Perry Barr Stadium was originally an athletics ground built in 1927 on a former rubbish tip by Birchfield Harriers Athletic Club. It was known as The Alexander Sports Stadium, named after WW Alexander, who had devoted much of his life to the club.
The Harriers hired out the stadium for speedway in 1928, and then from 1946 to 1957. Stock car racing was staged on the speedway track in 1954 and 1955.
Other uses of the stadium included cycling, horse jumping, Aston Villa's training ground, and during World War II it was a base for the Home Guard and a camp for Italian prisoners of war.
Today it is known as Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium, and not to be confused with the new Alexander Stadium, which was built in 1977 and is about a mile away.
