Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2009 20:20:29 GMT
If you're going to Bradford tomorrow you may care to look in at Odsal Stadium, right next to the Bradford end of the M606.
Although Odsal is best known as the home of the Bradford Bulls - formerly Bradford Northern RLFC - it actually hosted 21 Bradford City league games in the aftermath of the 1985 fire at Valley Parade (with others being played at Leeds and Huddersfield). Indeed, should you be at the match tomorrow, please remember there is a memorial to the victims of that tragedy behind the main stand at Bradford City (see below).
Odsal's most famous occasion was the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final replay of 1954 between Halifax and Warrington. The game wasn't all ticket and nobody quite knew what sort of attendance to expect. However, legend has it that every rugby league fan in the north of England with a vehicle decided to head towards Odsal that May evening. By mid-afternoon, by all accounts, there was gridlock across most of the West Riding - no motorways in those days remember - and it was clear a massive crowd was on its' way. In the end 102,569 paid to watch the match with many more getting in without paying. From the postcard re-produced below you must ask how many actually saw the game:
www.panoramio.com
The stadium is a natural amphitheatre which lies below the level of most of the ground around. Apparently a game was once called off because of fog swirling around the pit whilst the surrounds were in bright sunlight. Here's a picture of the stadium under construction in the 1930s:
www.bradfordtimeline.co.uk
And from Geograph, up-to-date photographs:
More about Odsal at www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/content/Grattan%20Stadium/3595/A%20BRIEF%20HISTORY%20OF%20ODSAL%20STADIUM
I was living just over the tops in Nelson during the 1985/86 season and actually saw one of City's games at Odsal. There's a few names on the teamsheet which may catch the eye:
And - lest we ever forget - the memorials to those who lost their lives in 1985. The first is at Valley Parade, the second is in the city centre:
Although Odsal is best known as the home of the Bradford Bulls - formerly Bradford Northern RLFC - it actually hosted 21 Bradford City league games in the aftermath of the 1985 fire at Valley Parade (with others being played at Leeds and Huddersfield). Indeed, should you be at the match tomorrow, please remember there is a memorial to the victims of that tragedy behind the main stand at Bradford City (see below).
Odsal's most famous occasion was the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final replay of 1954 between Halifax and Warrington. The game wasn't all ticket and nobody quite knew what sort of attendance to expect. However, legend has it that every rugby league fan in the north of England with a vehicle decided to head towards Odsal that May evening. By mid-afternoon, by all accounts, there was gridlock across most of the West Riding - no motorways in those days remember - and it was clear a massive crowd was on its' way. In the end 102,569 paid to watch the match with many more getting in without paying. From the postcard re-produced below you must ask how many actually saw the game:
www.panoramio.com
The stadium is a natural amphitheatre which lies below the level of most of the ground around. Apparently a game was once called off because of fog swirling around the pit whilst the surrounds were in bright sunlight. Here's a picture of the stadium under construction in the 1930s:
www.bradfordtimeline.co.uk
And from Geograph, up-to-date photographs:
More about Odsal at www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/content/Grattan%20Stadium/3595/A%20BRIEF%20HISTORY%20OF%20ODSAL%20STADIUM
I was living just over the tops in Nelson during the 1985/86 season and actually saw one of City's games at Odsal. There's a few names on the teamsheet which may catch the eye:
And - lest we ever forget - the memorials to those who lost their lives in 1985. The first is at Valley Parade, the second is in the city centre:
I just love how that stand at the bottom side of the stadium was erected almost as an afterthought below the then redundant terracing behind it.