Hanley Greyhound Stadium Explained

Hanley Greyhound Stadium
Location:Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England
Coordinates:53.0217°N -2.1847°W
Opened:31 March 1928
Closed:18 October 1963

Hanley Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing and speedway stadium, located in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent from 1928 to 1963.

Origins

A syndicate including people connceted with the Wigan and Blackpool tracks successfully applied for planning for a new stadium in October 1927.[1] It was built on a 8.5 acre plot on top of an old pit known as Marl Pit (part of the Shelton Colliery).[2]

The stadium opened on 31 March 1928, during only the second year of oval track greyhound racing in the United Kingdom.[3] The stadium known as the Sun Street Stadium was located on the south side of Clough Street and the north side of Sun Street and was situated next door to the Dresden Works.[4]

Opening

Organised by Northern Greyhound Racers (Hanley) Ltd,[5] greyhound racing started on 31 March 1928 and took place three times a week. The racing was independent (unaffiliated to a governing body).[6]

The independent racing lasted for 35 years.[7]

Speedway

See main article: Stoke Potters.

Speedway was an integral part of the stadium and a team known as the Hanley Potters first raced at the stadium.[8]

Closure

The final meeting took place on 18 October 1963 after being sold to a garage business.[6] The site today is a business park.

Notes and References

  1. News: Greyhound Racing in Hanley . Staffordshire Sentinel . 15 October 1927 . 7 June 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  2. Web site: OS County Series (Staffordshire). oldmaps.co.uk.
  3. Book: Genders, Roy. The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. 1975. Page Brothers (Norwich). 0-85020-0474.
  4. Web site: Dresden Works. The Potteries.org.
  5. News: Northern Greyhound Racers (Hanley) Ltd . Staffordshire Sentinel . 14 March 1928 . 7 June 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  6. Book: Barnes, Julia. Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. 423. 1988. Ringpress Books. 0-948955-15-5.
  7. Web site: HANLEY GREYHOUND STADIUM. Greyhound Derby.com.
  8. Web site: Stoke Speedway. defunctspeedway.co.uk.