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‘With No Cinder Path for Track Training, Our Position Is Hopeless’: The Development of Athletics Facilities in Birmingham, 1879-1929

ABSTRACT The opening of the Alexander Sports Ground in July 1929 marked a monumental achievement for athletics and track cycling in the city of Birmingham, as for the first time the two sports had their own dedicated facility, ending decades of uncertainty. Prior to this, both sports lacked a permanent home, damaging their development in the city, both in terms of producing top-class athletes and hosting major events. Prior to this, the Aston Lower Grounds had been the primary home for athletics since the 1880s, but the development of the grounds as a football venue hampered its potential to host other sports. This was an arrangement which ceased in 1913, following the removal of the track that surrounded Villa Park. Using both press reports and archival material, this article uncovers the history of the development of athletic and cycling facilities in Birmingham.