The Clapton Stadium, also known as Millfields Road, was a football ground and greyhound racing stadium in the Lower Clapton area of London.
History The stadium was originally named Whittles Athletic Ground and was mostly used for whippet racing. It was built on top of an old fireworks manufactory on the north side of Millfields Road.
Football In 1896 Clapton Orient moved to the site from Pond Land Bridge, after which it became known as Millfields Road. The football club began redeveloping the stadium, with large embankments built around the pitch using slag from an adjacent power station.Paul Smith & Shirley Smith (2005) The Ultimate Directory of English & Scottish Football League Grounds Second Edition 1888–2005, Yore Publications, p83,
Clapton Orient were elected to the Second Division of the Football League in 1905, and the first Football League was played at the ground on 9 September 1905, with Orient beating Hull City 1–0 in front of 3,000 spectators. In 1906 the first covered spectator facility was provided, when a 2,000-seat grandstand was built. This stand was sold to Wimbledon to use at their Plough Lane ground in 1923, and was replaced by a 3,000-seat stand.
Orient set their record League attendance at the ground on 16 March 1929 when 37,615 saw them lose 3–2 to Tottenham Hotspur. However, the club were in financial trouble at the end of the 1920s and were forced to leave the ground, moving to the Lea Bridge Stadium. Their last match at the ground was a 4–1 win over Brighton on 3 May 1930 with 8,763 in attendance.
Greyhound racing Pre-World War II In 1927 the Clapton Stadium Syndicate became joint tenants, and major alterations were made to the ground to allow for greyhound racing, costing over £80,000. An oval track was installed around the football pitch, with covered concrete terracing laid on the three sides away from the main stand. The new layout was designed by Owen Williams, and the ground became London's fourth greyhound track, staging its first meeting on 7 April 1928.
In 1928 the track hosted a new race over 400 yards that gained classic status called the Scurry Gold Cup. In 1930 the stadium opened its first restaurant and the stands were renovated becoming covered stands. The first managing director was H.Garland Wells, who was joint vice president of the National Greyhound Racing Society and the company were called Clapton Stadium Ltd and also owned Reading, and later South Shields and Warrington. Clapton was described as a small difficult course with short straights (76 yards) and easy bends on a circumference of 359 yards with the hare system being a 'Centre Scott Magee Silent'. The nearby training quarters at Claverhambury Farm in Waltham Abbey had two hundred acres of grassland in rural surroundings with six resident trainers and six ranges of kennels with each range having a five-acre plot for exercising.
In 1934 the track was represented in the 1934 English Greyhound Derby final by Wild Woolley locally trained by Harry Woolner and Joe Coral (Gala Coral Group) was a bookmaker at the track before his Empire grew. A second Derby final appearance by arrived in the 1938 English Greyhound Derby after Demotic Mack finished fifth for trainer Charles Cross. The same greyhound then emulated the feat one year later finishing third this time.
In 1939 the greyhound track underwent improvements and a second restaurant was built.
Post-war
The stadium closed for short periods during the war but was still able to race at other times. The appointment of trainer Stan Biss was a success, he trained greyhounds called Local Interprize and Rimmells Black. Local Interprize a black dog went onto win the Welsh Greyhound Derby, the Gold Collar twice, the Cesarewitch, Scurry Gold Cup and reached the English Derby final twice. Garland-Wells died in 1948 and the stadium established notable events called the Metropolitan Cup, National Sprint, London Cup & National Open Hurdles.
In 1952 Clapton appointed trainer Jimmy Jowett from Warrington and there was another Derby final appearance with the Tom Smith trained Paddys Dinner. In 1953 the director of racing was Eric Godfrey, and the racing manager was Mr H. J. Richardson, and the six resident trainers were John Snowball, Arch Whitcher, Clare Orton, Jimmy Jowett, Gordon Nicholson and Tom Smith. Also in 1953 a new lighting system was installed.
The stadium won its first Derby crown in 1956 after the Paddy McEvoy-trained Dunmore King prevailed, and five years later Palms Printer won the Derby, claiming a second win for Paddy McEvoy. Dromin Glory was voted 1962 Greyhound of the year, and a third Derby title in 1963 went to the John Bassett-trained Lucky Boy Boy. The Claverhambury Farm, in Waltham Cross, produced six Derby winners between 1956 and 1972; they were Dunmore King, Palms Printer, Lucy Boy Boy, Chittering Clapton, Faithful Hope and Patricias Hope.
During 1963 Clapton Stadiums Ltd scrapped evening starting times in an attempt to stop the bookmaker shops from being able to take advantage of their off-course betting following the introduction of the Betting and Gaming Act 1960, and in the same year the track hosted Pinewood Studios as they shot scenes for a new film starring Rita Tushingham and Mike Sarne called Bethnal Green.
The company sold Slough Stadium to the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) in 1966 and the Clapton shareholders contemplated a bid from GRA which included Clapton Stadium, two training sites with 180 acres and an interest in the West Ham site. The deal went ahead later that year. Clapton was the first track to install a closed-circuit television race patrol camera in 1967 that was able to replay the races to the public.
The GRA and in particular the GRA Property Trust were actively selling prime areas of land to developers and there was uncertainty surrounding the track and it was dealt a blow when in 1968 all of the greyhounds were relocated to the Northaw Kennels from the Clapton kennels at Claverhambury Farm. Despite the sale of the kennels trainers Adam Jackson and Paddy Keane both secured Derby wins with Chittering Clapton and Faithful Hope respectively. A sixth Derby crown was won by the track when a greyhound with superstar status called Patricias Hope won 1972 English Greyhound Derby.
Closure In 1969 the GRA sold the track to what was effectively a redevelopment company. The sale of the popular track caused much upset regardless of the fact that there were no immediate plans for closing. On 1 January 1974 the stadium closed and was later demolished making way for the Millfields housing estate in the early 1980s.
Other uses In the early 1930s the stadium was used as a major venue for boxing and also used for baseball.
Greyhound racing competitions Scurry Gold Cup
Metropolitan Cup YearWinnerTrainerTime (sec)SPNotes/ref1928 Black Dot Robert Linney (Clapton) 35.37 1929 Harry Hawker Griffin (Clapton) 34.40 1930 Bewitching Eve R Cooper (Clapton) 33.82 1931 Damaris Paddy Quigley (West Ham) 33.47 1932 Waltz Chain Arthur Doc Callanan (Wembley) 33.12 1933 Leap Year Rover PJ Higgins (Clapton) 33.57 1934 Master Sam Garretty (Private) 32.85 1935 Shed Labourer Dal Hawkesley (Catford) 32.43 1936 Final Record Stanley Biss (West Ham) 32.83 1937 Kemp Harry Woolner (Catford) 32.83 4/1 1938 Islingham PrinceJohnny Bullock (Catford) 32.71 100/8 1939 Noble Man Junior (dead-heat) Jimmy Jowett (Private) 32.79 5/2 1939 On The Strait (dead-heat)Miss B Byles (Private) 32.79 10/1 1940 Congleton Tiger (dead-heat)Arch Whitcher (Clapton) 22.70 9/2 1940Trev's Transport (dead-heat) Johnny Bullock (West Ham) 22.70 7/2 1941Rochester ClipperMiss Olive Motchman (Park Royal) 32.74 100/7 1942Jamboree RevellerCharlie Ashley Harringay) 32.70 7/2 1943Ballynennan MoonSidney Orton (Wimbledon) 32.41 10/11f 1944 Midnight ParadeSidney Orton (Wimbledon) 32.94 3/1 1945Ferry Dancer Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 32.75 100/7 1946Trev's Fashion Fred Trevillion (Private) 32.57 5/2 1947Lovely Auburn Stanley Biss (Clapton) 32.90 5/4f 1948Northam Star Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) 32.56 6/4f 1949Kilbelin Iris Stanley Biss (Clapton) 32.49 5/1 1950April Song S Tanner (Private) 33.01 10/1 1951Aerial Mail Bob Burls (Wembley) 32.63 5/2 1952Kind Comrade Noreen Collin (Walthamstow) 32.73 2/1 1953Rolling Mike Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) 32.18 4/6f 1954Daring FriendshipArch Whitcher (Clapton) 32.47 8/1 1955The Grand ChampagneJack Harvey (Wembley) 32.15 9/2 1956 Glenriver Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) 32.35 2/1f 1957 Kays Imperial Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) 32.04 5/4f 1958 Nons Bing W Brown (Private) 32.52 5/2 1959 Glittering CopperJimmy Jowett (Clapton) 32.18 9/4 1960 Rockfield Flash (dead-heat) Frank Sanderson (Private) 33.53 13/2 1960 Noonans Rhapsody (dead-heat)Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) 33.53 4/1 1961 Utellme Clare Orton (Wimbledon) 33.19 1962 Walk Right Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) 33.65 1965Geddys Empress Bill Kelly (Clapton) 33.17 1966 Rebeccas Pet (dead-heat) Eric Adkins (Private) 33.55 1966 Scaragh Walsh (dead-heat) John Bassett (Private) 33.55 1967 Larrys Charm Bill Kelly (Clapton) 33.30 1968 Winning Hope Paddy Keane (Clapton) 33.21 1969 Shanes Concord Arthur Hancock (Brighton) 33.54 10/1 1970 Camira Prince Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) 33.58
London Cup YearWinnerTrainerTime (sec)1930 Dark Midnight Foster (Clapton) 33.261931Smart Fashion Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 33.461932 Luvetts Double Albert Bedford (Catford) 33.031933 Queen of the SuirStanley Biss (West Ham) 32.781934 Lynton II Arthur Doc Callanan (Wembley) 32.661935Border Mutton Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 32.481936 Westley Bridge Jack Harvey Harringay) 32.531937 Demotic Mack Charles Cross (Clapton) 32.611938 Royal Devil Les Parry (White City) 32.571939 Jill Of WaterhallLeslie Reynolds (Wembley) 32.691941 Rahinskey ChampionPaddy Fortune (Wimbledon) 32.431942 Victory WelcomedJack Sherry (Catford) 32.691943 Ballykildare Sidney Orton (Wimbledon) 32.401944 Blackwater CutletPaddy Fortune (Wimbledon) 32.431945Another FarewellDal Hawkesley (West Ham) 32.341946 Netties Ranger Charles Cross (Clapton) 33.701947 Monarone Stanley Biss (Clapton) 33.051948 Cleofilius Stanley Biss (Clapton) 32.551949 Jubilee Olive Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) 23.301950 Denver Air Stanley Biss (Private) 23.401951 Swanee Beg Norman Merchant (Private) 23.401952 Hectic Birthday Ronnie Melville (Wembley) 22.961953 Snow White BrownHenry Parsons (Crayford) 22.93
National Open Hurdles YearWinnerTrainerTime1928 Rather Cheerful Parsons Harringay) 37.361929 More Serap Parsons Harringay) 34.791930 Fleeting FashionStan Martin (Private) 34.841931Glean A Cruim R Cooper (Clapton) 34.641932 Avonvale Charles Cross (Clapton) 34.291933 Scallywag II Claude Champion (Wimbledon) 34.091934 Scallywag II Claude Champion (Catford) 33.611935Tubberona PrinceLes Parry (White City) 33.421936 Master Flyer Jerry Hannafin (Wimbledon) 33.841937 Carstown Boy Leslie Reynolds (White City) 34.061938 Juvenile ClassicJoe Harmon (Wimbledon) 33.071939 Juvenile ClassicJoe Harmon (Wimbledon) 33.631948 Wild Wave Dave Barker (Catford) 33.771949 Ross Abbey Clare Orton (Coventry) 33.191950 Sprightly Peter Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 33.131951 Sprightly Peter Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 33.271952 Castleknock SealJerry Hannafin (Wimbledon) 32.991953 Spanish RosetreeJerry Hannafin (Wimbledon) 32.89
Orient Cup YearWinnerTrainerTime1946 King Silver Crowley (Clapton) 23.821948 Greenane Pine Stanley Biss (Clapton) 24.391949 Keepers SerenadeArchie Whitcher (Clapton) 23.771950 Jackies Gift Boswell (Clapton) 23.371951 Kilcoman Rover Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 24.061952 Pluckanes Bell Paddy Mullins (Portsmouth) 23.451953 Rolling Mike Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) 23.65
Track records