Fartown, originally known as St John's Ground, has a rich sporting history that spans from cricket to rugby league. It's story begins in 1868, hosting cricket matches. In 1875 a pivotal merger took place, uniting Huddersfield St John's Cricket Club with Huddersfield Athletic Club, which had already established a rugby club in 1866. This union laid the groundwork for Fartown's future as a rugby stronghold. By the 2nd November 1878, the ground had been sufficiently developed to host it's first rugby match, a contest against Manchester Rangers Rugby Club.
Fartown's significance in rugby history was further cemented in 1895 when the sport underwent a major split. Huddersfield joined the Northern Rugby Football Union, the breakaway faction that eventually evolved into the modern game of rugby league. Fartown became their home ground, a relationship that would last almost a century.
For almost a hundred years, Fartown echoed with the roar of the crowd and the clash of tackles. It's most glorious moment likely came in 1947 when it hosted a Challenge Cup Semi-Final, Leeds RLFC beating Wakefield Trinity RLFC 21-0 in front of a crowd of 35,136 - a testament to the ground's capacity and the passion then for rugby league in Huddersfield.
However. the club and stadium's fortunes began to decline, and by the 1980's, Fartown was a shadow of it's illustrious past. In 1992 the then Huddersfield RLFC, having recently ditched the Barracudas name moved to Leeds Road to share with the local football team Huddersfield Town, marking the end of an era. Shortly after, Fartown was demolished, erasing much of the physical presence. Today only floodlights, perimeter fencing, pitch and an overgrown terrace thar resembles a woodland remain as silent witnesses to the stadium's vibrant past, a reminder of the thousands of fans and the countless sporting memories forged within it's boundaries. Fartown's story, though it's stands may be gone, continues to resonate within the history of Huddersfield and the story of Rugby League.
I took these pictures on the 18th June 2015 with a Polaroid is2132 camera.
The Cricket Memorial, it used to feature a clock that has been removed.
The former cricket ground, now playing host to amateur Rugby League.
Taken from the Scoreboard terrace at the ground.
The very overgrown northern terrace.
The rather sad looking former cricket pavilion.
The scoreboard end, the stadiums metal fencing still in place.
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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.