It`s great now the East Stand is nearing completion but I just wonder about the rest of the ground? North and South stands despite their relative newness have suffered from a lack of upkeep and I would presume the West Stand will quickly become neglected.
A lot of the general maintainence (Painting,small repairs etc) seem to have been ignored.
Have the team employed to look after the whole stadium been looking for jobs to do or just sitting with a cup of tea watching the contractors on the stand?
Whilst those in the East Stand sit in their sunglasses eating prawn sandwiches will the rest of us be able to pick off the rust on the crush barriers in the standing areas and if it rains watch the water cascade from neglected gullies?
It would be interesting to know if the recent deluge of rain has caused any more damage as it did last year!
Perhaps we could get some information from those in charge. Rather than second hand information from those who are party to this information but prefer us to only have a rather self interested view.

Graham Clay said in his interview that the rest of the ground would be maintained but the proposed renovation of the Skircoat Stand has been put back for various reasons.

It's only really the toilets that need sorting in the South Stand.

not been anywhere else but the south stand for quite a few years but the rest of the ground could do with a lick of paint and grassy areas could do with a looking at.

I think those are the exact intentions.

Dont worry! When i win the euromillions our problems will be solved

I think for the time being, we should just be happy with finishing the new stand.

Oh dear, thats how it started at Craven Park. One nice stand and the rest of it falling to pieces.

I find it strange that you laugh at your own club's failings. I'd have put one of these

after that post mate.

You make a valid point though.

Oh no you have done it now, how dare you criticise the Shay Stadium management, they cannot do anything as they don't have any money to buy a few tins of paint, don't have the resources to do the painting etc... etc...

Cue Bubba and the defence for the stadium manager.

Yer thing is mate I totally agree with you being saying it for years why isn't the ground maintained???
Like those trees that have grown by the 5 a side court, the one Bubba took the Michael out of me and others but they should not have been allowed to grow in the blooming first place, trees cause damage as well as looking untidy in the wrong place. The fencing on Skircoat Road that fans of both clubs put up has been allowed to fall into disrepair. The fence or lack of at the back of the South Stand where you could walk in if you wanted to easily.
I also wonder how they are getting away with not painting the barriers and the yellow exit points surely the safety bods must be asking questions about them or are they turning a blind eye now, that would be a first for Calderdale???
I hope the ground does get looked after as the last thing I want is a decent stadium ruined by not being looked after and that is what is happening now - FACT.

Having been a Barrow fan for over 20 years, myself like many others among the "sad 600" during the dark years developed a rather black sense of humour about the clubs plight.

We know the state of our ground and the scale of the task to put it right.

We can't do anything about the past and the situation that got us there so lets laugh about it and work at the task in front of us and make sure it never happens again.

In fact that statement could be applied to many aspects of the game



One thing that we discussed among the fans at Barrow was volunteer work parties. The suggestion arose after reading about a German football team whose fans did large amounts of the building of their new stadium. Unfortunately tho the nanny state we live in glories in things like liability, insurance, CDM regs etc.

Now now, lets be patient, its more than just a stand we've been waiting for, its the whole corporate and business side thats been missing.
This stand should and will hopefully be a catalyst to further improvements in time.
We have a Football club that have a stake in its improvments too, theres potential for FA Cup Premier league clubs visiting in the future, theres the chance of RL World cup games, Challenge Cup Semi's.
The Skircoats fine for the moment, im more concerned about toilets and other basic facilites on the other 3 sides of the ground, they might have people holding back on more than just number 1's and 2's.

Like I keep saying good maintenance is all that is needed, maybe the new management will improve things???
I really hope so, other grounds manage it.

A premier league side visiting would be extremely unlikely, especially as there isn't one for a fair distance, and even if they did it'd be a team of kids.

RL World Cup games are a possibility, but CC semis I dont think are with the Skircoat in its current state,

Even with the new stand I would doubt if we would have the level of hospitality necessary for a CC semi.

Exec box wise I mean.

Having said that, they gave a semi this year to the "Sorry we've no pies or beer left" Stadium just off the A49.

This is why we need to keep pushing for the Skircoat to get sorted out as well then the ground will be the real thing and have a big enough capacity to host games like England v France say 13,000 tops.

Lose the Skircoat and we are back to square one, 3 sided ground.

anyone know if where going to get a new scoreboard to go with the stand? skircoat needs a good re - furbishment with new toilets

Watch the interview with Graham Clay, [urlhttp://www.youtube.com/TheHalifaxRLFC[/url