The Pigeon Club
Pigeon racing was another of the early sports at Wardley and taken seriously. Pigeon lofts were in a number of locations around the village. Some were in the allotments at Reservoir Street, Quality Terrace, opposite Sunderland Terrace and First Street. Another was in the gardens over the Sunderland line railway bridge where now stands a livery stable. The men had their own "Wardley Homing Club" which met at the Railway Hotel. 
In November 1888 the cote belonging to William Wilkin was broken into by 3 boys, Joseph Hagan, William Bell and Charles Thompson. They were caught and charged. Thompson and Dewhurst were committed to prison for 1 day and the former to receive 6 strokes and the later 12 strokes of the birch. Thompson was also birched 6 times. The theft of valuable pigeons occurred again on June 6th 1907 when the dovecote behind the White Mare Pool Cottages belonging to Robert Harker, the lampman at Wardley Colliery, was broken into and eleven pigeons stolen. Nevertheless, at the annual sweepstake of the club the following September, which was from Hebburn Cemetery to Wardley, a distance of nearly one mile, was won by the brothers John and Robert Harker for the third year running and they were able to keep the silver cup trophy as the winners property.
Wardley man, Bob Young, recollected racing the pigeons from Scotts House, opposite Lawsons Farm (Boldon Fell Farm), back to the Pool bridge. The pit surveyor painted a white line on the road for their use and the Railway Hotel was used as the meeting place. Some of the men were John Gage, Davy Ball, Matt Noble, Ralph Botcherby and Dick Coulson. Joe Felton and Sid Askew were also keen pigeon men.
There are still two pigeon lofts at Wardley today (1996) owned by Davy Ball and Bill Arnott on land rented from Railtrack which carry on this racing tradition in the area.

Leek and Vegetable Society
The 1920's and 30's had keen competitions among the leek and vegetable growers. One was held by the British Legion members at its "tin hut" premises beside the school and another by the Wardley Leek and Vegetable Society which held its show at the Railway Hotel. At the Railway's" show held on October 8th 1932 the Best Leek 1st prize was won by Jas Humphrey, 2nd Daniel Short, 3rd W.H,CLark. At the annual show on Oct 2nd, 3rd and 4th at the Railway Hotel the best 3 pot leeks was won by William Robert Clark, 2nd J. Henderson, 3rd J.V.Lockhart.  Celery, 1st prize Tom Carney, 2nd G.Summerson, 3rd B. Anderson.  Beetroot, 1st William Waggot, 2nd B. Anderson, 3rd G.Summerson.  Other members of the Leek Show were Taylor G.Cowell, Jos.H.Ioble, Jos Deighton, Harry Simpson, William Gillespy, Fred Teasdale, John Brown, Jas Ovington, William Browell, George Redden and John Lockhart.
The Wardley British Legion still holds its Leek Show every September.