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Hove Recreation Ground

Entrance to Hove Recreation Ground

Photo taken by John Desborough, Jan 2003

Ill equipped for recreation

By Martin Nimmo

Tucked between Shirley Drive and Old Shoreham Road, this is an unlovely squarish field with a small pavilion at the centre.

The perils of winter
It is, at least in winter, ill-equipped for recreation, though it serves as sanctuary for any number of simultaneous football matches. Everyone comes away from the field with mud-spattered blue knees - including the frozen spectators.

An obstacle to be crossed
For others, it is an obstacle to be crossed in the evening on the way from Hove Station to Hove Park Road and beyond!

Sent to website by email on 15-01-2003

This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments:

Hove Recreation Ground is a rather special site in terms of its trees. Apart from the regular species of elm planted around the centre of the park, there are, to its northern perimeter, examples of Wych elm (Ulmus glabra) cultivars. Many of these are almost impossible to find anywhere else in the UK. Of these are 'Cinerea' with its peculiar folded leaves; 'Insularis' being tall and narrow. Other trees exist like a small leaved European elm and some odd hybrids. The thing that always got me about the Recreation Ground is how on earth does anyone play football on such a slope?

By Peter Bourne (10/09/2003)

In the late 1970s this was the training ground for Brighton and Hove Albion. Many a cold morning I made the short walk along Old Shoreham Road, with the likes of Messrs Lawrenson, Ward and Horton. We went to the park to be put through our paces. It may not have been ideal, but at least we had a ground!

By Paul Hubbard (21/10/2006)

I remember watching the players train at 'The Rec.' as a star struck teen!

By Lynn Huggins - Cooper (06/11/2006)

I have to say what a great and well used park HovePark is. There is now a wonderful safe play area for children of all ages. I have been using the park for the last 35 years taking my children there and now my grandchildren. I used to walk there with my children taking their bikes so they could ride them in safety and sit on the grass and watch them play. So many happy memories and now when I go there I see young mums doing exactly the same things. Nothing really changes!

By Sylvia Crowe (29/08/2008)

Hove Recreation Ground has been taken over by Hove Rugby Club. The four pitches have been leveled, a modern club house (incorporating a wonderful bar) and dressing rooms built and the club is thriving, with several senior, ladies and veterans teams plus a huge junior section, catering for kids from six years upwards.

The 1st XV competes in London Division 3 and the 2nd team in Sussex Division 1.

By Phil Lovell (05/01/2009)