Picture yourself standing here in the early 1980s. The ground had just begun to carve its name in cricket history-first hosting First-class cricket in 1981 when New South Wales faced Queensland. Since then, it became a favourite pitstop for all sorts of visiting teams, from hardened Sheffield Shield stars to the Northern New South Wales locals, each hoping to give their best on this wide, sunlit oval. Close your eyes and you might just hear the satisfying smack of willow hitting leather, as the crowd holds its collective breath.
But it wasn't only cricketers that left their mark. You could often find local legends from Newcastle District Cricket Association battling it out for premiership glory-especially each March, as their grand final drama unfolded. Who can forget the 2009 showdown? Belmont DCC triumphed over Toronto Workers Kookaburras in a match that surely sent a few Kookaburras flying!
And time never stands still here. In September 2020, a multi-million-dollar upgrade started turning this classic ground into a modern marvel: new concrete seating now stretches along Parry Street, inviting twice as many fans as before, new lighting brightens every shadowy corner, and the field itself was expanded-just in case you fancied a pre-season AFL clash! If you feel a mysterious draft, don’t worry-it's just the ghost of a soccer ball from 1938, when Australia took on India in a match that ended 4-1 for the visitors.
Newcastle Number 1 Sports Ground is a true sporting chameleon-host to cricket, Aussie rules, rugby league, even pre-season AFL and local grand finals. And that’s not all. At night, the music takes over. From 2018, concerts linked to the wild Supercars Championship Newcastle 500 have transformed the field. Once, the great Simple Minds played right here, but sadly, when Kiss was scheduled to rock the ground in 2019, they cancelled-leaving the air thick with anticipation and maybe a little bit of glitter.
And hey, Newcastle Number 1 is still writing its story-who knows, maybe an AFL Women’s fixture is just around the corner, or perhaps you’ll be the one to cheer in the next record-breaking crowd? Until then, give the field a little nod for all the games, concerts, and memories it holds. Onward to our next stop-let’s keep the adventure rolling!
Intrigued by the cricket, other uses or the concerts? Explore further by joining me in the chat section below.
