The old grounds - Your memories

[Hopping Mad]

22 minutes ago, Chronicler of Chiswick said:

Memories of Thrum Hall's set me thinking. Could the problem with the new grounds be not so much the ground itself, but the surroundings? Think of the difference between (say) Hilton Park and the LSV or Central Park and the Brick (I think that's right, tend to lose track of all the name changes).

There's something in this (although what can be seen from The Shay says as much about Halifax as what could be seen from Thrum Hall). New grounds marooned near an outer ring road, plonked down amid generic retail parks and/or industrial estates (e.g. Doncaster, Salford, York), are never going to have the same sense of place, regardless of whether they offer superior spectator comforts.

Edited November 20, 2024 by Hopping Mad

[Derwent]

I always enjoyed going to McLaren Field at Bramley for some reason.

Clarence Street at York too, especially when the wind was blowing in the right direction from the chocolate factory !

 

 

[Ainley Top]

1 hour ago, Chronicler of Chiswick said:

Memories of Thrum Hall's set me thinking. Could the problem with the new grounds be not so much the ground itself, but the surroundings? Think of the difference between (say) Hilton Park and the LSV or Central Park and the Brick (I think that's right, tend to lose track of all the name changes).

A visit to the Thrum Hall area now would not be a nice experience sadly.

[Ainley Top]

2 hours ago, Snowys Backside said:

Enjoyed Thrum Hall, both as a Fan and as a player, although it has some slope on it !!

Remember playing a game in the early 90's marking a cracking player at Centre (Richard Smith ?) He knew how to run downhill !!  !!

Aye, a local lad he scored a great try against the Australian tourists if i remember correctly. 

[whatmichaelsays]

1 hour ago, Chronicler of Chiswick said:

Memories of Thrum Hall's set me thinking. Could the problem with the new grounds be not so much the ground itself, but the surroundings? Think of the difference between (say) Hilton Park and the LSV or Central Park and the Brick (I think that's right, tend to lose track of all the name changes).

I'd agree with that, although I suppose that will depend on what your idea of "a day at the rugby" means for you. 

For some it's places to go drinking and a local area to enjoy pre/post-match - and it's why I'm pleased that Leeds renovated Headingley rather than looked to move elsewhere. 

But equally, for others it's easy car parking and some inoffensive family-friendly restaurant nearby, and that's something that out-of-town stadia can offer. 

[Wigan Riversider]

Wigan Lane pubs were superb pre and post match at Central Park.

I also had great trips to the Charlety in Paris.

[ChristianB]

I recently went back to the patch of rough ground where Wilderspool once stood. I could still hear the crackling tannoy and 'When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman' by Dr Hook. I remembered the sound of the wooden steps up to the old stand and, then, the hard concrete ones of the new. There was a scent of cement when it was first built.

There were the plumes of cigarette smoke, the smell of fried onions from the hot dog stall, and the bellow of the chap who yelled 'every confidence in you Hesford!' when the moment arose.

Most of all, though, I remembered my dad in the sheepskin coat I now keep in the wardrobe because... because. I miss him very much.

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

12 hours ago, Wigan Riversider said:

Wigan Lane pubs were superb pre and post match at Central Park.

I also had great trips to the Charlety in Paris.

Used to get great meat and potato pies in Billy Boston's. 

[JF1]

I think our opinions of grounds looking back are,to some extent,influenced by the fact that we played the game in winter.

Watching games huddled together in the cold,with poor winter light or under, barely adequate floodlights,somehow added to the atmosphere,especially when you added in the smells of liniment and ciggy smoke.

Watching in a modern stadium in shirt sleeves is a million miles away from those days when we often didn't have cars and travelled to and from games by public transport.

Try telling that to the young 'uns today,they'd never believe you........................

[daz39]

On 20/11/2024 at 16:05, Ainley Top said:

A visit to the Thrum Hall area now would not be a nice experience sadly.

Unless your doing a big shop at the Asda, but then again that isn't the best experience in the world either.

[Leyther_Matt]

On 20/11/2024 at 14:17, Chronicler of Chiswick said:

Memories of Thrum Hall's set me thinking. Could the problem with the new grounds be not so much the ground itself, but the surroundings? Think of the difference between (say) Hilton Park and the LSV or Central Park and the Brick (I think that's right, tend to lose track of all the name changes).

Tbf LSV is actually nearer to Leigh town centre than Hilton Park was, and is plonked right at the side of a council estate so not exactly marooned out on a ring road. Much more space than being tucked behind the houses though, just as was the case with Central Park and Wilderspool 

[morty]

On 17/11/2024 at 13:27, M j M said:

When did that happen out of interest? I've not been in decades but it was renowned when I was younger as one of the few RL grounds with cover on all four sides.

I think it was in the late 90's due to the corrugated roofs being unsafe and it was going to cost a fortune to replace so cheaper to remove

[Fevrover]

7 minutes ago, morty said:

I think it was in the late 90's due to the corrugated roofs being unsafe and it was going to cost a fortune to replace so cheaper to remove

I didn't realise it was that long ago.

[Leyther_Matt]

7 minutes ago, morty said:

I think it was in the late 90's due to the corrugated roofs being unsafe and it was going to cost a fortune to replace so cheaper to remove

Just now, Fevrover said:

I didn't realise it was that long ago.

Hindpool Road end had the roof removed in 2021

The other end still had the roof in 2009ish and remained for at least a couple of years after that, I’m sure 

[Leyther_Matt]

16 minutes ago, morty said:

I think it was in the late 90's due to the corrugated roofs being unsafe and it was going to cost a fortune to replace so cheaper to remove

8 minutes ago, Fevrover said:

I didn't realise it was that long ago.

2 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Hindpool Road end had the roof removed in 2021

The other end still had the roof in 2009ish and remained for at least a couple of years after that, I’m sure 

In Wiki we trust

 

[Fevrover]

27 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

In Wiki we trust

 

I didn't think it was right,cheers for clearing it up .

[Harry Stottle]

14 hours ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Tbf LSV is actually nearer to Leigh town centre than Hilton Park was, and is plonked right at the side of a council estate so not exactly marooned out on a ring road. Much more space than being tucked behind the houses though, just as was the case with Central Park and Wilderspool 

Where are you saying the Leigh town centre is Matt?

I would say the Turnpike junction, Bradshawgate/King St/Railway Rd if you agree with that then Hilton Park was closer than the the LSV.

[Snowys Backside]

2 hours ago, Harry Stottle said:

Where are you saying the Leigh town centre is Matt?

I would say the Turnpike junction, Bradshawgate/King St/Railway Rd if you agree with that then Hilton Park was closer than the the LSV.

Hilton Park was closer to the Town Centre by about two pints !

[Ainley Top]

3 hours ago, Harry Stottle said:

Where are you saying the Leigh town centre is Matt?

I would say the Turnpike junction, Bradshawgate/King St/Railway Rd if you agree with that then Hilton Park was closer than the the LSV.

I thought that.

[Leyther_Matt]

4 hours ago, Harry Stottle said:

Where are you saying the Leigh town centre is Matt?

I would say the Turnpike junction, Bradshawgate/King St/Railway Rd if you agree with that then Hilton Park was closer than the the LSV.

1 hour ago, Snowys Backside said:

Hilton Park was closer to the Town Centre by about two pints !

40 minutes ago, Ainley Top said:

I thought that.

George & Dragon/bus station, I’d say.

To the corner house on Glebe St/Chadwick St, it is 0.5 miles. To the roundabout on Turner Way behind the North/East Stand it is 0.6 miles. Not exactly a mammoth difference, albeit I’ll accept I’m incorrect by 200 yards (less than that if, as in my case, you sit in East Stand at LSV and entered HP using the Mick Martyn Bar turnstiles!)

 

[Reverend Ram]

Carlisle was mentioned earlier in the thread - don’t forget Gillford Park where they moved to in the late 80’s - remember a vintage moment watching Dewsbury win there but best move of the day was Carlisle captain Hugh Waddell making a beeline for the tea bar upon the final whistle, not even waiting to get a shower, but piling into a plate of chips with curry sauce. Happy days!

[High Peak Rhino]

On 15/11/2024 at 18:19, Wilderspoolmemories said:

I think Thrum Hall deserves a mention. It sloped end to end and side to side, and alongside Watersheddings is probably the coldest place I've ever watched a rugby game. 

Thrum Hall is the only ground I've had a snowball fight at.  

[JohnM]

A really readable topic for once. The problem is, though, that nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

[Rene_Artois]

Doncaster is hardly stuck in an industrial estate. Lakeside is a really nice location. Also just a 15 minute walk from city centre.

[Leyther_Matt]

1 hour ago, Rene_Artois said:

Doncaster is hardly stuck in an industrial estate. Lakeside is a really nice location. Also just a 15 minute walk from city centre.

Takes 15 minutes to try and find a route from the retail park through to the ground, mind  

I would love to say this hasn’t happened to me at least 3 times. But even twice in the space of a few weeks in RLWC2022 we buggered up our route from Pizza Hut and ended up having to climb a fence