Can't Catford be brought back ?

Doubt it. They want prestigious tracks.

I've often thought that myself Fattie.
The place has had a series owners/developers and they'e all gone bust. The last I heard it was owned by the government and the deputy mayor of Lewisham has been charged with developing it. I'll ask him what/if any plans there are.

i know its bad form to insult someone elses luved trackbut catford was not one of my favourites i luved the old hackney and that was a dump

Matter of opinions beebs which everyone is entitled to, I use to love the place, many happy nights spent there as a nipper believing every next race my old man was going to hit "the big one" and it would be more than just a portion of chips on the way home, rarely ever was though...!

About 6 years ago I jumped over the fence to get in to the site of the track, they had a skip on the right of the entrance by the railway line. Being unemployed at the time I figured to take a trip down to see what remained. I walked around the track, and it was totally levelled, nothing was left.  The only remains of the structure was some of the foundations of the kennel block. I could still smell the scent of 80 years of dog urine on the soil.  There is nothing to buy back, except a site, any track would have to be built from bottom up, and the car park issue remains.  A crying shame that it was only the (subsequently burnt down) Tote Board that was listed as the Grand Stand was classic 1930's construction, complete with Truman Brewery Sponsorship and cheap blue gloss paint scheme (GRA didn't like splashing out on the Dulux).

Walking around the site it was weird that the main ring was levelled as for so long you would get used to the betting ring being sunk, and if you had placed a last minute impulse wager you would sprint back up the steps to watch them come out of the traps.

At the time I walked around the front entrance with the old Neon running dogs sign was still there, I imagine it has been demolished now.  Looking in the turnstiles there was some detritus of old entry vouchers and the wiff denoting a fox had also had a sniff around at some stage!

The car park issue was miraculously resolved shortly after the GRA sold the place. The developer did a deal with Network Rail and it forms part of the site. The old neon sign was still there last time I looked, about three months ago.

The car park issue was miraculously resolved shortly after the GRA sold the place. The developer did a deal with Network Rail and it forms part of the site. The old neon sign was still there last time I looked, about three months ago.

The car park issue was miraculously resolved shortly after the GRA sold the place. The developer did a deal with Network Rail and it forms part of the site. The old neon sign was still there last time I looked, about three months ago.

I found it a nice friendly track
just a pity GRA would not spend any money on it

I would love it to ressurect

Gold Collar final night was the best atmosphere in dog racing ,apart from the Derby final.Electric and noisy all night,nothing topped shouting one home at Catford on final night.

boxing day morning was brilliant with the marathon , also remember watching leaders champ sleuch home in the gold collar in the 70s , and watched scurlogue champ win there too happy days i must admit

Great track, great view, great people in the owners and trainers bar.  Brilliant times there hardly missed a meeting for years. First dog ever owned won on its debut. I dont think thats ever happened since for me oh yeah apart from Misty... Cheers Norman.

My first Gold Collar was watching Gay Flash win for Paddy Milligan, I think it was 1976 but could be a bit wrong about the year and don't recall missing a final til the doors finally closed. Also The Grenwich Cup, The Scurry, The Flying Four, Boxing Day marathon were all must watch events. Catford was a great stadium, absolutely loved the place.

Had the Cesarewitch there for quite a while also.

For those who want to see the sad truth:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=catford+greyhound+stadium&f=hp

Slippy,

Gay Flash was 1979 I believe? First year that JH sponsored the race?

Sport Promoter (my fav winner) was 1980, sure I followed it to W'stow where he also won the Grand Prix.

ran past Pompey dogs last week that is now completely levelled also i did see a fox sprinting down the run up the wrong way tho

I would have just loved to be around then,these stories fascinate me,just rubbish these days.

Fair enough Compulsive you could well be right, it was a long time ago and I was quite young so I'm digging deep in the memory banks here. I'm A Smasher was another winner around the same time, mid late 70's. Perhaps I got them two the wrong way around. Certainly was there when Sports Promoter won as well.

c1965 I worked in the car park aged 16 , 10/6 a night ,  however tips were good , especially remember a one armed man with a patch over one eye with an etype plus various dolly birds , worth 5 bob for keeping special parking space.

My mate Richard Pointer , who knew nothing about dogs , bought a pup with another guy , named it Faypoint Flyer , finished 3rd in 1976 Collar final beaten by Westmead Champ ( Ledger winner ) and Mutts Silver ( Derby winner )less than 2 lengths.