Re: Lost Stadiums of Rugby League : Mon Apr 06, 2020 2:58 pm  

GeoffRoebuck wrote:

Thanks Someday yes we are both the same age I stopped watching the game about three years ago as I found it very boring & predictable five drives & a kick then hunt for a mistake from the opposition,the scrums are a joke its not the game I was brought up with there are no characters in the game anymore

Yet you still can't break away from talking about the game, I bet your like me that you live in hope that some of the old traditions will come back.

Keep safe fella

Re: Lost Stadiums of Rugby League : Mon Apr 06, 2020 6:37 pm  

I notice Runcorn got mentioned earlier in this thread. I watched a few of their games when they played at Canal Street in the late 80s which was then the home of Runcorn football club. The stadium got demolished around 2001/2002 ish years after the RL club had up sticks and moved out.

I can think of a few of the current grounds which need to join this list of 'lost stadiums of rugby league' though.

Re: Lost Stadiums of Rugby League : Mon Apr 06, 2020 8:51 pm  

davids wrote:

Hello fellow RL fans,

Wire fan here who spent a lot of time travelling around watching RL in the 90s, home and away.

I am researching/putting together a book of Memories of Wilderspool, but someone suggested I expand it (if I can) to cover some of the other grounds we all have fond memories of, that held such an important place in our communities, now unfortunately lost to the bulldozers and property developers.

I'd be particularly interested in hearing from fans of Leigh, Sheffield Eagles, Oldham, Halifax, Salford, Widnes, Wigan, Hull FC and Saints* as I have great memories of travelling to these grounds back then, but of course any contributions from fans of any team would be valued.
*Actually, not such 'great' memories as we always took a thrashing there

Please message me or reply if you are interested in being interviewed (Skype/Zoom/email of course), or having some of your memories recorded for posterity.

I am a Salford fan and would be happy to share my memories of The Willows. Send me a PM if interested and we can arrange something.

Re: Lost Stadiums of Rugby League : Fri Apr 10, 2020 9:52 am  

Thanks very much, check your DMs.

Re: Lost Stadiums of Rugby League : Sat Apr 11, 2020 5:16 pm  

I remember going to watch Warrington in a cup game at Hunslet's old ground in the 70s. We went on the coach and gazed in awe at Elland Road, home of LUFC as we went past it.
Once in the ground I remember the greyhound track surrounding the pitch, the American Football style posts, the mechanically operated scoreboard for the dog racing and the fact that the terracing where I stood sloped back away from the pitch.

Re: Lost Stadiums of Rugby League : Sat Apr 11, 2020 7:45 pm  

JonnoTheGreat wrote:

I notice Runcorn got mentioned earlier in this thread. I watched a few of their games when they played at Canal Street in the late 80s which was then the home of Runcorn football club. The stadium got demolished around 2001/2002 ish years after the RL club had up sticks and moved out.

I can think of a few of the current grounds which need to join this list of 'lost stadiums of rugby league' though.

I watched a cup tie at Canal Street where Runcorn were within 4 points of Bradford with minutes to go. Keith Mumby scored a late try to give Northern a flattering scoreline in the end.

Re: Lost Stadiums of Rugby League : Sat Apr 11, 2020 7:51 pm  

TF and the wire wrote:

I remember going to watch Warrington in a cup game at Hunslet's old ground in the 70s. We went on the coach and gazed in awe at Elland Road, home of LUFC as we went past it.
Once in the ground I remember the greyhound track surrounding the pitch, the American Football style posts, the mechanically operated scoreboard for the dog racing and the fact that the terracing where I stood sloped back away from the pitch.

I was there at the Greyhound Stadium with the NFL goal posts in '75. I think we played them in both cup runs of '74 and '75 at that ground. Rochdale's Athletic Ground was another that had an unusual feel for an RL stadium.

Re: Lost Stadiums of Rugby League : Sun Apr 12, 2020 7:11 am  

One thing I do remember from my travels then (the only time I frequently travelled away) is that Warrington were very much disliked - most if it was good-natured banter, but there was a lot of hatred from some fans in places you would not really expect e.g Hull, Featherstone.

Was it my imagination and some fans are like that whoever is visiting? Why are Warrington hated even when they are mediocre?

Re: Lost Stadiums of Rugby League : Sun Apr 12, 2020 9:30 am  

davids wrote:

One thing I do remember from my travels then (the only time I frequently travelled away) is that Warrington were very much disliked - most if it was good-natured banter, but there was a lot of hatred from some fans in places you would not really expect e.g Hull, Featherstone.

Was it my imagination and some fans are like that whoever is visiting? Why are Warrington hated even when they are mediocre?

I assume that you're talking 70's to early 80's?

Re: Lost Stadiums of Rugby League : Sun Apr 12, 2020 11:26 am  

MorePlaymakersNeeded wrote:

I assume that you're talking 70's to early 80's?

This was 90s mostly.

I understand why we are disliked now - rich owner, (some) arrogant fans.

I understand why we may have been disliked in the 80s - dirty team (Les Boyd, Alan Rathbone etc).

Never really knew why we were badly received in some places in the 90s though (apart from the obvious local rivals).