Crayford Stadium: The Story of the Greyhound Track (1932–2025)
From a grass speedway circuit in 1932 to closure in 2025 — the history of greyhound racing at Crayford.
Greyhound racing was part of Crayford life for the best part of a century. Here is the story of the track, which finally closed in 2025.
1932: the first track
Racing on the site began in 1932, when a company built a circuit around a grass speedway track on land known as Crayford Fairfield. The venue would race for decades under different names, including as Crayford & Bexleyheath.
1980s: redevelopment
In the mid-1980s the roughly twenty-acre site was redeveloped. Around fifteen acres were sold for a Sainsbury's superstore, with the remainder rebuilt as a new greyhound track and sports stadium.
1986: the modern stadium
The new Crayford Stadium opened on 1 September 1986. The "Bexleyheath" part of the old name was dropped. The stadium had a small, tight all-sand circuit, along with suites, a restaurant and bars, and became a well-known fixture on the greyhound calendar under later owners Ladbrokes Coral (part of Entain).
2025: the final meeting
After decades of racing, Crayford Stadium held its final greyhound meeting on 19 January 2025, drawing the curtain on a sport that had been part of the town since the 1930s.
Sources: Wikipedia (Crayford Stadium; Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium); Greyhound Racing History.
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