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A look back at Redheugh Park
Date: Sunday 9th December 2007, by Tynesider
A look back on our previous home, and contender to be our future location - Redheugh Park
Redheugh Park was built in 1930 for Gateshead A.F.C.s first season in the Football League. South Shields F.C. having endured financial trouble decided it was time to move to horizons new. The possibility of Newcastle was investigated, but the existence of Newcastle United helped to persuade the council against this idea. Gateshead Council was more welcoming, so a location search for a new ground was on.
Sites at Low Fell and Sheriff Hill were considered, but were deemed too far out of town. The chosen location was in the rundown Teams area of Gateshead, a worked out clay pit (known as Johnsons Clay Hole) edged by Ropery Road and Derwentwater Road. The site was prepared by filling the holes, tunnels and craters with lorries full of the town's refuse.
Redheugh Park. The greyhound track can be clearly made out. The main stand is at the back next to the Iron and Steel works.
The Stadium offered terracing all round. The Main Stand was a two-thirds pitch length seated stand (Purchased from a Greyhound Stadium in Carlisle) with covered standing extensions added on either side and paddock standing in-front. Opposite the Main Stand was a large covered terrace that ran the full length of the ground. The North end of the ground had a small covered terrace, whilst the opposite Ropery Road (South) End was a small uncovered terrace (That latterly included a large totaliser scoreboard introduced with the Greyhound racing).
Gateshead run out in their Claret 'n' Blue shirts for the first league game at Redheugh versus Doncaster Rovers.
Redheugh Park was officially opened by Mr. Sutcliffe, the Football League's then Vice-President on August 30th 1930 when Gateshead AFC played their first ever Football League game winning 2-1 against Doncaster Rovers in front of 15,545 spectators.
Gateshead Greyhound Stadium. Gateshead were one of the earliest clubs to have floodlights, these can be seen on the main stand roof in the background.
Greyhound racing at Redheugh Park commenced in 1937, which brought a boost to the Football Clubs financial status and subsequently eased the burden for the upkeep of the stadium. However the inclusion of the Greyhound track reduced the size of the playing area, the terracing at either end of the ground and subsequently the capacity.
September 25th 1937, 20,752 people (All time record attendance at Redheugh Park) watched a top of the table (Second Division) clash between 1st place Gateshead and 2nd place Lincoln City finish in a 1-1 draw. It was the 1950s that saw the height of Gateshead AFC including some famous cup runs. 1951/52 season Gateshead were drawn in the 4th round at home to West Bromwich Albion, the game was switched to Newcastle United's St James' Park which saw Gateshead's all time record attendance of 39,287 witness West Brom run out 2-0 winners.
Gateshead's greatest season came the following year (1952/53) as the club went on their greatest FA Cup run, making it all the way to the Quarter Finals. In the First Round Crewe Alexandra were conquered 2-0 at Redheugh. Gateshead won at Bradford Park Avenue by 2-1 in the Second Round.
Gateshead players in training for the Liverpool match. Skipping on the terraced corner between the main stand and the Ropery Road end.
Stretching exercises in-front of the main stand. The light poles above the greyhound track can be clearly seen in this photo.
15,193 spectators arrived at a foggy Redheugh Park for a Third Round tie to witness one of Gateshead's greatest ever victories, the mighty Liverpool FC were brushed a-side 1-0 by a goal from Inside-Forward Ian Winters. Gateshead travelled with over 4,000 supporters to Boothferry Park in the Forth Round as Hull City became the next victims. Johnny Ingham hit two goals for The Tynesiders to win the game 2-1. A long journey to Plymouth Argyle in the Fifth Round was the reward, the team stayed overnight in Devon and the next day put up a dogged defensive display which highlighted the worth of the Callender brothers and Goalkeeper Bob Gray as Ian Winters once again scored the only goal with a header from 10 yards out to set up the biggest game in Gateshead's history - The FA Cup Quarter Final at home to Bolton Wanderers.
Gateshead play Bolton in black 'n' white stripes. The packed terraces of the capacity crowd can be seen in the background.
Cup fever hit the Town like never before with thousands queuing as tickets went on sale at Gateshead Town Hall. One woman had to have her leg amputated because of injuries sustained in the stampede for tickets. 17,692 fans turned up for the game as Gateshead changed from their regular all white shirts to an unfamiliar Newcastle United style Black 'n' White striped top. The team played their hearts out and could possibly have won the game late on when Bolton defender Bell handled inside the penalty box (He later admitted the offence), the referee waved play-on Bolton broke away and England International Nat Lofthouse headed in past Bob Gray to break the home fans hearts.
The middle to late 1950s saw the club slowly decline, The ultimate body blow occurred in 1960 with the loss of Football League status. The 1960s saw Gateshead continually slide down the leagues, a further heavy blow was dealt with the cessation of greyhound racing at the stadium in 1966. This put both Redheugh Park and Gateshead AFC in serious financial troubles. Other sources of income were investigated, this included allowing showmen to have a small fair on the car park, allowing advertising to be placed on the wall facing Askew Road (Permission was refused) and even converting the refreshment bar into a transport cafe to catch passing trade. In 1967 Gateshead AFC made a vain attempt to fill the void the Greyhound racing had left with staging Speedway racing at the Stadium.
Early 1970s - The last days of Redheugh as Gateshead play a Midland League match. Holes can be made out in the main stand roof.
By the early 1970s Redheugh Park had become run down, this combined with a fire in the 1971/72 season saw Gateshead AFC move to the Gateshead Youth Stadium (Now known as The Gateshead International Stadium). However the new venue proved no easier on the finances of the club, bringing the liquidation of Gateshead AFC in late August 1973.
October 1971, Gateshead have moved to The International Stadium. A vandalised Redheugh is starting to look the worse for wear.
1972 saw Redheugh Park fair no better, a year after the Football Club moved out the ground was in a derelict condition. Weed infested with crumbling terraces and dilapidated stands it was demolished.
The late 1980s - Demolished Redheugh is a rubbish tip. The grass hump on the right is the old main stand.
Trees grow on the demolished Ropery Road end.
For nearly twenty years the outlines of Redheugh Park could be made out with the terraces appearing as grass humps on the land. The area was completely leveled for the 1990 Gateshead Garden Festival and used as a car park. A few years later saw football return to the area in the shape of the Pitz 5-a-side soccer centre which is still in place today.
Redheugh Park as it is now. A five-a-side soccer centre stands on the sacred ground. The footprint of the football ground can be made out by the white outline. At least football is still there and not housing.