Wimbledon Stadium facts for kids
 |
|
| Full name | Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium |
|---|---|
| Location | Plough Lane, Wimbledon, London SW17 0BL, England |
| Coordinates | 51°25′52.91″N 0°11′12.01″W / 51.4313639°N 0.1866694°W |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 19 May 1928 |
| Renovated | 1950s |
| Closed | 25 March 2017 |
| Demolished | 16 March 2018 |
Wimbledon Stadium, also known as Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium, was a famous sports venue in Wimbledon, London. It was best known for greyhound racing.
The stadium also hosted other exciting events. These included stock car races and motorcycle speedway. For many years, it was the home of the important English Greyhound Derby race.
Sadly, fewer people visited the stadium over time. It also needed many repairs. Because of this, the owners decided to sell it. Wimbledon Stadium closed its doors for good in March 2017. The site was bought to build new homes and a new football stadium for AFC Wimbledon. The old stadium was taken down in 2018.
Contents
What Was Wimbledon Stadium Like?
The stadium was a large place with many features. It had a big grandstand made of brick. This stand could seat about 8,000 people. There were also special rooms for important guests.
Visitors could find several bars and places to eat. There was even a large restaurant where waiters served food. Outside the stadium, there was a big car park for everyone.
Greyhound Racing at Wimbledon
How Did Greyhound Racing Start Here?
Building the stadium was a challenge. It was built on marshy land near the River Wandle. This area was often flooded. There were not many buildings nearby, just a leather factory and a pub.
A company called South London Greyhound Racecourses Ltd wanted to build a big stadium. They planned for it to open in 1928. However, they ran into money problems. A group led by Bill 'WJ' Cearns stepped in. His company had helped build the stadium. They provided the money needed to finish the project.
When Did the Stadium Open?
Wimbledon Stadium opened on May 19, 1928. The very first race was won by a greyhound named Ballindura. Harry Leader was the dog's trainer. The dogs for Wimbledon were kept at the Burhill kennels. Famous trainers like Stan Biss and Sidney Orton worked there.
Early Years of Racing (1928–1939)
Wimbledon was a leader in greyhound racing. In 1929, it was the first track to use weighing scales for dogs. This let people know the dogs' weights before races. New races like the Puppy Derby and Wimbledon Gold Cup also started.
A very famous greyhound, Mick the Miller, came to Wimbledon. He won his second Derby title here in 1930. This made him, the sport, and Wimbledon Stadium very well known. Another dog, Highland Rum, won the Derby in 1939 for Wimbledon.
Racing During World War II (1940s)
The stadium kept racing even during World War II. It was damaged by bombs but continued to operate. A famous dog named Ballynennan Moon became a star at Wimbledon. He won many races during the war years.
In 1945, another Wimbledon dog, Ballyhennessy Seal, won the Derby. This was the third Derby win for a dog from Wimbledon. Stan Martin was his trainer.
Changes and Success (1950s)
After the war, a new grandstand was built. The stadium also started using special photo timers. These timers helped make sure race results were fair.
Wimbledon continued to be very successful. In 1950, Ballymac Ball won the Derby for trainer Stan Martin. In 1957, Ford Spartan brought another Derby win to Wimbledon. Many trainers, like Clare Orton, joined the team.
Modernizing the Track (1960s–1970s)
New trainers like Phil Rees Sr. joined Wimbledon. The stadium also faced possible redevelopment. However, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) bought a large part of Wimbledon. This helped keep the stadium open for racing.
The GRA invested money into the stadium. They increased the prize money for big races. In 1976, Wimbledon started using new timing technology. They also began grading dogs by their ability. Mutts Silver won the Derby in 1976 for Phil Rees Snr.
The Derby Comes Home (1980s)
A big change happened in 1985. Wimbledon was chosen to host the English Greyhound Derby. This was because White City Stadium had closed. The Derby is the most important race in greyhound racing.
The first Derby at Wimbledon was a success. Pagan Swallow won the race. This was the seventh Derby win for a dog from Wimbledon.
More Wins and New Features (1990s)
In 1991, Ballinderry Ash won the Derby for Wimbledon. This was the eighth Derby title for the stadium. New features were added, like the Intertrack betting service. This allowed people at other tracks to bet on races at Wimbledon.
Sky Sports also began showing greyhound races from Wimbledon in 1999. The Grand National race also moved to Wimbledon.
Final Years of Racing (2000–2017)
Rapid Ranger won two Derby titles in 2000 and 2001. This was a rare achievement. More trainers joined the stadium. In 2003, the track was improved.
Westmead Hawk also won two Derby titles in 2005 and 2006. In 2010, the stadium had major changes. The grandstand was moved, and the track layout changed.
However, fewer and fewer people came to the races. The stadium became old and worn out. The GRA announced its closure. The very last race was held on March 25, 2017. Glitzy King won this final race.
Speedway Racing at Wimbledon
Wimbledon Stadium was also home to the Wimbledon Dons speedway team for over 50 years. Speedway is a type of motorcycle racing on an oval track. The stadium was famous for hosting the Internationale meeting every year.
Speedway started at Wimbledon in 1928. The Dons team raced in league competitions from 1929. They were very successful in the 1950s, winning many league titles. After World War II, over 30,000 people would come to watch the races each week.
The team faced challenges in the 1980s. The stadium owners decided to end speedway in 1986. However, a group of people worked to keep the Dons racing. They managed to continue for a while.
The Dons returned to the top league in 1991, but it was difficult. The team had to move to Eastbourne for a short time. They were called the Eastbourne Dons then. The team reopened at Wimbledon in 2002. But they finally stopped racing completely in 2005. This was due to a disagreement over rent.
Stock Car Racing at Wimbledon
Wimbledon Stadium also hosted exciting motor racing events. These included Superstox, Stock Cars, Hot Rods, and Bangers. The first stock car race was on September 29, 1962.
The stadium quickly became a top place for these races. The Superstox World Championship was held there every year until 1974. Big events like Carnival Night were very popular. They often sold out completely.
The stadium even had its own stock car racing teams. The Unlimited Banger World Final also took place at Wimbledon for many years. It moved to another stadium in 2008. This was because of new rules about vehicle emissions in London.
Other Events and Appearances
Wimbledon Stadium was also featured in popular culture. Part of the music video for the 1978 Queen song "Bicycle Race" was filmed there.
Banger racing at the stadium was shown in the ITV police TV series The Sweeney. The episode was called "Contact Breaker."
Why Did Wimbledon Stadium Close?
In 2007, a company called Galliard Homes Limited bought the stadium. Later, the local football team, AFC Wimbledon, wanted to build a new football stadium on the site. They worked with Galliard Homes on a plan.
Their plan included building the new football stadium and 600 new homes. The plan was approved in December 2015. Some people tried to stop the closure. An Irish businessman offered to build a new greyhound stadium. A group also tried to get the stadium listed as a historic building. But these efforts did not succeed.
Wimbledon Stadium closed to the public on March 25, 2017. Demolition of the stadium began on March 16, 2018. This cleared the way for the new Plough Lane football stadium and homes.
Images for kids
-
Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium
-
A Stock Car meeting at Wimbledon Stadium
See also
In Spanish: Wimbledon Stadium para niños
