The Recreation Ground on Saltergate was in use from 1871 for cricket and football. Chesterfield FC moved to the Recreation Ground from Spital in 1884, they bought the ground from Chesterfield Corporation in 1921 and in 2010 they moved to their newly built Proact Stadium. Chesterfield Cricket Club moved to Queens Park in the 1890's.
The 1891 sports meeting was organised by Chesterfield Cricket Club and held on Whit Monday. The Derbyshire Times reported that "The entries, however, were hardly up to the average, owing no doubt to the number of athletes and bicyclists who were hors de combat with the prevailing epidemic." (There was a bad flu epidemic in 1891). The bicycle races were a six lap safety bicycle Handicap race and a five lap race for Chesterfield Cycling Club members. It was noted that the winner "W James, rode a machine with pneumatic tyres and thus easily wiped off his handicap and was a very easy winner". There was also a tug of war contest, open only to members of Chesterfield Cycling Club.
Saltergate was not used for bicycle racing after Queens Park opened in 1893. The Recreation Ground site was developed for housing and a road there was called ‘Spire Heights' as a tribute to the club.