It was originally just an athletic ground with a football pitch. The owners of the Tower Grounds formed the 'The New Brighton Tower and Recreation Company' and hoped to make money during the non-tourist seasons. The team that played there was the 'New Brighton Tower Football Club' (no connection to The Rakers). They played there from October 1897 to 1901 before disbanding because they couldn't afford the rental of the ground. New Brighton Tower Amateurs formed and played there. They later played by Massey Park. Harrowby Football FC them moved to the Tower Stadium and played there for some considerable time.
In the meantime the ground was often used for summer shows - such as a troop of Bedouins, Dervishes and Arabs. In the Summer of 1908 there was a Wild West show which included 500 men and horses - consisting of cowboys, indians, cowgirls, cossacks, chariot drivers.
The New Brighton Athletic Football Club (The Rakers) was formed in 1921. They played in Rake Lane (hence the nickname) but only played at The Tower Stadium when their own ground was damaged during the German Blitz.
Thanks, PW! - for both the brill information and for correcting my mistakes, this site sometimes humbles me as to how little I really know (or remember?) about my home town and its environs. I'm still very curious about the banked track, such as when was it built and what its original purpose was? - who knows, maybe it intended to be "the Brooklands of the North"? LOL!
The white circle bottom left is in Vale Park and is the site of a barrage balloon from the war. If you look closely, you will see bomb damaged houses in Dalmorton road backing onto the football ground. Look even more closely and you will see other bomb sites.
The track around the pitch was originally for cycle racing and sometime motorbikes. I think they had some kind of championship there back in the 20's but stand to be corrected on that.
Thanks Helles, very interesting. I think from PW's .. site that this picture is dated 1946, so lots of bomb damage would still be evident, I'm sure...
When I originally got it (it is copyright btw but not mine) it was dated 1948. Being from your side of the pond, you might be interested in the little guys in the middle of the football pitch laying new turf. This is because the ground was used as a vehicle park by the American forces during the war. Ships were unloaded and the vehicles taken there to be made ready before being distributed. The troops were billeted at the Sandrock hotel on Molyneux drive.
If you belong to Facebook there is a group called Old pics of Wallasey and Liscard and New Brighton swimming baths. These Flikr pics would be loved by the members on there!
Thanks Helles, very interesting. I think from PW's .. site that this picture is dated 1946, so lots of bomb damage would still be evident, I'm sure...
Don't forget though that bombing stopped in this neck of the woods in January 1942 and repairs and clearance were continuous processes.
Agreed but don't forget there was a shortage of materials for repairs and rebuilding for many years after the war. I was on the scene and they were still rationing food even if I don't remember it. Basically we were bankrupt as a country. If you look on the corner of Grosvenor road and Molyneux drive in the photo, you will see what look like portacabins. Obviously not invented then but I think it was some kind of portable housing. There were prefabs on this site in my younger days.
It is the football ground, which indeed have a cycle and an athletics track. The chimneys are as indeed stated, but the laundry one is Grosvenor Road not Drive.
