Antelope Ground

The Antelope Ground, Southampton was a sports ground that was the first home of both Hampshire County Cricket Club, who played there prior to 1884, and of Southampton Football Club, who played there from 1887 to 1896 as "Southampton St. Mary's F.C."

The ground was situated on the east side of St Mary's Road at the corner of the present-day Brinton's Terrace and extended south to Clovelly Road and east to Exmoor Road. The ground took its name from the Antelope Hotel, which was situated on the opposite side of St Mary's Road.

Hampshire County Cricket Club

1842 to 1845

The first known cricket match played at the ground was on 23 August 1839 when "North of Hampshire" opposed "South of Hampshire".

In 1842 three local gentlemen, Thomas Chamberlayne, Sir Frederick Hervey-Bathurst and Sir John Barker-Mill, financed the development of the ground and installed the former Hampshire and Surrey cricketer Daniel Day in the Antelope Hotel. Chamberlayne was a Hampshire cricketer, making several appearances in the 1840s, including in the Hampshire v. England match in September 1842. Hervey-Bathurst also played regularly for MCC and Hampshire between 1832 and 1861. All three gentlemen are shown on the scorecard of a match between MCC and Hampshire at Lord's on 30 June 1842, although Barker-Mill is shown as "absent hurt".