London's 24 home grounds

[groundhopper]

I saw this figure mentioned before Broncos v Wests at Richmond and tried to name them whilst on the train afterwards

I have been to 15, Craven Cottage, Polytechnic, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Harlequins, Copthall, Ealing and Wimbledon as regular venues.

Have also attended Rosslyn Park, Richmond, Orient, Gillingham, Gravesend/Ebbsfleet Wycombe and Millwall

The figure of 24 may include games I saw at Leicester and Aberavon which were I think home games not on the road games.

What else has there been Charlton, a one off at Chelsea and  a couple at Wealdstone, most of a season at Hendon and cup games at Kingston and Crawley. 

Can anyone identify the others, there may have been one in France, possibly another in Wales but I think in the 3rd season they played three games up north.

I have a total of 21 in the South East and five or six others plus anything I have overlooked.

Wikipedia is not accurate.

 

As a separate question, who comes next, I have Hurricanes on 9 and no idea about Gateshead/ Newcastle but there are more than the 5 I have visited. Sheffield might be worth a look 

   

[bromleybulldog]

Barnet-The Hive

Don't remember Broncos at Millwall? Wigan v Catalans yes but.. 

Edited February 3 by bromleybulldog

[Gav Wilson]

2 hours ago, groundhopper said:

As a separate question, who comes next, I have Hurricanes on 9 and no idea about Gateshead/ Newcastle but there are more than the 5 I have visited. Sheffield might be worth a look 

York RLFC have 11:

Knavesmire

Grange Street, Fulford

Clarence Street

Ryedale/Huntington Stadium

Wheldon Road, Castleford

McCain Stadium, Scarborough 

Bootham Crescent

Elmpark Way, Heworth

Clifton Park (York RUFC)

Post Office Road

LNER Community Stadium

Edited February 3 by Gav Wilson

[Hopping Mad]

12 minutes ago, Gav Wilson said:

York RLFC:

Knavesmire

Grange Street, Fulford

Clarence Street

Ryedale/Huntington Stadium

McCain Stadium, Scarborough (I could be wrong on this one)

Bootham Crescent

Elmpark Way, Heworth

Clifton Park (York RUFC)

Post Office Road

LNER Community Stadium

After the closure of Clarence Street, York played Swinton, in a Division Two Premiership game, at Wheldon Road, Castleford. I assume the housing developer was so keen to raze Clarence Street, York weren't allowed to complete the 1988-89 season there.

The game at Scarborough - a play-off tie against Leigh - was in April 1991. Ryedale Stadium was unavailable because of an athletics meetings. A few months later, the McCain was hosting rugby league regularly; 1991-92 being the ill-fated Scarborough Pirates' solitary season.

Edited February 3 by Hopping Mad

[Hopping Mad]

1 hour ago, groundhopper said:

I saw this figure mentioned before Broncos v Wests at Richmond and tried to name them whilst on the train afterwards

I have been to 15, Craven Cottage, Polytechnic, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Harlequins, Copthall, Ealing and Wimbledon as regular venues.

Have also attended Rosslyn Park, Richmond, Orient, Gillingham, Gravesend/Ebbsfleet Wycombe and Millwall

The figure of 24 may include games I saw at Leicester and Aberavon which were I think home games not on the road games.

What else has there been Charlton, a one off at Chelsea and  a couple at Wealdstone, most of a season at Hendon and cup games at Kingston and Crawley. 

Can anyone identify the others, there may have been one in France, possibly another in Wales but I think in the 3rd season they played three games up north.

I have a total of 21 in the South East and five or six others plus anything I have overlooked.

Wikipedia is not accurate.

 

As a separate question, who comes next, I have Hurricanes on 9 and no idea about Gateshead/ Newcastle but there are more than the 5 I have visited. Sheffield might be worth a look 

   

I remember watching Fulham play a Challenge Cup first round 'home' tie (26/2/86), against Barrow, on the heated pitch at Central Park, Wigan. Owing to wintry weather, it was Fulham's first match in 31 days. A tiring Fulham lost 14-26 after leading 14-6 at half-time. 1,220 attended. Kiwi wing Gary Henley-Smith, who, IIRC, had failed to establish himself at Wigan, scored the first of Fulham's two tries.

Fulham also played at least two 'home' matches at Naughton Park, Widnes, when the Craven Cottage pitch was being reseeded.

Edited February 3 by Hopping Mad

[Damien]

They played at Stamford Bridge in their Fulham days.

[Gav Wilson]

56 minutes ago, Hopping Mad said:

After the closure of Clarence Street, York played Swinton, in a Division Two Premiership game, at Wheldon Road, Castleford. I assume the housing developer was so keen to raze Clarence Street, York weren't allowed to complete the 1988-89 season there.

The game at Scarborough - a play-off tie against Leigh - was in April 1991. Ryedale Stadium was unavailable because of an athletics meetings. A few months later, the McCain was hosting rugby league regularly; 1991-92 being the ill-fated Scarborough Pirates' solitary season.

Sensational trivia, much appreciated!

[Dave W]

A defunct club now, but the story of the Highfield "franchise" is quite an interesting one. Umpteen name and location changes and at least 8 grounds over several decades, finally grinding to a halt with Prescot Panthers in 1997.

[Luke HKR]

 Sheffield Eagles

I've seen them at 3 (Don Valley, Bramell Lane & Owlerton). Add in current, Doncaster, Wakefield etc. They must be up there.

 

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

1 hour ago, Hopping Mad said:

I remember watching Fulham play a Challenge Cup first round 'home' tie (26/2/86), against Barrow, on the heated pitch at Central Park, Wigan. Owing to wintry weather, it was Fulham's first match in 31 days. A tiring Fulham lost 14-26 after leading 14-6 at half-time. 1,220 attended. Kiwi wing Gary Henley-Smith, who, IIRC, had failed to establish himself at Wigan, scored the first of Fulham's two tries.

Fulham also played at least two 'home' matches at Naughton Park, Widnes, when the Craven Cottage pitch was being reseeded.

Yes, two at Widnes and the last game of the season on Cup Final eve at Stamford Bridge. It wasn't reseeding, though, it was due to the state of the pitch with constant problems with waterlogging and it cutting up in general. It turned out that the main drain from the pitch into the Thames had collapsed. It had to be completely relaid in the close season.

[Griff]

2 hours ago, groundhopper said:

 

As a separate question, who comes next, I have Hurricanes on 9 and no idea about Gateshead/ Newcastle but there are more than the 5 I have visited. Sheffield might be worth a look 

   

HJ Stadium will be Sheffield's 22nd, I believe.

But I haven't counted on-the-road games as I consder these neutral venues.

[Griff]

15 minutes ago, Luke HKR said:

 Sheffield Eagles

I've seen them at 3 (Don Valley, Bramell Lane & Owlerton). Add in current, Doncaster, Wakefield etc. They must be up there.

Bramall.  But thanks for leaving out the phantom h.

 

[The Gardener]

2 hours ago, groundhopper said:

I saw this figure mentioned before Broncos v Wests at Richmond and tried to name them whilst on the train afterwards

I have been to 15, Craven Cottage, Polytechnic, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Harlequins, Copthall, Ealing and Wimbledon as regular venues.

Have also attended Rosslyn Park, Richmond, Orient, Gillingham, Gravesend/Ebbsfleet Wycombe and Millwall

The figure of 24 may include games I saw at Leicester and Aberavon which were I think home games not on the road games.

What else has there been Charlton, a one off at Chelsea and  a couple at Wealdstone, most of a season at Hendon and cup games at Kingston and Crawley. 

Can anyone identify the others, there may have been one in France, possibly another in Wales but I think in the 3rd season they played three games up north.

I have a total of 21 in the South East and five or six others plus anything I have overlooked.

Wikipedia is not accurate.

 

As a separate question, who comes next, I have Hurricanes on 9 and no idea about Gateshead/ Newcastle but there are more than the 5 I have visited. Sheffield might be worth a look 

   

Esher Rugby club for one game.I think it was against Catalan?

[Andy JG]

I once watched Leigh beat Fulham on a freezing cold day in 1986 at Polytechnic Ground in Chiswick in the old 2nd division.

A basic university athletics ground with a single stand.

 

Fulham 18		–	22 Leigh
Match URL	www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/47758
Status	Completed
Date	Sunday, 5th January, 1986
Referee	Brian Simpson
Venue	Polytechnic (London)
Crowd	1,001
Norman BARROW		T		Paul HALLIWELL
Adrian CAMBRIANI				John HENDERSON
Don DUFFY				Phil JOHNSON
Sean HOARE				John KERR
Norman BARROW		G	3	Chris JOHNSON
Steve MILLS	1	FB	1	Chris JOHNSON
Gary HENLEY-SMITH	2	W	2	Des DRUMMOND
Norman BARROW	3	C	3	John HENDERSON
Frank MATTHEWS	4	C	4	Paul HALLIWELL
Adrian CAMBRIANI	5	W	5	Philip FOX
Mike DAVIS	6	FE	6	Trevor COGGER
Ken GREEN	7	HB	7	Phil JOHNSON
Sean HOARE	8	FR	8	Peter MAYOH
Michael GLOVER	9	HK	9	Ray TABERN
Harold HENNEY	10	FR	10	Tony COTTRELL
Alan PLATT	11	2R	11	Paul HARDMAN
David BULLOUGH	12	2R	12	Jeff CLARKE
Don DUFFY	13	L	13	John WESTHEAD
Tony KINSEY	14	B	14	John KERR
Chris WILKINSON	15	B	15	Tony MANFREDI

 

Leigh came from behind and won with a late Phil Johnson try.

My main memory is that it was on the flight path for planes landing at Heathrow, one of which dropped a large piece of ice landing at the feet of the Fulham winger Henley-Smith.

 

 

[The Phantom Horseman]

21 minutes ago, The Gardener said:

Esher Rugby club for one game.I think it was against Catalan?

Yes, I went to watch that one, a young Morgan Escare and a not-so-young Steve Menzies caught the eye. Quite the most low-key environment to watch a SL game, and it was in near-freezing conditions despite being April.

Edited February 3 by The Phantom Horseman

[Ivarr the Boneless]

Carcassonne was the venue for Broncos home match played in France. Wire were the opposition.

Broncos looked at Dulwich Hamlet once, but never played there. 

[groundhopper]

I accept the Millwall comment but I did attend the game at Esher'

I think if we count Carcasonne, Widnes Wigan and wikipedia includes Newport we are over 24

As for Sheffield, I have visited Don Valley/ Olympic park which I suppose is 2, along with Owlerton, Bramall Lane and the athletics stadium near the tram maybe Woodburn Road. I also went to Hallam Uni. That's 6 in the City plus the present present Doncaster. I also saw a match on the 2nd pitch there which may have been a Sheffield Home game.  Even if this was one there are 14 more and I am struggling with these.

I assume Hillsborough and there was Wakefield. an eagles fan told me about Chesterfield's old ground and maybe they used Barnsley. 

As for the others, I have a recollection and I think a prog someone when they double headed a game with Bridgend or Cardiff. What were the others, I assume places like Fev   

 

[Wanderer]

Anyway, looking forward to the next 24.

Happy groundhoppers day to one and all!

[Hopping Mad]

14 minutes ago, groundhopper said:

I accept the Millwall comment but I did attend the game at Esher'

I think if we count Carcasonne, Widnes Wigan and wikipedia includes Newport we are over 24

As for Sheffield, I have visited Don Valley/ Olympic park which I suppose is 2, along with Owlerton, Bramall Lane and the athletics stadium near the tram maybe Woodburn Road. I also went to Hallam Uni. That's 6 in the City plus the present present Doncaster. I also saw a match on the 2nd pitch there which may have been a Sheffield Home game.  Even if this was one there are 14 more and I am struggling with these.

I assume Hillsborough and there was Wakefield. an eagles fan told me about Chesterfield's old ground and maybe they used Barnsley. 

As for the others, I have a recollection and I think a prog someone when they double headed a game with Bridgend or Cardiff. What were the others, I assume places like Fev   

 

It's a 'yes' to Barnsley, along with Rotherham (Clifton Lane and Millmoor). Sheffield shared Doncaster RU's Castle Park for a while. Recall seeing them play Toulouse there in the COVID-truncated season. Eagles have also played 'home' games at Headingley and Thrum Hall.

[Jill Halfpenny fan]

4 hours ago, groundhopper said:

I saw this figure mentioned before Broncos v Wests at Richmond and tried to name them whilst on the train afterwards

I have been to 15, Craven Cottage, Polytechnic, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Harlequins, Copthall, Ealing and Wimbledon as regular venues.

Have also attended Rosslyn Park, Richmond, Orient, Gillingham, Gravesend/Ebbsfleet Wycombe and Millwall

The figure of 24 may include games I saw at Leicester and Aberavon which were I think home games not on the road games.

What else has there been Charlton, a one off at Chelsea and  a couple at Wealdstone, most of a season at Hendon and cup games at Kingston and Crawley. 

Can anyone identify the others, there may have been one in France, possibly another in Wales but I think in the 3rd season they played three games up north.

I have a total of 21 in the South East and five or six others plus anything I have overlooked.

Wikipedia is not accurate.

 

As a separate question, who comes next, I have Hurricanes on 9 and no idea about Gateshead/ Newcastle but there are more than the 5 I have visited. Sheffield might be worth a look 

   

The Aberavon game was against Widnes. Pretty certain it was a London home game.

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

Not as impressive as those above, but I've been to away league games against Oldham at at least 7 different venues.

Edited February 3 by Les Tonks Sidestep

[Gooleboy]

3 hours ago, Damien said:

They played at Stamford Bridge in their Fulham days.

They played Cardiff there on a Friday night before the CC Final.

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

Perpignan. Vs Leeds in 2005/6. 

[Griff]

1 hour ago, Hopping Mad said:

It's a 'yes' to Barnsley, along with Rotherham (Clifton Lane and Millmoor). Sheffield shared Doncaster RU's Castle Park for a while. Recall seeing them play Toulouse there in the COVID-truncated season. Eagles have also played 'home' games at Headingley and Thrum Hall.

Tattersfield, Cardiff Arms Park, St Mary's, KC Stadium and (soon) HJ Stadium.

[Jill Halfpenny fan]

Being a bit of an anorak i love threads like this.  I confess to owning a spreadsheet with all the grounds I've visited.