I know this is a very dull picture but I am posting it for 2 reasons. 1.This place actually goes by the name of ‘Sandyford Stadium’!! A little bit grand for as lump of grass,I think you would agree. The 2nd thing is you can spot another one of those turquiose bottles that are dotted around from Byker,and Sandyford down to the Ousburn.
visits
since April 2006.
From the looks of things, there’s a path there. And if it looks like I think it looks, the path goes in an oval, and I bet it’s 1/4 mile (km?) all the way around. I don’t know about in the UK, but at high schools and colleges in the US, we have stadiums that house an all purpose field, used for american football, “soccer”, field games you name it, and most of them have a track around the outside for running laps, with a set of bleachers on the outside along the longer stretches. Perhaps because of the track, it is called a stadium, even though there are no bleachers, lines or markers, or popcorn stands?
Excessive use of commas, yes. Apologies.
You’ve got me scratching my head…I must have lived within a mile or two of this for a couple of years and I can honestly say I haven’t got a clue where it is!
Of course, many of you may not be aware that Mr Harrison, hard working taxi driver and photographer, is also a former manager of a local football club that played at ‘Sandyford Stadium.’
Steve, If you’ve lived in that area for the past 10-15 years, you’d have found it by looking out of your window in the wee small hours of the morning and seeing the flames licking the sky.
The sunday morning football matches were preceded by saturday evening/sunday mornings festival of fire, hosted by the Sandyford hunter gatherers. This typically involved nicking a car, taking it back to their place of worship (Diamond White worship) and setting fire to it!
I remember Mr H’s training days well, and also the kindness I showed in keeping H’s weekend house parties running while he wheezed away the hours.
Attend any of those gatherings Apps? House parties that is.
Steve,I am stunned you dont know where that is…..Hum Apple…the net get closer(should do after all this time!!!)
Ad,one day I will print a picture of,say a house that blown up and then you can explain what you did to mine!!!
Cassandra…the original plan was to build a proper football(soccer to you) ground with small stands etc,but it just never happened but it kept the name.
Tee hee! The net draws closer Mr Harrison, as I plant very clever clues, with the help of mine (and your) very good friends!
Indeed I did Ad, and on numerous occassions woke up the following morning covered in bruises and smelling of lager from the ‘guess what can of lager has been shook up’ game.
Happy days!
Mr H!!!!
i remember the occasion well. I was trying to defend your home from the invading zombie army. I believe they escaped via the ground floor window, breaking it in their haste. The wardrobe was, I believe, blocking their escape route, as were various other obstances. The gash to my arm was a direct result of my “un-armed struggle with the prince of darkness himself.
Luckily for you I was sober enough to be able to take such action. Had I been drunk, or high on drugs, who knows what might have happened.
I bet you feel really guilty now!!!
Mr H!!!!
i remember the occasion well. I was trying to defend your home from the invading zombie army. I believe they escaped via the ground floor window, breaking it in their haste. The wardrobe was, I believe, blocking their escape route, as were various other obstances. The gash to my arm was a direct result of my “un-armed struggle with the prince of darkness himself.
Luckily for you I was sober enough to be able to take such action. Had I been drunk, or high on drugs, who knows what might have happened.
I bet you feel really guilty now!!!
You’re very lucky to have such wonderful friends Mr Harrison. The comfort of having such loyal and faithful friends, such as Mr Smith surely recompenses for the trifling damaged caused in the wee small hours.
They sounds like the symptoms of Brown Ale fever Mr Smith. Would I be correct in thinking you’d indulged in a little too much dog that very evening.
How dare you Apps. How very dare you!!!
Oops, you’re right Ad. Chris is very lucky to have such loyal acquaintances!
Just picked up the Jeff-fest photos - you got me good!
I know this place! Lived fairly nearby!! :)
I thought it was or used to be a running track or something. And doesn’t the Ouseburn run under there before arriving in Byker and then hitting the Tyne?
Snoo-it does!!
Apple…..at LAST I have worked you out-you could have said something!!!!!
I look forward to hearing from you!
I drive past your house regularly and often think abouit popping in. In fact I saw you washing dishes one night when I was waiting for a passanger who lived opposite you!!!
Steady Chris, you sound like a stalker! Call in next time you’re passing, You know you’re always welcome.
Nice one Mr H!!!!!!!!!!!
You caught her/him?
Chris ,it is called the City Stadium and we should know as it was our home ground for a number of years.
The team with the ponytails!!!!!!
remember?
aye….the good old days……….
cheers H
I always thought it was the Shieldfield Stadium until the council renamed it?
I remember playing a football match here back in 1999 for the Lemington Sparks! I’ve still got the photo somewhere haha.
I have started studying at Northumbria University, and have learnt that there have been plans to build some form of athletical amenities on the field. However, in the 30s and 40s during the redirecting of the Ouseburn, this area was a landfill site in which all local rubbish was simply dumped to help build the area up, and therefore sit on top of the river. They want to build on it, but the ground is simply too insecure, and may contain poisonous chemicals.