Belgrave Road Cricket and Cycling Ground
LocationBelgrave Road
Leicester
SurfaceGrass
Opened15 May 1880
Closed1901
Tenants
1880–81, 1882–83,1888–92 Leicester Tigers
1887–88 Leicester Fosse

Belgrave Road Cycle and Cricket Ground is a former sports ground in Leicester which hosted early matches of Leicester Fosse, who re-formed as Leicester City, and Leicester Tigers. In June 1881 it also hosted Leicestershire County Cricket Club against an All England XI. The ground was situated a mile north of the town and opened in 1880, it was short-lived as a ground though, and was closed in 1901 when houses, shops and part of the British United Shoe Machinery were built on the site. Now the area is bordered by Roberts Road, Buller Road, and Macdonald Road.[1]

The ground was opened on 5 May 1880 by Edwyn Sherard Burnaby, the MP for Leicestershire North,[1] as a 10-acre site with mile long running and cycling tracks, cricket and football pitches[2] and hosted Leicester Tigers first official game against Moseley on 23 October of that year.[3]

The ground was enclosed which allowed a gate to be taken. However this harmed the ability to build a following, so Tigers moved to Victoria Park in January 1881. The rugby club moved back for the 1882/83 season before reverting yet again to Victoria Park. Leicester Fosse, a forerunner of Leicester City played soccer at the ground for the 1887/88 season, their fourth, however only lasted one season before being outbid for the use of the ground by Leicester Tigers.[4]

Tigers played at the ground until leaving for Welford Road in 1892.[5]

Tigers Record[1]

Played Won Drew Lost
84 48 10 26

References

  1. ^ a b c Farmer, Stuart; Hands, David. Tigers - Official history of Leicester Football Club. The Rugby DevelopmentFoundation. p. 481. ISBN 978-0-9930213-0-5.
  2. ^ "Leicester City's official historian John Hutchinson takes another stroll down memory lane". Leicester Mercury. 26 May 2014. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  3. ^ Farmer, Stuart; Hands, David. Tigers - Official history of Leicester Football Club. The Rugby DevelopmentFoundation. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-9930213-0-5.
  4. ^ "Leicester Fosse 1884-1919". Leicester City. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  5. ^ "Milestones". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
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