At the time the only spectator facility was a cricket pavilion on the east side of the ground, with football being played at the southern end of the site.

The first League match played at the ground on 10 September 1892 saw Bootle beat Sheffield United 2–0 in front of 4,000 spectators.

Although Bootle finishing eighth in the Second Division, financial constraints forced them to resign from the league, with Liverpool elected to replace them.

The last Football League match was played at Hawthorne Road on 15 April 1893, with 2,000 watching Bootle beat Lincoln City 4–1.

However, housing was later built over the part of the site where the football ground was located when Wadham Road was extended.