Remember first game of SL v rhinos when I was about 8. Did all four seasons that day. I remember my dad saying his feet were like two fishcakes. I think that means they're cold also fondly remember the Rhinos game before the first administration. The feeling inside the ground that day was desperate knowing that we could go under and against all the odds we beat them by 2.

Sad day today. But necessarily I think.

Onwards. Upwards. Hopefully.

first memories have always been Dave Barends tip toeing down the wing ... freezing my knuts off, leigh at home in the CC (i think and final score 6-0) 1500 there and my grandad saying 'thats it, enough for me' and left due to cold .... also the wigan game (on sky) at home where the fog just rolled in from over the top terrace and landed on the pitch. One big flask of bovril, 2 twix and 2 mars bars were always the order of the day prior to summer rugger

i will say ... best out and out MotM display .. has to go to Paul Medley V wakey ... 4 tries and he absolutely blasted their defense from the markers, i dont remember his tries but the demolition work he did on their defense was awe-inspiring.

I think one of my favourite games was Leeds at home were we won 12-4 if I recall correctly rikki sherriffe who got tons of stick scored two and we got a famous win against the odds.

Back to the 50's for me with a couple.

1. 1953/54 Challenge Cup final replay when I was part of a world record crowd for a rugby league match. Incredible crowd and experience.

2. 1957/58 as a Hull supporter being crowned champions following a loss by 1 point in the 56/57 final. Hull also won the '55/56 final but that was played at Maine Road.

Note. I was at the NRL premiership final in 1999 at the Sydney Olympic Stadium when the official Odsal attendance in '53/54 was exceeded and a new world record set.

22-20 comeback win against Wigan in 2010 with a Matt Orford inspired performance!

24k against Leeds in 1999 with the Withers drop goal and ‘that’ kick from McNamara to McAvoy.

Leeds this season in Challenge Cup.

2014 Challenge Cup win against Catalan! I was in a box for that and was a very good day!

Beating Leeds in 2010 with Whitehead and Sheriffe scoring.

Beating Leeds at home in 2012 with another 20k crowd.

Do you know her too?

Once game that stands out for me was the championship game against Castleford in the season before superleague.

The cas fans attached banners to the scaffolding that the old floodlights sat on. Protesting at the prospect of them merging with Wakefield.

My friend Kenneth stood in a massive pile of dog dirt walking across the bankfoot pitches.

The bus driver made him wipe it off before he'd let him on. He had it smeared all up the side of his orthopaedic shoe. It stank the bottom floor of the Yorkshire rider out.

No mate I just remember you mentioning her when you were having a hard time with Cherry Brandy and Macarons. Hope that's all behind you now pal.

Has to be 1st April 1984.
Bradford v Warrington

Billy Thompson’s last match at Odsal

As I recall from 19-0 down late on, Bradford claw back to 16-19, and go in again in stoppage time, but Billy having suffered dogs abuse throughout the game finds a way to disallow it.

What Billy had forgot was that moments later as he blew for full time, he had to negotiate the 100 m walk back up, the steps through the baying Bradford mob, back to the dressing rooms.

Police escort all the way back.

This seasons cup game against Leeds.

I’ve been privileged to watch some of the greatest rugby league players of modern times, and see our club lift every trophy possible. This years cup game was a brief reminder of what could be possible if the club gets itself onto a sound financial footing, and was the first time my son got to experience a Leeds/bradford derby in a competitive game

There's so much to go at isn't there and rather than specific games, some highlights for me:

1. My first game in 1986 (v widnes I think) and wondering why the players didn't have helmets on (as per american football). We sat in the old red seats on the popular side.
2. Getting soaked to the skin at an Australia tour game either the same year or certainly pre 1990. I don't think I have ever been as wet.
3. Keith Mumby. The number of text book tackles I have seen right in front of my in the main stand is countless
4. Early to mid nineties - a few players that stick in my head: Watson, Simpson, Cordle, Heron
5. 1993/94 The nearly title year - the game against Workington (?) who were bottom, it was a banker, we lost 12-11 I think and ultimately cost us the league - a draw would have been enough as it goes too!
6. 1996 - SL arrives....oh my!
7. 1997 - being crowned champions v PSG. Also the WCC - didn't win any of the 3, but what contests!
8. 1999 - 24,048
9. 2003 - welcome home!
10. 2005 - was this the 71-10 game v Hull Les getting 5?
11. Some sad years since and lean pickings to what has game before but the Workington final win and the Leeds game this year.

On a last note, though there are some great memories, I'm not too sad, the club needs to move on before Odsal ultimately kills us.
Let's hope AC is a little more than hot air and we see the Bulls back in Bradford and back in SL before long and start a new memory bank!

Lot's of odsal microclimate memories...

My mum wrapping me up in every winter clothing possible for my first match.

The "novelty" of midweek matches in the winter rugby days - freezing cold, pitch black but being out late on a school night. Remember beating the touring kiwis and the crowd giving Paul Cullen some stick after being sent off in a Wednesday night game against wire.

The Wigan fog games - didn't go to the one that was abandoned but remember the farce of the super league game - Wigan fans at the Richard Dunn's end having to be told when they'd scored down the other end.

Then it absolutely siling it down (even by Odsal standards) vs Saints - me getting soaked, Glenn Morrison getting man of the match.

Maudling one...2005 St's at home, sat in the crown feeling like I was on the outside having lost my Dad the weekend before. Remember nothing of the game other than we got hammered and I really didn't care. For some reason my over riding memory.

So many over the 27 years I've lived in the area. I didn't realise how many until I started thinking about it. The tigress reminded me last night of a couple of stand out ones (I'll no doubt add some more as they come back to memory);

1. Taking tigercub as a new born baby (she's now 22) against Cas. The tigress breastfeeding her on the terraces.
2. My 50th birthday. I arranged 10 pizzas to be delivered from a local joint at half time. We sat on the terraces & stuffed ourselves.

3. Stood with Azim & Bullseye during (another) rainstorm. Azim being young couldn't keep his phone in his pocket. It literally filled with rain.
4. Playing an A team game for my home town team before the annual first team pre-season friendly. My mate broke his neck (he fully recovered). The game was abandoned, an ambulance drove onto the centre of the pitch to rescue him.
5. In hospitality with Bullseye, FA & other sponsors. Can't remember who you were playing (London or Cats?). You were losing a game you should have been winning. Last couple of minutes you made a potential match-winning break; Paul Sykes with an overlap passing straight into touch. Bullseye jumping up from his seat, shouting "FOR F* CKS SAKE!" & storming off to the bog.
6. On the pitch one moment still stands out for me. Bulls v Cas, you had Danny Peacock, we had Adrian Vowells. They were from the same town in Aus. Each time they hit each other you could hear the smack on the terraces, like thunder. Each time was legal & they just got up, tapped each other on the back & got on with it. Class.
7. Taking Ridlerbull as a young pup & watching him grow. Him & his Mum now love the game.
8. The huge shared baths in the old club house.
9. Assisting Mick Gledhill on commentary vs Cas. We woz robbed.

tbc