The Firs Stadium

The Firs Stadium
Map
LocationCromer Road, Norwich
Coordinates52°39′55″N 1°16′14″E / 52.66528°N 1.27056°E / 52.66528; 1.27056
Opened1930
Closed1935 (greyhound Racing)
1964 (speedway)

The Firs Stadium was a speedway stadium in Cromer Road, Norwich.

History

The stadium was built on an empty field situated in the Hellesdon area on the west side of where the Holt Road and Cromer Road meet. The address was listed as Aylsham Road but this is a little misleading because although the Cromer Road is effectively a continuation of the Aylsham Road it was unequivocally on the Cromer Road.[1] It is believed to have been named after the nearby Firs House.

The stadium was sold for re-development at the end of 1964.[2]

Speedway

Main article: Norwich Stars

The stadium was owned by Eastern Speedways and was a popular speedway venue opening on 17 August 1930 and closing on 31 October 1964.[3][4]

Greyhound racing

The Firs Stadium was the first of four greyhound tracks that operated in the city. It was a short lived enterprise only lasting from 1932 until 1935.[5]

The opening night was 30 July 1932 two months before the opening of the Boundary Park Stadium[6] but only survived until 14 January 1935 probably due to stiff competition from other Norwich tracks.[5] The racing was independent (unaffiliated to a governing body).

References

  1. ^ "OS County Series Essex 1919". old-maps.co.uk.
  2. ^ "Little hope now for Norwich". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 23 December 1964. Retrieved 6 October 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ "Norwich Speedway". Defunct Speedway Tracks.
  4. ^ "Norwich, The Firs Stadium". The National Speedway Museum.
  5. ^ a b Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 420. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  6. ^ "To-Night, Greyhound Racing at the Firs Stadium, 15 October". Eastern Daily Press. 1932.