Aren't they just pictures of old buildings?

In 100 years time the fans of the day will likely view the JJB, KC etc the same way.

Penny farthings! Can you believe some people used to ride them? They're not as good as the bikes of today are they? You've got franchising to thank for that you know.

Absolutely and despite the obvious positives some teams completely ignored the fans and the need for new stadia, hence when franchising came in they were dragged into the 21st century ie Salford and Saints. Unfortunately despite the obvious advantages of new stadia some teams have ignored it and still play in crap stadiums.

Ahh the memories. The walk down the back alleys of Bentley down to Tattersfield to see the Dons. The touch judge up to the ankles in sludge, watch the lads getting beaten and then a pint in the Yarborough after the match. It's not quite the same as four quid to park your car at the Keepmoat and crap ale that you can't even afford to buy.

Just trying to work out the Hilton Park pictures dates.

Maybe some of the older Leythers can be more accurate, but i'll guess at 1988 with the colliery and old floodlights.

Great pictures, nice yet sad seeing the old Watersheddings.

I know hoardes of people will disagree with me but bear with me.

Over time, over many matches, over years of disappointment and victory, cheering on classy players and crap ones too, having a burger and a bovril from your favourite kiosk, meeting your mates in the same spot week in and week out..............stadiums start to have a soul.

You know what I mean? To view them as ramshackle sheds and broken terracing is being insulting.

When I go to Asda in Halifax it just doesn't feel right. I can almost still sense the drama which was played out on my beloved Thrum Hall.

Yes it might have been old, falling apart, unfit for purpose with the smelliest mens toilets known to man but it was our home. Everything from the crush behind the main stand when you were swapping ends, or the way the Scratchingshed moved and sounded will never be replicated in a modern or alternative stadium.

The Shay has no soul for me - one day it might but I'll have to witness a whole lot more triumph and disaster before it'll put a lump in my throat like I get whenever I see my beloved Thrum Hall.

Don't know if anyone on here has ever been to an Irish premiership football match but most of our grounds looks pretty similar to the ones in the photos.

Plus the Stadiums in northern Ireland are only now getting upgrade (not even all of them.) some of the stands and facilties being built aren't too dissimilar to the new rugby league grounds; although on a smaller scale.

Funny enough the Irish premiership also has a licensing type system where a second division team is only promoted if they meet strict criteria. One of the biggest clubs was actually left out just cause their application was a few minutes late. Wonder would the RFL leave out the equilivent, say Bradford if their application was late?!

That brings back memories, like the the time we drank Doncaster dry in the early eighties (the club, not the town!). Part of me's with Haggis Fax, the other part likes being able to go for a leak at half time without needing industrial grade wellies and a gas mask!!

I don't think teams have "ignored" it. It's just pretty difficult to gain funds together for a nice new stadium.

One things for sure, when Cas do eventually leave WR, I hope that we don't end up playing in a soulless new stadium which is 3/4 empty with little to no atmosphere.

It's amazing to think that at the time when these grounds were in their pomp and RL in England was played in the midst of bitter winters, Australia & NZ couldn't buy a win against GB and even club sides, especially Wakefield, regularly put the cleaners through Australias Test team.

Your assumption that RL back then was poorly served by the stadia and the weather is well wide of the Mark.

Its the fans that create the soul, not the building. The Shay'll have that feeling eventually. Same with the DW, KC, whatever. As you say it needs years of ups and downs before that is reached. It would help if there was proper ale on tap and decent pies in these new stadia though...

whilst I appreciate times and society moves on, I do feel sorry for new fans who never got to attend a derby at the Boulevard or old Craven Park. Crammed in, no room to move, electric atmosphere, noise like you wouldn't believe, initimidation from the threepenny stand, trying to keep your balance on the away end steps, pie and peas from the converted train carriage, being able to drive your 3 wheeler up to the in goal if you were disabled! and all for 85p! Them were the days! I'm glad I'm old enough to have experienced the old and the new.

Old CP

Very true. Unless you get the council or a wealthy backer/football team to help fund it then it can be pretty difficult to get a new stadium.

I found some of those pictures quite sad really. Its weird to see Swinton where they are now when you consider Station Road was an immense if dilapidated stadium.

And Bramley somehow selling the ground despite their being a covenant in place that should have prevented this? To this day they are a league club waiting to happen but for one simple fact...no stadium!

Ah, the good old days.

When having a roof on the gents toilet was considered a luxury. Was it a Challenge Cup semi-final at Station Road where the BBC overhead camera pulled back and brought into shot a row of heads belonging to blokes engaged in emptying their bladders?

Was it that great though? Or is just our memories tell us things were great in the old days because we enjoyed them at the time. I used to love going to Wilderspool and obviously it has a great history and loads of memories. But having settled into the HJ, going back there occasionally for a u20s match you can see it for what it is - an ageing, not very good stadium. If the move was done the other way round, fans would be up in arms.