Cliftonville Cricket Ground
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| Location | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 54°37′01″N 5°56′51″W / 54.6169°N 5.9474°W |
| Tenants | |
| Cliftonville Cricket Club (1880–1972) Cliftonville F.C. (1879–1890) | |
Cliftonville Cricket Ground was a sports ground in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was previously used for cricket, football and hockey, hosting a football international in 1887, but was closed following sectarian attacks in 1972. It is now owned by Belfast City Council and used for Gaelic games.[1]
History[edit]
Cliftonville Cricket Ground was the first home ground of Cliftonville F.C. However, after the creation of the Irish Football League in 1890 the club moved across the road to Solitude.[2]
In 1880 Enfield Cricket Club moved to the ground and were renamed Cliftonville Cricket Club. They remained at the ground until 1972 when a series of sectarian attacks against members and the looting and burning of the clubhouse by a hostile mob led to them leaving.[3][4]
It hosted the first Irish Cup final in 1881.[5]
On 12 March 1887 the ground was used to host a British Home Championship football match between Ireland and Wales; the Irish won 4–1 with 4,000 in attendance,[6] marking Ireland's first-ever win after five years of playing.[7]
It was the home of Cliftonville Hockey Club until 1972.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ Sports pitches and facilities Belfast City Council
- ^ The History of Solitude Archived 17 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine Cliftonville F.C.
- ^ Our History Archived 17 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine Cliftonville Cricket Club
- ^ John Sugden and Scott Harvie (1995) Sport and Community Relations in Northern Ireland Centre for the Study of Conflict
- ^ "Irish Football Club Project: Irish Challenge Cup 1880/81". Irish Football Club Project. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- ^ Ireland 4-1 Wales Archived 17 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine Welsh Football Data Archive
- ^ Dean Hayes (2006) Northern Ireland International Football Facts, Appletree Press, p151 ISBN 0-86281-874-5
- ^ Belfast News-Letter Feature: Dixon Rose Belfast Newsletter