Dates from 1883. Still exists. In 1892 the Northumberland and Durham Bowling Association was established, thought to be the first county association in English bowls.

In response to a petition, a recreation ground was laid out in 1878 on the edge of Newcastle's Town Moor, where Exhibition Park is now.

Saltwell was the first park in Tyne and Wear to have a specific area set aside for organised sport. The bowling green was laid out in 1878. In 1892 the Northumberland and Durham Bowling Association was established, thought to be the first county association in English bowls.

Formed by West End Junior Cricket Club, originally known as the Crown Cricket Club in 1882. Tenants of St. James Park.

Formed by members of Stanley Cricket Club in Byker in 1881. Took over the tenancy of St. James Park from West End Football Club.

Formed in 1875 at South Shields Cricket Club's grounds. Cricket was the first game to adopt and develop its own private grounds and so it was at cricket grounds that many rugby and football clubs formed. Groundsharing was common. The cricket and rugby clubs still share today. The Durham County Rugby Football Union was founded in 1876.

Formed in 1873 at the grounds of Sunderland Cricket Club's grounds. Cricket was the first game to adopt and develop its own private grounds and so it was at cricket grounds that many rugby and football clubs formed. Groundsharing was common. The cricket and rugby clubs still share today. The Durham County Rugby Football Union was founded in 1876. For many years the club was known as Sunderland FC or Sunderland Foot-Ball Club. Hence when the local soccer team formed in 1879 they called themselves Sunderland Association Football Club. Crowds reached 2-3000 soon after 1890 so turnstiles were installed. During the first 1900s the First XV won the Durham County Cup and supplied players to the Durham County side. In the early 1920s a timber terrace was built on the north touchline. A roof was added in 1926, costing £258. It is still standing today. In 1953 Hartley Elliott designed the club crest, depicting a single sail boat with oars (lymphad).

One of the earliest rugby clubs to form in Tyne and Wear. Formed in 1872 at Percy Main Cricket Club's grounds. Cricket was the first game to adopt and develop its own private grounds and so it was at cricket grounds that many rugby and football clubs formed. Groundsharing was common. The Northumberland Rugby Union was formed in 1880.

Designed by Hubert Laws and opened in 1888. Built for members of the Union Club on Westgate Road. Rackets (or racquets) was a cross between real tennis and squash. An earlier uncovered court measuring 112 feet x 62 feet had been built in Newgate Street in 1823. The College Street court conformed to the new standard 60 feet x 30 feet, established by the Prince's Club in London in 1853. The balls were made of compressed cloth covered in white sheepskin. The court is a plain unadorned brick building. It has a viewing gallery on the fourth side, accessed by an ornate spiral staircase. The Newcastle court is only one of two surviving in the north. The other is the Manchester Tennis and Racquet Club, dating from 1880. Squah has since become more popular and the College Street court has also been used for badminton, judo and a creche. It has lain empty since 2010.

In 1864 the North Durham Cricket Club (NDCC) was formed. The club had illustrious patrons including the Earl of Durham, the landowner Sir Walter James Bt., the Rt. Hon. William Hutt M.P and the Archdeacon of Durham. An offical opening day was held on the 23rd May 1864. The Band of the Gateshead Volunteers Rifles was in attendance. The Rifle Volunteers had continued to use a small part of the field following the construction of the cricket club. They later had a drill hall constructed (HER16108). The cricket club ground became the amateur sporting centre of Gateshead. In June 1872 a 2 day sporting event was held which included pole-vaulting and wrestling. In 1876 the committee of the NDCC formed a football club, then rugby football began in the town the same year that was also played here and by 1881 bicycle racing had also been introduced. In the late 1890s an improvement scheme was undertaken which merged the cricket ground and remaining Drill Field. The sporting facilities included a new pavillion, a 440 yard running tack and spring track. The form of this ground remained until the late 20th century. These facilities were separated by a boundary wall from the adjacent Bowling Green (HER15708). From 1866 the sports ground was also the home of North Durham RFC (founded 1876). It also had a cement-lined cambered cycle track. A photo of a race survives from July 1900. The cycle track did not survive but the pavilion and ground remained in use until the 1990s.