Portland Park
After playing at the Recreation Ground & Station Road, Ashington AFC decided to move to a new ground when the Co-op wanted to double the Colliers rent.
Local former Mr Nixon was persuaded to sub-let a field to the club which was named Portland Park in deference to the Duke of Portland who owned the land. Initially the ground was sparsely developed but as the years passed a grandstand able to seat 1,000 spectators with changing rooms, boilerhouse and other facilities was constructed.
After the clubs election to the Football League in 1921, 2,000 shares were issued to help finance improvements to the ground, which finally totalled £6,000. Concrete terracing was installed and the grandstand was reconstructed to give Ashington some of the best facilities in the North East. A tearoom and press box were also added. Crush barriers were installed in 1924.
League attendances were good in the beginning with over 10,000 present for an opening day win at home to Grimsby Town but as the Colliers began to struggle the gates dropped dramatically before the club failed to gain re-election in 1929 after finishing bottom of the table.
With the Football League years over the ground was redeveloped to allow Greyhound Racing in the early 1940’s. Some buildings were moved and the arena was transformed to the oval shape required.
1950 saw Ashington play Rochdale in the FA Cup. A record crowd of 13,199 (£656 gate receipts) packed Portland Park but unfortunately saw the Colliers narrowly lose 2-1 to their Football League opponents.
The greyhounds moved out in 1964 and was later replaced by speedway in the early 1970’s but the Ashington Arrows didn’t last long with only two meetings at Portland Park stadium – the final one against the Motherwell Monarchs – before the team disbanded. Stock car racing also came to Portland Park and was the cause of the grandstand burning down after a crash.
On the site of the old grandstand, a new modern one was constructed with seating for 300. Floodlights were installed in 1980 and by 1984 the Greyhounds were back at Portland Park.
By the mid-nineties the racing was finished and the track was pulled out. Numerous plans to knock down the famous old ground came and went through the 90's and early 2000's. Finally in 2006 Ashington FC were told that Portland Park would be demolished to make way for Development. The Club vacated the ground in February 2008 with the last game against Seaham Red Star attracting 1,954. Ashington lost 3-2.
Demolition began in September 2008 and thus saw the end of one of the most famous landmarks in Ashington.
The Club moved onwards to Woodhorn Lane but the spirit of Portland Park will carry on, WE ARE ASHINGTON!
