New Writtle Street Stadium

New Writtle Street Stadium was a football and short lived greyhound racing stadium located in Chelmsford, Essex, adjacent to the Essex County Cricket Club ground.

New Writtle Street Stadium
LocationChelmsford, Essex
Coordinates51°43′52″N 0°27′56″E
Openedc.1922
Closed1997

Origins

The stadium was constructed on spare land on the north side of New Writtle Street c.1922.[1]

Football

Chelmsford moved into New Writtle Street in 1922.[2][3][4]

The football club continued to play at the New Writtle Street ground following the formation of Chelmsford City as a professional entity, which the club purchased in 1939. During the early parts of World War II the ground was shared by Southend United,[5] before it became a barrage balloon site in 1942.[6] The record attendance of 16,807 was set for a local derby with Colchester United on 10 September 1949. Floodlights were installed in 1960 and several plans were made to increase facilities at the ground, including installing a swimming pool and building office blocks or a hotel, but none came to fruition.[6] The club's first floodlit game was against Wisbech Town on 21 September 1960, with the official opening coming in a friendly against Norwich City on 3 October 1960.[3]

In 1997, the site was sold to developers and the club had to move out of Chelmsford. A housing estate now occupies the site.

Greyhound racing

On 23 September 1927, the London and Provincial Greyhound Racing Company bought land in Chelmsford to build a track, but stiff opposition resulted and the planned construction failed to materialise. However, on the 20 May 1932 the Mid-Essex Greyhound Racing Club raced for the first time at the stadium on New Writtle Street, home to Chelmsford Football Club and next door to the County Cricket Ground.[7]

One year later, director AH Bradbury-Pratt began regular racing on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings over 440 and 550 yards. The racing continued irregularly during the years 1935 to 1937 before finishing. A second spell of racing was submitted for planning by promoter Flight-Lieut CR Thomas in March 1946, finally starting in 1949 but once again the racing only lasted a few years. On both occasions the racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the National Greyhound Racing Club).[8]

Between 1976 and 1978 prolonged plans to bring greyhound racing to the stadium failed.[9]

References
  1. "OS County Series Essex 1949-1940". old-maps.co.uk.
  2. About Us Chelmsford City F.C.
  3. Steven Garner & David Selby (2001) Wheel 'em in: The Official History of Chelmsford City Football Club ISBN 9780954133009
  4. "Chelmsford", Essex County Standard, 9 October 1880
  5. Dave Twydell (2001) Denied F.C.: The Football League election struggles Yore Publications, pp60–61
  6. Mike Blakeman (2010) The Official History of the Eastern Counties Football League 1935–2010, Volume II ISBN 978-1-908037-02-2
  7. "CHELMSFORD GREYHOUND STADIUM". Greyhound Derby.com.
  8. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  9. "Planning » Application Summary". Chelmsford City Council.
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