Mr Plow Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Don’t know if anyone follows Andy Dakin on Twitter, but he posts old pictures of rugby and football grounds. This one of Mount Pleasant caught my eye, it’s amzing how much Batley have redeveloped their ground in the past 30 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chronicler of Chiswick Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Taken after the Bradford City fire, when the new regulations forced the club to effectively demolish the main stand. A great pity as, however cash strapped the club was, they always found a few quid to keep the ground looking good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Clothesoff Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 It’s crazy to see how much Batley has changed and it’s testament to the people there that they’ve managed to do so much on such modest income, having never been in Super League. Fair play to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 13 minutes ago, Oliver Clothesoff said: It’s crazy to see how much Batley has changed and it’s testament to the people there that they’ve managed to do so much on such modest income, having never been in Super League. Fair play to them. It certainly is and should be a lesson to other clubs. Running a sustainable club and living within your means is more than possible for every club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 43 minutes ago, Damien said: It certainly is and should be a lesson to other clubs. Running a sustainable club and living within your means is more than possible for every club. It is if you're slap bang in the middle of the M62 corridor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Plow Posted December 14, 2018 Author Share Posted December 14, 2018 1 hour ago, Oliver Clothesoff said: It’s crazy to see how much Batley has changed and it’s testament to the people there that they’ve managed to do so much on such modest income, having never been in Super League. Fair play to them. Dewsbury have come along way as well since the old Crown Flatt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Clothesoff Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 53 minutes ago, Dave W said: It is if you're slap bang in the middle of the M62 corridor. Some in a similar location along that corridor aren’t so good at sustainability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulwalker71 Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Batley and Dewsbury have done very well, the other obvious 'success story' is Featherstone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopping Mad Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 McLaren Field, Bramley, has changed quite a lot since I made this August 1986 visit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clogiron Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 58 minutes ago, Hopping Mad said: McLaren Field, Bramley, has changed quite a lot since I made this August 1986 visit! Always remember how those floodlight poles used to sway in the slightest of breezes, think they were permanently bowed, the roof of the shed from the previous ground was still visible over the bottom corner of the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Plow Posted December 14, 2018 Author Share Posted December 14, 2018 4 hours ago, paulwalker71 said: Batley and Dewsbury have done very well, the other obvious 'success story' is Featherstone. Yeah Fev is better than some SL grounds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 47 minutes ago, Clogiron said: Always remember how those floodlight poles used to sway in the slightest of breezes, think they were permanently bowed, the roof of the shed from the previous ground was still visible over the bottom corner of the ground. I loved going to McClaren field as a boy. I also went to the old greyhound stadium to watch New Hunslet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East of the Moon Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Snap!! Those photos of McLaren Field certainly brings back memories and of Barley Mow, also went to the Greyhound stadium a few times too, used to breakin at the back of the stadium without paying, as a young lad and watch the racing, hope the police don't read this!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denton Rovers RLFC Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 I don't really remember these grounds though I visited most of them as a 9/10 year old when FC were in the 2nd Div in my first season (78/79). I'd walk the 3/4 mile to aunties for Sunday lunch then get in for free as she worked in the club bar and uncle worked on the ground at the boulevard. Never felt odd standing there on my 'own' amongst other strangers but we used to go on a coach to many of the away games. MP, Wigginton rd, Station rd, Tattersfield, Lawkholme lane and a few others I went to that season and was like many kids BITD a bit of a programme hoarder, such happy days! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gav Wilson Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Clarence Street... @GavWilson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulwalker71 Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 York's old ground is better than Belle Vue is today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clogiron Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Always enjoyed my visits to Clarence Street, a proper RL ground especially with a large crowd on, I went to a cup-tie against Leeds can't recall if it was there or at Bootham Cresent now, think the crowd was about 11,000 so probably Bootham then, the atmosphere was fantastic that I do recall. New Hunslet at the greyhound stadium too, wasn't too bothered about the tuning fork posts but the grass seemed to be upto the players knees! As for Belle Vue I recall my dad taking me there when they switched on their floodlights, might have been against Australia or New Zealand, and that was a big crowd and that special atmosphere you used to get on a autum evening under lights. The game has given me lots of special memories over the year's that's why it's so sad to see the predicament some of it's oldest member's find themselves in now, but everything changes I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chronicler of Chiswick Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Always enjoyed my visits to McClaren Field, nice ground, nice supporters and the best pie and peas in't Northern Union as they used to say (could never get any that good in Wigan). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopping Mad Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Loved going to Fartown as a schoolboy. Always felt like a proper ground, even when crowds dipped below a thousand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrone Shoelaces Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Those photos bring back a lot of memories. The one of Clarence St in particular. I remember going there with Hornets in the early 1970's for a Challenge Cup game. It had snowed over night but the game was deemed on when the coaches set off from Rochdale. Me and my pal were stood on that open end behind the posts and the ground was packed. I think the gate was 6 or 7 thousand. Anyway about 20 minutes before the start of the game it started snowing again ! It was driving straight into our faces .If it hadn't have been a cup tie with a big crowd it would have been called off. I'd never been so cold I'm my life. My pal had a flask of whisky that saved my life. To cap it all Hornets lost 12-7 and the bloody coach broke down on the way back over the Pennines ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moorside roughyed Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 I love the old grounds,full of atmosphere and old world charm,full to the brim with character. I loved going to watersheddings before they built house's on it. My personal favourite is cougar park,I just hope they can sort the club out. But yes I'd take an old ground over one of these characterless, featureless grounds they're building now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopping Mad Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 42 minutes ago, moorside roughyed said: I love the old grounds,full of atmosphere and old world charm,full to the brim with character. I loved going to watersheddings before they built house's on it. My personal favourite is cougar park,I just hope they can sort the club out. But yes I'd take an old ground over one of these characterless, featureless grounds they're building now. Cougar Park (when it was Lawkholme Lane)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Clothesoff Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 York’s main stand looks remarkably similar to Cas’ main stand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREPOSTEROUS Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 One things for certain, old stadiums in their pomp had far more character than the current batch. Even the KC which I would say is the best, visually, still is pretty dull in comparison. I know time has moved on and bespoke detail just adds to the cost but with most new stadiums it could be the same one just picked up and plonked in another town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREPOSTEROUS Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Old stadium still in use but with stands no longer there: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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