Cliftonville Cricket Ground

Cliftonville Cricket Ground was a sports ground in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was previously used for cricket, football and hockey, hosting a football international in 1887, but was closed following sectarian attacks in 1972. It is now owned by Belfast City Council and used for Gaelic games.[1]

Cliftonville Cricket Ground
LocationBelfast, Northern Ireland
Coordinates54.6169°N 5.9474°W / 54.6169; -5.9474
Tenants
Cliftonville Cricket Club (1880–1972)
Cliftonville F.C. (1879–1890)

History

Cliftonville Cricket Ground was the first home ground of Cliftonville F.C. However, after the creation of the Irish Football League in 1890 the club moved across the road to Solitude.[2]

In 1880 Enfield Cricket Club moved to the ground and were renamed Cliftonville Cricket Club. They remained at the ground until 1972 when a series of sectarian attacks against members and the looting and burning of the clubhouse by a hostile mob led to them leaving.[3][4]

It hosted the first Irish Cup final in 1881.[5]

On 12 March 1887 the ground was used to host a British Home Championship football match between Ireland and Wales; the Irish won 4–1 with 4,000 in attendance,[6] marking Ireland's first-ever win after five years of playing.[7]

It was the home of Cliftonville Hockey Club until 1972.[8]

References
  1. Sports pitches and facilities Belfast City Council
  2. The History of Solitude Archived 17 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine Cliftonville F.C.
  3. Our History Archived 17 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine Cliftonville Cricket Club
  4. John Sugden and Scott Harvie (1995) Sport and Community Relations in Northern Ireland Centre for the Study of Conflict
  5. "Irish Football Club Project: Irish Challenge Cup 1880/81". Irish Football Club Project. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  6. Ireland 4-1 Wales Archived 17 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine Welsh Football Data Archive
  7. Dean Hayes (2006) Northern Ireland International Football Facts, Appletree Press, p151 ISBN 0-86281-874-5
  8. Belfast News-Letter Feature: Dixon Rose Belfast Newsletter
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