Croquet Ground in Finsbury Park

The Illustrated London News of 19th June 1869 tells us that the the part of Finsbury Park under which lies the water reservoir (that's the flat area just north of Seven Sisters Rad) was initially used as a croquet ground.

In 1872, three years after the park was opened, we read in the Islington Gazette (16th July) that croquet matches were being organised in the park.

I don't know how long croquet survived at the the park, but the listing of Finsbury Park as one of London's cricket Grounds in the 'Croquet Regulations' section of London County Council's 1906 Bye Laws & Regulations suggests that it was no flash in the pan.