HISTORY
Walthamstow Stadium Limited was founded by William Chandler and opened in 1933. William Chandler came from very
poor beginnings in East London and his first business venture was to operate as an illegal street bookmakers in East
London with runners standing on street corners in all districts of London's East end.
He progressed to become a bookmaker at horse racing tracks throughout the South of England and after a few years had
the number 1 pitch at every racecourse in the South.
The next move was to become a rails bookmakers (a bookmaker who bets to the Members Enclosure). The other book- makers standing on the rails next to him were three young men, William Hill, Jo Coral and Max Parker (Max Parker was
the founder of Ladbrokes) so he was in good company.
He diversified into several businesses and in the late 1920's when greyhound racing started in England he saw a potential
and opened Walthamstow Stadium. He sadly passed away in 1946 when only 56 years of age.
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