Taff Vale Park is a rugby union ground and former greyhound racing track in Treforest, Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.
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| Location | Nile Street, Treforest, Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales |
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| Coordinates | 51°35′51″N 3°19′40″W / 51.59750°N 3.32778°W |
| Opened | 1890 |
Taff Vale Park is situated on the River Taff at the end of Nile Street in Treforest.[1] It was originally fields adjacent to the Taff Vale Iron Works[2] and was used by Pontypridd RFC who developed the site into a rugby ground playing there from the 1890–91 season until 1901 and again in 1907–08.[3]
It was then used by schools between 1900 and 1927 after being purchased by the Pontypridd Urban District Council Education Committee.[4] Greyhound racing began in 1927 after the ground was sub-let to a greyhound company by the Athletic Club. It cost over £25,000 to convert the ground into a track, build kennels and improve the grandstand. Speedway followed in 1929 but the great depression ended the greyhound racing around 1932.[5]
During 1926–27 the ground was home to rugby league team Pontypridd RLFC until the club folded part way through the 1927–28 season.[6]
The site still remains in use as the home of the Pontypridd Junior Rugby Football Club.
References
edit- ^ "OS County Series Glamorganshire 1919". old-maps.co.uk.
- ^ "Taff Vale Park, Pontypridd". Coflein.
- ^ "A brief history". Pontypridd RFC.
- ^ "Taff Vale Park, Pontypridd". Coflein.
- ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 422. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
- ^ Dealney, Trevor (1991). The Grounds of Rugby League. Thornton and Pearson. pp. 200–201. ISBN 978-0950-99822-0.