Belgrave Road Cycle and Cricket Ground
| Location | Belgrave Road Leicester |
|---|---|
| Surface | Grass |
| Opened | 1880 |
| Closed | 1901 |
| 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. Despite its name there is no evidence of it ever hosting Leicestershire County Cricket Club matches.
The ground was opened in 1880 as a 10 acre site with mile long running and cycling tracks, cricket and football pitches[1] and hosted Leicester Tigers first official game against Moseley on 23 October of that year.[2]
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 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 use of the ground by Leicester Tigers.[3]
Tigers played at the ground until leaving for Welford Road in 1892.[4]
References
- ^ "Leicester City's official historian John Hutchinson takes another stroll down memory lane". Leicester Mercury. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
- ^ Farmer, Stuart; Hands, David. Tigers - Official history of Leicester Football Club. The Rugby DevelopmentFoundation. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-9930213-0-5.
- ^ "Leicester Fosse 1884-1919". Leicester City. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
- ^ "Milestones". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 25 November 2016.