The Polytechnic Sports Ground in Chiswick, where the Investec World Womens League Semi-Finals are being played this week, was one of three venues used for the preliminery matches during the 1948 London Olympic Games.
The famous pavilion, as seen in these two photographs is still there, although extended in 1960.
The Ground hosted seven matches during the Olympics, including Great Britain’s 11-0 win over the USA on 5 August 1948.
The Guinness Ground and Lyons’ Ground were the other two venues used for the preliminery matches. The Semi-Finals and the Final were played at Wembley Stadium.
The Polytechnic Sports Ground nearly became the home of Hockey in the 1980s. An application to build a National Hockey Centre at Chiswick in July 1980 was initially refused but following a successful appeal it was granted. However, the Hockey Association decided to hold the Hockey World Cup in Willesden in 1986 and found Milton Keynes to be a better option. The rest, as they say, is history.
Dil Bahra, June 2013
