cricket was first recorded as being played on what would become sturge park in october 1925, when st kitts played antigua in the 1925/26 hesketh bell shield. montserrat first played there in the same competition against dominica, before the ground held the final of the tournament between montserrat and antigua, with montserrat winning. the ground was not officially given for recreational use until 1936, when the montserrat company, owned by the sturge family, donated the ground to the government of montserrat. the ground was named in honour of joseph sturge and his son. the next recorded match to be played there isn't until 1967, when first-class cricket was played there for the first time when the leeward islands played the windward islands. this was also the first time first-class cricket had been played on montserrat. montserrat continued to use the ground throughout the 1970s, while the next first-class match to be played there came in 1976 when the leeward islands played the touring indians.