Due to repairs being needed at the Raikes Hall site in 1893, the Blackpool Athletic Ground Company decided to give the club a more permanent home at Whitegate Park. The new ground covered an area of 150yds by 130yds.[2]
The first recorded match on the ground came in 1893, when Blackpool played the touring Australians, who were on their Ashes tour.[1]
The inaugural first-class match to be played on the ground was between the North and the South in the 1905 North v South fixture. Lancashire played their first first-class match on the ground in 1905 when they played against an England XI. From 1905 to the present day, the club's ground has played host to 98 first-class matches, the last of which came in the 2008 County Championship between Lancashire and Surrey.[1]
In the early 1920s the whitegate site no longer hosted other sports therefore it was decided the site would be dedicated to the Blackpool Cricket Club.[2]
In 1925, the grounds were renamed 'Stanley Park' as it sat within the boundary of the new park and continued to be the home of Blackpool Cricket Club. Sir Lindsay Parkinson donated the ground, valued at £10,000 to the club shortly before it was renamed Stanley Park. The ground is managed by Blackpool Cricket Club and the deeds are held in trust by the mayor.[2]
The club played in the Ribblesdale League and were part of the founding members whom created the Northern League. Blackpool have also won the National Club Cricket Championship in 1990.[2]
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