Basic HTML Version
22
Forest also made use of the pitch for home
games early in their lifetime.
Outside of ball sports, however, the ground
has been used for other purposes. In 1870
a Notts County fixture at the ground had
to be postponed as it was being used for
Rabbit coursing. Earlier in the Bridge’s
history, it hosted pigeon shooting.
1872 was a milestone in Trent Bridge’s
history not for the cricket played, but for the
wide range of other activities that took place
on the pitch. During the summer, the Great
Bicycle Race was held at the ground and
Notts County FC hosted their fifth annual
Athletics Sports Meeting.
(6) Trent Bridge ushered in the new
millennium in the shape of a new Fox Road
Stand. Opened by none other than Sir Ian
Botham, the £1.9 million development
houses more than 2,000 fans and was the
tipping point for the venue over the required
capacity to host international cricket. The
original stand was demolished in 1973, with
the site used as a car park in the years before
being rebuilt.
(7) In 1938, Trent Bridge hosted the first
Test of the summer’s Ashes series. Some
89,681 attended the five days and while
that figure in itself is noteworthy, the match
gained notoriety through Australian batsman
Don Bradman. Annoyed by the ‘wearisome’
cricket being played by the visiting side, the
Trent Bridge crowd voiced their derision and
ironically cheered Bradman.
Rather than taking this in good humour, he
refused to play until the noise had subsided.
Fast-forward 75 years and a carnival
atmosphere at the Bridge is inevitable, often
encouraged, adding to the spectacle of both
international and domesticmatches. Needless
to say, Mr. Bradman would have a hard time
competing with the Barmy Army of today.
(8) The 21st Century change for Trent
Bridge continued in 2008 with the opening
of the new stand on Bridgford Road and
installation of permanent floodlights. The
New Stand (as it is still known), replaced
the West Wing and Parr Stands and in
conjunction with the floodlights, provides a
stunning backdrop to the matches held in
the summer evenings.
trent bridge in 1868
The radcliffe road and fox road stands
australian legend don bradman
175Years of Trent Bridge