Sport, especially football, on the Downs ST5624 7477
As might be expected of a large green space in an urban setting, the Downs has hosted many sports, both organised and spontaneous over the years. Around the turn of the 19th century you could have visited a Gloucestershire County Cricket match and watched W. G. Grace in his pomp, earlier still a day’s horse racing would have been available, but what has put the Downs in the record books is much more recent! Since 1905 up to the present, you have been able, on a Saturday afternoon, to watch up to 27 matches in the various divisions of the Downs League, the oldest and largest single-site football league in the UK.
www.full-time.thefa.com/Index.do?league=1523562
For further information about the history of sport on the Downs pick up a copy of the Durdham Down History Trail leaflet from Café Retreat.
As might be expected of a large green space in an urban setting, the Downs has hosted many sports, both organised and spontaneous over the years. Around the turn of the 19th century you could have visited a Gloucestershire County Cricket match and watched W. G. Grace in his pomp, earlier still a day’s horse racing would have been available, but what has put the Downs in the record books is much more recent! Since 1905 up to the present, you have been able, on a Saturday afternoon, to watch up to 27 matches in the various divisions of the Downs League, the oldest and largest single-site football league in the UK.
www.full-time.thefa.com/Index.do?league=1523562
For further information about the history of sport on the Downs pick up a copy of the Durdham Down History Trail leaflet from Café Retreat.