Elgin - Milnefield Park
Milnefield Avenue : IV30 6EJ
Elgin - Milnefield Park : Map credit National Library of Scotland Milnefield Park was an enclosed private sports ground that was in use by the early 1890s. Elgin City football club was formed on 10th August 1893 from the amalgamation of Elgin Rovers and Vale of Lossie, the club moved to Milnefield Park in 1895.

The first bicycle racing at the ground was at the Morayshire Cycling Club's 8th annual cycling and athletics meeting on 31st August 1895 under SCU and SAAU rules. The track was rather slow and greasy due to recent heavy rain. J Innes of Forres won the two and three miles Class A* amateur handicap races and FC Pope of Aberdeen won the three miles handicap Class B* and the five miles invitation races. The meeting saw the largest crowd that Elgin had ever seen for a sports event.

The sports were repeated the following year with record attendance, but the Northern Scot newspaper complained that there were too many bicycle races and the meeting became monotonous. The combined friendly societies held their sports meeting in 1897 and 3,500 spectators crowded around ‘the ring'. There were running and bicycle races and horse trotting events. The bicycle competitions were a two miles novices handicap and a five miles open handicap race which were both won by local man W Canfield. The day ended with a large bonfire with firework displays around the town and the band played until 11.30pm.

For the next ten years or so there were sports meetings with bicycle racing at the ground, organised either by the combined friendly societies or Morayshire Cycling Club. A grandstand was constructed at the ground in 1899.

Elgin Highland Games were held at the ground on 13th July 1907. In the bicycle races, Thomas Swan of Cardenden was very successful, in the three miles handicap Swan was off scratch, but after six laps he caught all the other riders and continued on to win, Swan also won the one and two miles races. The motor cycle race fell rather flat and there was a gymnastics display and flat racing. Music was provided by the Elgin City Band. This was probably the last bicycle racing that was held at Milnefield Park.

Elgin City FC moved from Milnefield Park to Station Park for the 1909-10 season, but Milnefield was still used intermittently for local recreation and some junior football matches over the next decade. The ground was eventually developed for housing in the area now known as Milnefield Avenue.

* Class A amateurs raced strictly for trophies and medals and were not allowed to take any money, trade backing, or expenses. Class B amateurs were allowed to receive expense money, travel costs and to ride for cash prizes or special stakes, bridging the gap toward the professional ranks.


Refs     : [p]
Maps    : National Library of Scotland