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.

If you're a top end SL team it is better now, for all others it was better then!

Having been to the HJ twice the last few years I'd have to say I preferred Wilderspool. I don't think seeing the U20's playing there could ever be compared to watching the first team.

However your view could be quite different based on how much more succesful you have been as a club since moving.

I think the argument over old/new stadia being a measure around the success or not of franchising is flawed. What comes first? A new stadium or a succesful club?

A lot of people tend to forget that not so long ago, these dirty, filthy, derelict stadiums held the kind of crowds we can only dream of.

A lot of people tend to forget that not so long ago, these dirty, filthy, derelict stadiums held the kind of crowds we can only dream of.'"

Better than a 20% full Galpharm stadium where you cannot stand up.

lol thanks for the memories mate ...

those grounds were a dump stuff the memories

and as a fax fan ill remind you of a comment an aussie player made on playing at Thrum Hall during the ill fated 97 WCC - this what it mustve been like to play rugby in the northern union

modern grounds ...mordern clubs ...

simply those poor grounds, winter rugby and no salary cap ---i understand now exactly why the english club game was stuffed and now isnt

exactly

thought the next round of franchising will see wakey out and i believe cas will sort out their ground

so pretty much only odsal will be the only real average ground in SL which is a fair improvement from before

yeah the decline of wakey explains the decline of GB ...

heck you should put that in your franchise application next time ...

Hey Dally - i agree with you on the ground situation - better to have modern stadiums no question. Really I was just sympathising with you for not having a soul. Carry on squire

Lol it was awful.

No it wasn't.

Although the ‘stadium’ is essentially still in use, here are two old stands from Belle Vue’s history which no longer exist.

im sure the one on the left does still exist. its just had new seats and a lick of paint