1 of 1- nls
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Sandy Lane
Many, many apologies if this has already been discussed, but my searches so far haven't come up with much.
I know there are houses built on the old Sandy Lane site, but I was wondering if anything at all remains of the ground? A wall or a step or anything.
Also, I saw in a leaflet once that lavender is supposed to be grown in the shape of the club crest, is this true or is it just nonsense?
- endofthelane
- Bog End Yoda
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Re: Sandy Lane
I don't know of anything that remains of the old ground. A number of the streets are named after former players, but thats it I'm afraid. I'll let someone else answer the lavender one!
- GregB
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Re: Sandy Lane
As far as I know, and I have been down Sandy Lane, there is nothing left at all of the ground. The crest does indeed show lavendar. This is because Mitcham was very famous for growing lavendar, the castle that features indicates an old Saxon settlement that there certainly was in the days of 'Michellam'.
- Mike of Wetherby
- Cadette Terror
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Re: Sandy Lane
Lavender Avenue is not far from the old ground. Until around 1960 Mitcham Stadium was on the opposite side of Sandy Lane to the football ground and some of its foundations can be seen in the alleyway behind Fernlea Road. As far as I know the only time T and M ever played in the Stadium was a six a side tournament that formed part of the 1953 Coronation celebrations.
- nls
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Re: Sandy Lane
Thanks a lot for your replies, guys, really insightful.
Stupid question ahead: I've seen a map of the two stadiums basically side-by-side, is Mitcham Stadium the larger of the two? I've seen pictures of Sandy Lane and it seems bigger than some of the aerial photos suggest, which confused me.
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Thread Starter- endofthelane
- Bog End Yoda
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Re: Sandy Lane
The aerial pic that I've seen shows the two stadiums adjacent - the oval pitch is the Mitcham Stadium and the rectangular pitch is the football ground. I think the oval stadium used to host athletics, greyhounds and gaelic sports.
- nls
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Re: Sandy Lane
Here's one I've seen:
See what I mean about the football ground being so much smaller? I thought they had quite a big stand. Or did they come later?
Also, I hear a stand was donated to Leyton Orient that they still use today. I take it that's from Mitcham Stadium rather than Sandy Lane?
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Thread Starter- GregB
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Re: Sandy Lane
I believe and I could be wrong on this, that Mitcham stadium was used for rugby matches. The trains used to stop close to the stadium, about 200 yards, in those days. The station was then closed. Another station has since been built, Mitcham Eastfields.
- Mike of Wetherby
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Re: Sandy Lane
I am not sure the what the origin of Mitcham Stadium was but it seems to have been designed with speedway and/or greyhound racing in mind but would have been unable to compete with Wimbledon. Before the war rugby league was played by a team called Streatham and Croydon (or something similar) in an unsuccessful attempt to develope that game in London - subsequent efforts haven't been much better. Football was played there for 2 or 3 seasons in the 1950s by Croydon Rovers, in the semi- professional Metropolitan League which included the 'A' (i.e third) teams of the top London clubs. However, they never attracted the gates United were getting and closed down. Thereafter apart from the annual Gaelic games the stadium was a white elephant and never fulfilled its potential.
- Harold Larwood
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Re: Sandy Lane
Mike of Wetherby wrote:
Football was played there for 2 or 3 seasons in the 1950s by Croydon Rovers, in the semi- professional Metropolitan League which included the 'A' (i.e third) teams of the top London clubs.
Not just the 'Top' London sides Mike, Crystal Palace and QPR also had teams in it.
- Bog End Ultra
- Bog End Yoda
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Re: Sandy Lane
Football was played there for 2 or 3 seasons in the 1950s by Croydon Rovers, in the semi- professional Metropolitan League which included the 'A' (i.e third) teams of the top London clubs.
Not just the 'Top' London sides Mike, Crystal Palace and QPR also had teams in it.
Bit harsh that H. If you include the likes of Watford, Luton, Palace and Barnet as ' London ' clubs (which I don't, with the possible exception of Barnet) then QPR would certainly be in the top 1/3rd surely ?