10 May 2023 , 10:51
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Images show how the Coventry Stadium once the height of popularity for hosting celebrated speedway races is now a decrepit ruin.
Take a trip down memory lane with these haunting images of Coventry Stadium, also known as Brandon Stadium located six miles east of the city.
The stadium was the home of Coventry Bees motorcycle speedway team which raced from 1928-2018. The club have won the now defunct Midland Cup eleven times. Notable riders include Nigel Boocock and Simon Cross. The stadium has notoriously been a site for many fires including an arson attack recently in May 2022.
There is a local ongoing campaign to bring back stock car racing and dirt bike racing to the site. Discussions with the local authority are ongoing.
Pictures taken by urban explorer Macorlee Farnaby capture the beauty of the ageing stadium with old fridges, ticket counters belonging to a bygone era, bar with mirrors, old tickets and flyers and old signs for food stalls.
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The explorer was aware the stadium was closed and decided to explore it.
An empty fridge next to old stands (mediadrumimages/MacorleeTravels)
An abandoned staircase at the old ground (mediadrumimages/MacorleeTravels)Luckily. he stumbled upon an old regular fan of the stadium who had been a regular visitor of the stadium until it shut down. This racing fan had a bucket full of memories to relate.
"He told us about so many amazing memories and how all families used to come together, put their differences aside and enjoy a great day out," said Macorlee.
"Walking around you could sense how many memories must have been held in this place.
The ground was home to the Coventry Bees for 90 years (mediadrumimages/MacorleeTravels)
The signs have an aura of an era gone by (mediadrumimages/MacorleeTravels)"I could feel a real positive vibe full of happy memories. Trees were growing through the concrete platforms. The greenery stood out against the decay.
"There was a lot of graffiti that made some amazing artwork. People who saw my photos thanked me. They said their memories came flooding back.
"One man told me that his elderly father couldn't stop smiling after looking at this.
"Coventry Stadium was indeed a big part of people's life back in the day."