Sorry for filling up the forum but, as you can tell, I've not got too much to do in my week off

Anyway, I was wondering, I went past the site of our old home the Willows in August whilst on a drive on Weaste Lane. I dont live all that near to it so it was the first I'd seen the site for quite a while. I was surprised to find that, although the stadium had obviously been demolished, other than that there had been no change on the site. I even saw whats left of some of the old entrance gates, but there was no new buildings. I could swear that I read somewhere last year that the City Housing Association had plans to build on the site, so whats happened to these proposals? With Koukash saying on twitter last week that he wishes he got involved with us while we were at the Willows, is there a chance (however slim) that we could return to our ancestral home? After all, do we even know who owns the land any more?

I`m not certain but think the Official Receiver may have a say in this.

I think City West have plans to build a substantial number of houses on the site.

I would love to know how much Godliman Watson Homes paid for the land, no doubt it was a vastly under valued 'official' figure. It still amazes me how a man who had owned the club for so long and loved everything about it and the City could shaft us so badly with the whole new stadium affair.

I nearly bit
You're entitled to your opinion,let's leave it at that.

Taking nostalgia out of it, and bear in mind that I was born and raised in Weaste, I can only see two certain benefits for moving back. One is that it seems to be easier to access and quicker to get to for a greater number of people, which is saying something. Then there’s the ‘proper’ Salford issue, which appears to be a thing for some folks east of Eccles and west of Manchester.

However, any new stadium would have to be designed right. Plonking a similar build to that of Barton on the old Willows site would still suffer many of the problems we complain about today. There is less scope for expansion. And there is no guarantee that local residents on Weaste Lane and Kennedy Road would not object to a new build.

The things I miss the most really, if I'm being honest, is the old Shed atmosphere – which was a figment of our imagination anyway long before we left and the South Stand shows signs now and again of getting something good going – and the booze before and after the game in The Willows, the Cons and the like, and some of those hostelries have since gone.

In my job I know for a fact that if a housing estate and apartments can get permission on some land then a new stadium almost certainly can - trust me on that.

My point was that Koukash was moaning a lot about the prices that the Stadium company were charging the club (anyone know how much this is?) just before he said he wished he got involved with us whilst we were at the willows. Im no accountant, but if we did (unlikely, I know) manage to get a stadium at the site of the Willows it would all be on a loan most likely and if the repayment rate of this was cheaper than the rate the stadium company charge us (bear in mind if we did we'd get more ticket revenue with bigger attendances) we could benefit significantly if we did rebuild there. Its unlikely, but not as impractical as our Barton fans like to think.

I disagree. Salford Council would do everything in their power to stop a stadium being built on the Willows site, they've got their own business interests at Barton to look after.

Exactly. No matter how much fans want a return, there is no way we are going back to the willows site and anywhere else for that matter. Once we get pubs, eateries and the other bits built then things will get better. At the moment though it's just a stadium with challenges to get too. I expect that in a few years time this will be much different and an all round better game day experience for all.

It's dead , and buried .

The ideal relocation of the ' New ' Willows would have been anywher along the Eccles New rd corridor - Ladywell - West One - Lankro Way .
It would have been close enough for the existing fans to walk up , & allow visiting traffic off M602 & centenary Bridge .
and have Metrolink access for public transport .


Outside of the Chorley Rd Venue getting planning permission and proceeding.

THe relationship with Peel / SMC at the AJ Bell seem to be going downhill rapidly.
so much so they are looking to agree a Cup game at the City's EDS Academy Stadium ( 7,000-capacity stadium )



only other New stadium nearest completion is in Moston FCUM's ground
5,000 Capacity.

rlhttp://www.airviews.info/fc_united.htmlrl

It's actually down to be a maximum of 4,440. Council and the dibble may yet decide otherwise.

The problem with the Willows was that it was hemmed in on both sides by houses. The people living in those houses wouldn't be too pleased to see a gigantic stand suddenly appearing at the bottom of their back yards, and I doubt the club would ever have got permission to build anything bigger than what was already there. There probably wasn't enough land to build a big stand either. If the club is ever to progress, it needed to move away.

The problem is we haven't progressed. I understand the AJ Bell is more modern but I feel as if we've gone backwards since leaving the Willows.

Why did we have to leave anyway? I can swear it was a better stadium than Wakefield's.

who also would have moved if financial issues had not stopped them.

I loved the Willows, and miss it every game, but recognise that we had to move: RL would not allow us to stay and retain our Super League status.
Like two other favourite grounds: the Athletic ground at Rochdale and the iconic Watersheddings, they have gone. As have so many others.

God the Willows was nice but some people must wear rose tinted specs.

Wazzing into an open drain, showered in rust every time a ball hit the roof, dodging dog turds on the walk through the back streets to get to the ground, Norman Collieresque sound over the PA even the threat once of decapitation when part of the roof fell in during a light zephyr.

No it was old and traditional but let's be realistic, we'd have been looking forward to the visit of Hemel, South Wales and the likes if we'd have stayed.

We might not have even made it this far.

Barton has it's faults, many will be ironed out when the road is finished (what many forget is that the facilities around the ground can't start until it is finished as part of the agreement when everything was signed), the main issue is the owners and the way what is already there is being run, you do suspect that soon one way or the other something will be done.

The longer people continue to cling on to memories of The Willows, the longer it will take for Barton to feel like our home stadium.

We really need to start doing things to improve the matchday atmosphere at Barton from next season onwards. It's time to finally move on from The Willows.