Humbug Park

Humbug Park
Crossgates Greyhound Stadium
Humbug Park is located in Fife
Humbug Park
Humbug Park
Location within Fife
LocationInverkeithing Road
Crossgates
Fife
Coordinates56°04′54″N 3°22′36″W / 56.081722°N 3.376694°W / 56.081722; -3.376694
OwnerFife Council
OperatorCrossgates Primrose
Capacity2,000
SurfaceGrass
Opened1911
Tenants
Crossgates Thistle (1911–1916)
Crossgates Primrose (1926–1960, 1983–present)
Greyhound racing (1937–1953)

Humbug Park also previously known as Crossgates Greyhound Stadium is a football ground and former greyhound racing track,[1] on Inverkeithing Road in Crossgates, Fife, Scotland.[2]

Origins

The name Humbug Park derives from a disused pit of the former Cuttlehill Colliery on which the ground is located.[3]

Football

The ground is the home to Crossgates Primrose, a Scottish football club who play in the East of Scotland League.

Greyhound racing

In 1938, a greyhound promoter with ties to Kirkcaldy Greyhound Stadium, called Thomas Scott, took out a 15 year lease and made extensive alterations ot the stadium, including the installation of lighting and the erection of a covered enclosure.[4] The first race meeting is believed to have been held on 19 June.[1][5]

The racing distance was 275 yards and the racing took place regularly between 1937 until 1953. The track was independent (unlicensed) and took place on Friday and Saturday evenings and had a large mining community following.[6]

In 1945, Scott applied for betting facilities for the 5,000 capacity venue, under the Betting and Lotteries Act 1934.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b "Crossgates". Greyhound Racing Times. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  2. ^ "OS County Series Fifeshire 1915". old-maps.co.uk.
  3. ^ Humbug Pits (Cuttlehill/Fordell) Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Fife Pits and Memorial Book, by Michael Martin
  4. ^ "Luxury Ground for Juniors". Dundee Courier. 29 October 1938. Retrieved 7 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Greyhound Track for Crossgates". Dundee Courier. 19 January 1939. Retrieved 7 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 413. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  7. ^ "Betting and Lotteries Act 1934". Fife Free Press. 4 August 1945. Retrieved 7 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.