Imperial Athletic Ground, Bristol facts for kids
| Ground information | |||
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| Location | Bristol | ||
| Establishment | 1957 (first recorded match) | ||
| Team information | |||
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| As of 30 August 2010 Source: Ground profile |
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The Imperial Athletic Ground was a special place for cricket in south Bristol, England. It was owned by the Imperial Tobacco company. This ground was mainly used by the Somerset cricket team for many years.
Contents
A Cricket Ground in Bristol
The Imperial Athletic Ground became a well-known cricket venue. It hosted many exciting matches for nearly 25 years. Cricket fans in Bristol enjoyed watching games there.
Early Days: First-Class Matches
The very first important match, called a first-class game, happened in 1957. In this match, the Somerset team played against Sussex. This was part of a competition known as the County Championship.
From 1957 to 1966, the ground hosted nine first-class matches. The last first-class game played there was between Somerset and Hampshire. These matches were a big part of the local cricket scene.
One-Day Cricket Action
Later, the ground also started hosting List-A matches. These are shorter, one-day games. The first List-A match took place in 1971. Somerset played against Gloucestershire in the John Player League.
Between 1971 and 1979, eight List-A matches were held at the ground. The final one-day game was also between Somerset and Gloucestershire in 1979. These games brought a different kind of excitement to the fans.
Other Important Games
Besides the main team matches, the Imperial Athletic Ground was also used for other important games. The Somerset Second XI team played their matches there. These included games in the Minor Counties Championship, the Second XI Championship, and the Second XI Trophy. These games helped younger players develop their skills.
What Happened to the Ground?
The Imperial Athletic Ground no longer exists today. In the year 2000, the land was sold by the local council. A new housing estate was built on the site where the cricket ground once stood. Now, homes cover the area where cricket balls used to fly.
More Information
- Imperial Athletic Ground on CricketArchive
- Imperial Athletic Ground on Cricinfo
