In 2023 we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Palace!! With today being National Sporting Heritage Day #NSHD2023, we’ve taken a quick look back at some of the fun and games taking place at Ally Pally since 1873:
Alexandra Palace cricket club circa 1900. W. G. Grace, Sir Jack Hobbs and Sir Don Bradman have all played cricket at Alexandra Palace.
On 23 March 1895, the first ever women’s club football match took place within the shadow of the Palace. It was run by the British Ladies Football Club and saw ‘the north’ team beating ‘the south’ 7-1. Over 11,000 people are reported to have attended.
Our ice rink used to be a rifle range! Marksmen from the Alexandra Palace Rifle Society represented the UK and won Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at the 1908 London Olympics.
From 1868 to 1970 Alexandra Palace was home to a horse racing track, known as the ‘Frying Pan’ because of its distinctive shape. Spot the Palace peaking out from behind the huge grandstand.
Boxing circa 1930s. The Palace has continued to host a variety of professional and amateur bouts up to the present day.
Poster advertising the third Annual Race Meeting of the Finsbury Park Cycling Club, held at the Alexandra Park. Did you know that in 1902 Europe’s only velodrome was constructed in the Great Hall, it was 200ft long and 85ft wide.
Famous for hosting the annual World Championship Darts since 2008, the Palace in fact held its first version of the event, then called ‘The News of the World Championship’, in 1963.
Parkrun 1870s style!
To celebrate 150 years of Ally Pally, we want to hear from you! Send us your photos and memories and help us to create a giant mural at the Palace together with renowned visual artist, Helen Marshall.
