Waterden Road in 2005 and now in 2007

I find it very difficult to explain my feelings towards the pictures on this page. What was a new multi-million pound stadium 12 years ago is now nothing more than a dumping ground for the channel tunnel waste that has been excavated from below the streets of London and dumped on what I would call a sacred place for me and many other former Hackney Speedway fans. There’s nothing left from the old stadium apart from the wall that used to separate the car park behind the first bend. No tote board, even though I always thought it was a grade two listed building. The area will become the media centre for the 2012 Olympics, and will be totally unrecognisable soon. The old Tibbet & Britton building opposite is due to be knocked down, the buses that are stored their and next to the old stadium behind the pits will be moving to Canning Town, ironically to site I am currently working in Stephenson Street.
Although Hackney Speedway has gone, and will never return –please prove me wrong someone- I hope in some way the area will be remembered for what it once did, and that was entertain many thousands of people on a Friday night!

This was Waterden Road in 2005

June 2007

Looking from the Eastway towards where the back straight stand said Hackney Stadium

Looking from where the supporters club hut, where Snowy, Billy Newlands, Ian Cook, Ken Irvine, Chris Golding, to name a few once stood, looking towards the first bend, hard to beleive but it's true.

The only part of the original Hackney Stadium left. This was the wall behind the first bend that separated the stadium and the car park

The view from what would have been the pits office / canteen towards the main grandstand and the riders changing rooms.

Looking towards Waterden Road from where the pit area would have once stood, with the speedway office to the right and the big metal gates infront.

The view from the Eastway towards where the entrance via the second bend turnstilles would have been. I wonder how many times fan's have walked up and down here to and from speedway?

The pits gate. The Total garage would have been on the right and the pit entrance directly in front. Just think of all those guys who would have driven through those gates, Thommo, Banger, Zenon, Andy Galvin, Malcolm Brown, Pratty, Bo Petersen