21 replies to this topic

[Penola]

Anyone see the Yorkshire Post today about Bramley coming back? They are currently getting around 400 per game at Stanningley so are not based where they should be but are looking to rise from the Ashes. Mclaren Field was sold off and they have struggled since. Remind you of any club in particular?

Good luck to them and maybe Leeds City Council will build a nice little ground with a capacity of 5000 somewhere in Leeds for both clubs to share - yeah right! 3 clubs in 1 city?

Edited by Penola, 22 February 2011 - 05:13 PM.

[HaroldShand]

I used to love going to McLaren Field, even when the place was falling to bits. Something really indicative of old fashioned RL about the place and the club.

[Penola]

I used to love going to McLaren Field, even when the place was falling to bits. Something really indicative of old fashioned RL about the place and the club.

I agree. Overflowing toilet troughs, useless tannoys, fire-hazard stands, burger vans, packed little bars. Oh for the days

[miggyman]

useless tannoys.

we tick that box!.

[Blackpool Hawk]

useless tannoys.

we tick that box!.

and a packed little bar

[FRISKY FILLY]

Anyone see the Yorkshire Post today about Bramley coming back? They are currently getting around 400 per game at Stanningley so are not based where they should be but are looking to rise from the Ashes. Mclaren Field was sold off and they have struggled since. Remind you of any club in particular?

Good luck to them and maybe Leeds City Council will build a nice little ground with a capacity of 5000 somewhere in Leeds for both clubs to share - yeah right! 3 clubs in 1 city?

Maybe the Council could improve an excisting ground in South Leeds to a 5,000 capacity, with up to date facilites like a tannoy that works, and then invite Bramley to play there -- of course that depends if Bramley want to be in the RL Championship 1 with ALL the costs that involves, or are they happy to remain as they are?

[hunslets iggy pop]

I used to love going to McLaren Field, even when the place was falling to bits. Something really indicative of old fashioned RL about the place and the club.

Yes agreed. Loved going there. A bit like going in an old fashioned real ale traditional pub, instead of these silly yuppy pubs i hate. Mclaren Field certainly had character, and a nice little bar too.Todays modern grounds all look similar, they are ok, but lack that atmosphere of the old grounds.

[maccca-6-]

Yes agreed. Loved going there. A bit like going in an old fashioned real ale traditional pub, instead of these silly yuppy pubs i hate. Mclaren Field certainly had character, and a nice little bar too.Todays modern grounds all look similar, they are ok, but lack that atmosphere of the old grounds.

I agree. I love going to barrow and keighley cause they're how stadiums should be. They seem to generatate a better atmosphere

[suzzy]

I agree. I love going to barrow and keighley cause they're how stadiums should be. They seem to generatate a better atmosphere

I played at post office road in the late sixties early seventies and for me its still got a great atmosphere now as it had then. Apart from the sinder track where the showers and bods room used to be nothing much has changed a great club to be part of then and no doubt it still is.Remember 15000 watching rovers v castleford in the challenge cup god the noise was deafening

[oldrover]

it will always be barley mow to me.

[Superman.....]

I saw Roy "Chubby" Brown in the Supporters club (later Villager Pub) there before he became famous, couple of dirty strippers on as well but thats a different story

[The King Of Leon]

For real atmosphere and characters there was nothing to compare with Parkside, the wait outside the dressing rooms for the likes of giants like Geoff Gunney to emerge, hoards of kids with autograph books waiting for the opposition team bus to arrive , the half time games on the training pitch at the back, the clamber to get on the scoreboard on the kop.The crush between the gates to get out at the end of a match esp on Cup games, all marvellous memories that i can still see in my head now....a terrible pity in the last few years Inman and his cronies let the place go to rack and ruin an absolute tragedy.

[ANDYPK]

Can't beat Huntington Stadium for atmosphere see Bramley are getting a good 50 more through the gates than the Hawks per game, LCC probably better building them a new ground than wasting it on you lot.

[The King Of Leon]

All that Huntington Stadium is good for is growing cabbages, spuds and sprouts , ive never seen a worse surface.As for Bramley last time they were in the league playing at headingley they had about 20 fans in total gathered in the South Stand - and i aint joking.Do you honestly think they would get any more if people had to pay more than a couple of quid to watch that level of rugby??Bramley would be far better playing the likes of Hunslet Warriors, Oulton Raiders,Thornhill etc in the Conference than in that joke league where they play now imo.

[jonnyg28]

All that Huntington Stadium is good for is growing cabbages, spuds and sprouts , ive never seen a worse surface.As for Bramley last time they were in the league playing at headingley they had about 20 fans in total gathered in the South Stand - and i aint joking.Do you honestly think they would get any more if people had to pay more than a couple of quid to watch that level of rugby??Bramley would be far better playing the likes of Hunslet Warriors, Oulton Raiders,Thornhill etc in the Conference than in that joke league where they play now imo.

[jonnyg28]

I ain't a massive fan of Bramley but I think that's a little harsh, they do seem to have a decent following at Stanningley. What makes you think your team warrants paying more than a couple of quid to watch? Especially pre March brothers? Not a dig, there are a good 4/5 teams in that league that Bramley play in.

[Chelseahawks3]

Can't beat Huntington Stadium for atmosphere see Bramley are getting a good 50 more through the gates than the Hawks per game, LCC probably better building them a new ground than wasting it on you lot.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[number9]

I ain't a massive fan of Bramley but I think that's a little harsh, they do seem to have a decent following at Stanningley. What makes you think your team warrants paying more than a couple of quid to watch? Especially pre March brothers? Not a dig, there are a good 4/5 teams in that league that Bramley play in.

Agreed!!!

[Cliff Spracklen]

All that Huntington Stadium is good for is growing cabbages, spuds and sprouts , ive never seen a worse surface.As for Bramley last time they were in the league playing at headingley they had about 20 fans in total gathered in the South Stand - and i aint joking.Do you honestly think they would get any more if people had to pay more than a couple of quid to watch that level of rugby??Bramley would be far better playing the likes of Hunslet Warriors, Oulton Raiders,Thornhill etc in the Conference than in that joke league where they play now imo.

A bit disrespectful to other RL fans trying to preserve their club. As a Director of Bramley Buffaloes I would not dream of knocking the efforts of Hunslet fans in trying to keep the flag flying for semi-pro RL in south Leeds. As a totally fans owned club we at Bramley are delighted that Hunslet fans have formed a Supporters Trust. I shall be sending off my membership form tomorrow to support the principle and to chip in my £12 . Jeez nearly the price of a Bramley season ticket! Just joking! The more fans joining Supporters Trusts and taking more control of the game the better.
Hope all you Hunslet forumists have joined the Supporters Trust.
As to the description of crowds at Headingley don't you think there might be a connection between Bramley playing at Headingley, and regarded as Leeds Rhinos Second Team? Don't think many Hunslet fans would turn out regularly if Headingley was the home ground, Leeds Rhinos staff appeared to be picking the team, and the Chair of a Super League club had bought a majority shareholding in Bramley.
As it happens I am also a Hunslet Fan being a Director of the Hunslet Club (formerly the Hunslet Boys Club) The Boys Club produced many players for Hunslet in the past including Graham King, the late and sadly missed Mark Burgess and Sonny Nickle and lots for the sport in general.
One of my sons is a Bramley fan, the first Chair of the new fans owned Bramley Club, who spoke at a meeting of Hunslet fans some years ago encouraging the formation of a Supporters Trust at SLS. The other is a fan of Hunslet and has written about them in various places, including his all-time hero Rudi Francis. I was involved with Hunslet during the Greyhound Stadium days producing the Hunslet News , the first newspaper devoted to one RL club.
So you can have if not affection, at least some sympathy and feeling for other clubs.
The new Bramley club started with no ground and no assets. So we have some way to go, a stadium, or even just a stand, being the biggest hurdle to overcome.
But we have had some good times since we were formed, with good and noisy crowds.
As to admission prices if they are to keep rising then the standard and marketing of the competitions below Super League needs to be improved drastically. Hopefully the proposed changes will improve things for all.
In the meantime I wish Hunslet all the best in the new venture in the Championship. There are some good people involved with the club, Darren, Big Al, Chris etc. So hopefully you will do well.
I was in the first group to sign the Hunslet ST petition to the Council. I hope you would respond similarly if Bramley were doing something similar.
Fierce rivalry between fans is essential, but a bit of mutual respect between fans of all clubs is needed to boot. I would love to see a Bramley-Hunslet derby back on the calendar one day in the future, as it was in the late 1970's and both clubs were promoted together to the then First Division. I appreciate the positive comments about Bramley from the Hunslet fans on here.
But a city like Leeds can easily accomodate 3 pro or semi-pro clubs, and loads of amateur ones. We shall see what the future holds.

Edited by Cliff Spracklen, 01 March 2011 - 06:45 PM.

[Blackpool Hawk]

Great post, agree with everything you have said, I'd love to see bramley back were they belong amongst the semi pro clubs, I too hope the west vs south Leeds derbys can be a part of both our futures, here's to the best and second best pro rl clubs in Leeds!