PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
|
|
The Home Park Recreation Ground within Central Park at Milehouse, Plymouth, was promoted by the Plymouth and Devonport Recreation Grounds Limited. In December 1892 the Company attempted to raise £8,000 in £1 shares stating that: 'The success of Football and Cycling in the Three Towns has been due to the efforts of the ALBION FOOTBALL and the PLYMOUTH CYCLING CLUB, the former at BLADDERLEY and the latter at the RAGLAN BARRACKS. These two clubs will by arrangements already entered into, play their matches and run their races on the grounds of the above Company, the position of which is centrally situated for the inhabitants of the Three Towns.' Mr Fred Blanchard was the secretary of the Company and his fellow directors were Mr A R Debnam of Mount Pleasant, Plymouth; Mr David Sale of Fore Street, Devonport; Mr S H Colwill of 5 Bedford-terrace, Plymouth; Mr Fred Hall of the Albion Football Club, 4 Havelock-terrace, Stoke; and Mr A H Swiss of 6 Tamar-terrace, Stoke. The Company's offices were at St James's Villa, Mount Pleasant, Plymouth. At that time it was the home of a football club by the curious name of the Home Park Association Football Club. The two other local association football clubs, Plymouth United and Argyle (it had not acquired the Plymouth appellation at that time) both played their home matches at Hartley. Mr Debnam, being a contractor, was the main force behind the new ground at Home Park. When the ground was inspected by 'a correspondent' on January 5th 1893, when he was expecting to see a return match between Plymouth (United) FC and Home Park, neither of whom turned up. With time on his hands the correspondent had a look around and and declared it to be a grand place to play on. Most of the Grand Stand was complete and part of the roofing was in place. Work had started on the cycling track for the race meetings of the Plymouth Cycling Club. It was felt that it would also be a suitable venue for cricket, horse shows, fêtes and lawn tennis. Although at least one match had already been played at the ground, the official opening took place on Easter Saturday, April 1st 1893. At 3pm that day Albion were to play Aberavon and on the following Easter Monday they played Penarth. Admission was sixpence, with the Enclosure costing an additional threepence and the Grand Stand an additional sixpence. A numbered reserved seat cost an additional shilling and was for the front two rows of the Grand Stand, which were reserved only until 2.45pm. Grand Stand tickets at 1s 6d could be obtained in advance from Mr A H Swiss, the stationer, in Fore Street, Devonport, or from Mr J W Barter, at 43 Frankfort Street, Plymouth. Season Tickets from the ground at Bladderley Lane were transferable. The teams were reported to be: ALBION: Hocken (back); Cash, Sowden, Bildings, and Downs (three-quarters); Horwell and Baddeley (halves); Bryant, Allington, May, Chiswell, Laverty, Coram, Shepherd, and Sobey (forwards). ABERAVON: Rees, and Lewis (backs); Roberts, H John, Heywood, and James (three-quarters); Jones and Sellaway (halves); Ivor Griffiths (captain), Harries, Bansey, Howels, Thomas, Evans, Rowlands, and T Rees (forwards). The referee was Mr Gorwyn of Torquay. PENARTH: J Tanner (back); H Kirby, R M Garrett, H E Morgan, and H G Alexander (three-quarters); S W Shepherd and W G Lambert (halves); T H Hutchings, P Jackson, J L Lawday, G Brown, C B Stoddart, W Gibbs, A Williams, and H Searle (forwards). The referee was Mr Rowe of Exeter. Special programmes were produced for both matches by Mr Creber, of Union Street, Plymouth, containing the names and positions of the players. At that time Albion were top of the Devon Rugby League, with 24 points, having won 12 matches and lost one. Exeter were bottom with three points. On the Wednesday of that week, Albion were to play Warmley, the league cup holders and the week's celebrations ended on the Saturday with a league match against third-placed Torquay Athletic. Home Park is now the home ground of the Plymouth Argyle Football Club. Incidentally, Albion beat both Aberavon and Penarth.
|
