Sunderland Road, Sunderland Greyhound Stadium

Built at a cost of £60,000 to designs by Matkin & Hawkins. Opened in March 1940. By the 1960s the stadium had lost its licence and became a flapping track. In 1964 a speedway meeting attracted a crowd of 6,500. Three speedway teams were based here - the Saints (1964), the Stars (1971-73) and the Gladiators (1974). Greyhound racing returned in the 1990s after a major refurbishment. Sunderland is only one of 25 licensed greyhound tracks in Britain (there were 77 in 1951). Three other tracks are in the North East, at Easington, Wheatley Hill and Cambois.