Hello there

I found these gems of Belle Vue a while back – hard to believe that there used to be a cycling track round the ground, which accounts for old the old sunken terracing at the front.

i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100 ... lleVue.jpg

This one is from the 1960’s I guess...

i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100 ... leVue1.jpg

I first attended Belle Vue in 1985 with my Dad and, having been handed my free programme (little realising that this equated to the desperate state the club was in), went through the turnstiles to the left of what seemed to be massive West Stand. I remember walking through the through the corridor at the back of it and also going under the stand. It was a match towards the end of the season and nobody seems to have been bothered. Apparently the stand used to have four chimneys at the rear.

When we came back for the start of the new season it was gone and the ground was even poorer for it.

The South Stand was already long gone with just the retaining wall there and I was told that it was because the houses behind weren’t getting enough light. I only found out the real reason years later. Wish I’d seen Belle Vue as the original four sided ground was.

At least we still have the oldest rugby league ground in the world (and doesn’t it show) and haven’t suffered the loss of a ground like at Halifax, Swinton or Oldham. I’d be happy just updating Belle Vue and have a 15,000 capacity with half standing, half seating, but that’s just me. Maybe the ground’s just in the wrong area for modern corporate needs with inadequate access and parking...

Hello there

I found these gems of Belle Vue a while back – hard to believe that there used to be a cycling track round the ground, which accounts for old the old sunken terracing at the front.

i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100 ... lleVue.jpg

This one is from the 1960’s I guess...

i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100 ... leVue1.jpg

I first attended Belle Vue in 1985 with my Dad and, having been handed my free programme (little realising that this equated to the desperate state the club was in), went through the turnstiles to the left of what seemed to be massive West Stand. I remember walking through the through the corridor at the back of it and also going under the stand. It was a match towards the end of the season and nobody seems to have been bothered. Apparently the stand used to have four chimneys at the rear.

When we came back for the start of the new season it was gone and the ground was even poorer for it.

The South Stand was already long gone with just the retaining wall there and I was told that it was because the houses behind weren’t getting enough light. I only found out the real reason years later. Wish I’d seen Belle Vue as the original four sided ground was.

At least we still have the oldest rugby league ground in the world (and doesn’t it show) and haven’t suffered the loss of a ground like at Halifax, Swinton or Oldham. I’d be happy just updating Belle Vue and have a 15,000 capacity with half standing, half seating, but that’s just me. Maybe the ground’s just in the wrong area for modern corporate needs with inadequate access and parking...