What is the greatest ground in RL history?

[Pigeon Lofter]

1 hour ago, Pete Grady said:

Reminds me of 'This Sporting Life' a wonderful 'kitchen sink' film with a darkly menacing Richard Harris set at Belle Vue in the early 60's.  Based on the book by David Storey, Rachel Robert's performance is moody, sexy and the ground itself is atmospheric and just as big a dump as it is today.

The entire film is available on YouTube. 

 

[Dunbar]

As someone who has a painting of Central Park in his office, I would of course gravitate there... but remembering back to my teens, I thought Knowsley Road was a fantastic ground and Wilderspool was equally memorable - just terrifying!

[Vyvyan]

As a relatively old timer I have fond memories of plenty of the old grounds that are no more like Thrum Hall,  Central Park, Fartown, Knowsley Rd,  McLaren Field Watersheddings etc.  They all oozed atmosphere but maybe I've got rose tinted glasses on as they were places I went to in my formative RL years?

Odsal is another that holds great memories.  It's in a sad state now with its undersized pitch and terracing and seats covered in muck from the track.  

I think we need to give the modern stadia a chance to make their own history.  

[Hopping Mad]

23 hours ago, Eddie said:

I’m extremely disappointed to find that Alt Park doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page. I once went to watch Knowsley United v South Liverpool there, what a dump. 

Alt Park had been smartened up considerably by the time Knowsley United moved in!

Fartown, for me.

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

The thing for me about Central Park was having a pint and meat and potato pie in Billy Boston's before the game and looking at all the pictures on the wall.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

Having a quick look through the replies, so far we seem to be saying Old Wembley, Odsal and Central Park are the greatest grounds to ever grace our game, with Headingley, Belle Vue and Lang Park/Suncorp close behind. Keep the replies coming everyone, really enjoying all your old memories!

[JonM]

13 hours ago, Spidey said:

Best ground I’ve watched a rugby league game is Suncorp, Brisbane. Right shape good view everywhere

Always found it pretty cool that watching games at ANZ/QE2 stadium in Brisbane could involve a train trip to Runcorn

Lots of good suggestions above. I might add Carlaw Park in Auckland to the list, and perhaps Wingham Park in Greymouth.

[Impartial Observer]

I was stood next to Stanley Gene when he was a coach, cannot remember which team, at Maesteg when Celtic Crusaders played there. He looked at the green hills all around  and said it reminded me of home. I said I didnt remember Hull like this, he walked away 

[Jill Halfpenny fan]

Don't know about the greatest but always enjoyed going to Wigginton Road.

[The Art of Hand and Foot]

For me it's Watersheddings. A typical old fashioned rugby ground. A ground that was in use before the great split.  But here's another question. Which grounds are still in use that predate the split? 

[JonM]

1 hour ago, The Art of Hand and Foot said:

For me it's Watersheddings. A typical old fashioned rugby ground. A ground that was in use before the great split.  But here's another question. Which grounds are still in use that predate the split? 

Headingley 1890. Lawkholme Lane Keighley was first used in 1885. Mount Pleasant Batley 1880. Belle Vue Wakefield in 1879.

Widnes have played on lowerhouse lane since 1884/85, but I think the current ground alignment came into use a couple of weeks into the first Northern Union season, and I think previously the pitch was at right angles to the current alignment.

[dealwithit]

Belmore for me. Was lucky to see a game there last year. Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Gold Coast have fantastic brand new rectangle stadiums. But there’s something about standing on the hill at Belmore. 

[Gerrumonside ref]

Knowsley Road, old Wembley and Central Park hold special RL memories for me.

Can remember too how close to the action you could get at Station Rd when seeing wingers speed past.

A mention as well for The Boulevard where I once did a bit of reporting from as a young sports reporter.

[JonM]

25 minutes ago, dealwithit said:

Belmore for me. Was lucky to see a game there last year. Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Gold Coast have fantastic brand new rectangle stadiums. But there’s something about standing on the hill at Belmore. 

It's a funny ground - one massive grandstand, and the trains going past all the time.

[overtheborder]

As someone who started going to away games in the mid-2000s and so missed a lot of the really old grounds, I always liked Odsal myself - a big bowl in the ground, something unlike a lot of others. There was also something about Knowsley Road and even the Willows I liked - those old-style terraced grounds where you could make quite a bit of noise.

[marklaspalmas]

4 hours ago, Jill Halfpenny fan said:

Don't know about the greatest but always enjoyed going to Wigginton Road.

Lovely ground 

[moorside roughyed]

23 hours ago, Fevrover said:

That wa a proper Rugby ground.

I know,I still miss it now. I have a framed picture of "Sheddings" on the wall on my landing.

Edited July 5, 2023 by moorside roughyed

[Fevrover]

2 hours ago, overtheborder said:

As someone who started going to away games in the mid-2000s and so missed a lot of the really old grounds, I always liked Odsal myself - a big bowl in the ground, something unlike a lot of others. There was also something about Knowsley Road and even the Willows I liked - those old-style terraced grounds where you could make quite a bit of noise.

I liked the Willows especially the cantilever stand, I'd never seen one before first time i went to watch Fev in the 70's.

[dealwithit]

9 hours ago, JonM said:

It's a funny ground - one massive grandstand, and the trains going past all the time.

Yeah it’s definitely not pretty, but it has a charm about it.

The old doorless trains would have people hanging out trying to catch the ball from goal kick attempts. 
The train drivers would also toot their horn when the opposition were lining up for a shot at goal. Suburban rugby league at its greatest. 

[eal]

England - Wembley

Australia - North Sydney Oval

New Zealand - Carlaw Park

[R L Winger]

The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) Moore Park, It was where most Sydney Rugby League Grand Finals were held up until 1988 when they moved next door to The Sydney Football Stadium (SFS), then in 1999 to Stadium Australia at Homebush.

Edited July 6, 2023 by R L Winger

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

7 hours ago, R L Winger said:

The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) Moore Park, It was where most Sydney Rugby League Grand Finals were held up until 1988 when they moved next door to The Sydney Football Stadium (SFS), then in 1999 to Stadium Australia at Homebush.

Always remember when the SFS opened the then editor of the now closed 'Rugby League Week', Norm Tasker, commenting on how in the rain it resembled real life - 10% in the warm and dry and everyone else being ****ed on!

[JonM]

11 hours ago, dealwithit said:

Suburban rugby league at its greatest. 

I think that's spot on. I seem to recall Geoffrey Moorhouse waxing lyrical about the various suburban grounds in Sydney in "At the George".

[Jim from Oz]

Henson Park in inner-Sydney’s Marrickville is another beauty. Newtown Jets still play there

[dealwithit]

Kogarah, Brookvale, Leichardt are a few other classic suburban grounds. 
I reckon Mt Smart would be a great atmosphere