lowest team total: 156 (48.1 overs) by New Zealand
v. 
West Indies, 1999 - Highest individual innings: 84 by David Houghton for Zimbabwe v. Australia, 1983
- Best bowling in an innings: 4/46 by Mervyn Dillon for West Indies v. New Zealand, 1999
Domestic
First-class
- Highest team total: 708/7d by the Australians v. Hampshire, 1921
- Lowest team total: 30 by Hampshire v. Nottinghamshire, 1932
- Highest individual innings: 303* by Graeme Hick for Worcestershire v. Hampshire, 1997
- Best bowling in an innings: 9-38 by Cardigan Connor for Hampshire v. Gloucestershire, 1996
- Best bowling in a match: 17-119 by Walter Mead for Essex v. Hampshire, 1895
List A
- Highest team total: 371/4 (60 overs) by Hampshire v. Glamorgan, 1975
- Lowest team total: 63 (30.3 overs) by Hampshire v. Surrey, 1997
- Highest individual innings: 177 by Gordon Greenidge for Hampshire v. Glamorgan, 1975
- Best bowling in an innings: 7/30 by Peter Sainsbury for Hampshire v. Norfolk, 1965
