It has been a sporting home to tens of thousands of Huddersfield people over the years.
But now the end is most definitely in sight for Huddersfield Sports Centre.
The centre is where countless Huddersfield people have learned to swim and where sports such as football, badminton, wrestling, judo, netball, boxing and swimming have staged major events.
Demolition crews have now started knocking down the building as part of a huge contract to flatten the site bounded by Leeds Road, Old Leeds Road and Southgate.
READ MORE:Demolition crews to move in to Huddersfield Sports Centre site
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Giant excavators have opened up the old sports hall end of the building, bringing down the roof and the balcony overlooking the main hall.
They are to continue work through to the other end where the swimming pool and former diving pool were housed, along with the indoor bowling rink.
It was on July 24, 1973, that Princess Royal Princess Anne, opened the centre along with the last Mayor of Huddersfield, Clr John Mernagh.
The Royal guest was presented with honorary membership of the centre by Clr Mernagh.
It finally closed 42 years later when Kirklees Active Leisure opened the new £35m Huddersfield Leisure Centre at Springwood last summer.
READ MORE: One last look around old Huddersfield Sports Centre as demolition men move in
The old site is going along with the tower blocks of flats named after sports stars Anita Lonsbrough and Derek Ibbotson, the former Pine Street car park, the council’s computer centre and a host of former industrial buildings.
South Yorkshire-based Demex have won the contract and expect it to take 30 weeks.
The site will then be levelled and marketed for future development by Kirklees Council.
