A slight deviation from my topic but well worth a read. Interestingly, so much of what is recorded in rugby league literature, emanates via 'word of mouth,' 'folklore' etc etc.
Imo, this is a major (although perhaps unsurprising when you consider the origins and demographic of the sport), downfall.



Thanks for that mmp.

Iain - Any chance I can borrow that? If you can find it?



Indeed it was and it had a huge impact on many RL clubs (and football of course). Although according to Tony Collins, further legislation followed the 'Taylor report' which in effect ended stadia such as Station Road.

Interestingly, Collins also links the legislation (Following the 'Popplewell Inquiry' into the Bradford City disaster and subsequent inclusion of RL stadiums under the jurisdiction of the 1975 Safety of Sports Grounds act) to the demise of Central Park in which their capacity was cut from 30,000 to 12,000. I can only assume that the Taylor Report further damaged (excuse the pun) the life of Central Park.

Of course, RL, is arguably guilty of a failure to invest in stadia during more profitable eras. There seems to be naive and ignorant 'wait and somethin'll turn up' attitude rife in the executive centres of the game. The ramifications of such have arguably contributed to run-down, beyond repair, expensive to run grounds such as the Willows.
If only clubs had taken better care themselves when they could, the game as a whole might well possess far more assets and carry far more power than it currently does.

A slight deviation from my topic but well worth a read. Interestingly, so much of what is recorded in rugby league literature, emanates via 'word of mouth,' 'folklore' etc etc.
Imo, this is a major (although perhaps unsurprising when you consider the origins and demographic of the sport), downfall.



Thanks for that mmp.

Iain - Any chance I can borrow that? If you can find it?



Indeed it was and it had a huge impact on many RL clubs (and football of course). Although according to Tony Collins, further legislation followed the 'Taylor report' which in effect ended stadia such as Station Road.

Interestingly, Collins also links the legislation (Following the 'Popplewell Inquiry' into the Bradford City disaster and subsequent inclusion of RL stadiums under the jurisdiction of the 1975 Safety of Sports Grounds act) to the demise of Central Park in which their capacity was cut from 30,000 to 12,000. I can only assume that the Taylor Report further damaged (excuse the pun) the life of Central Park.

Of course, RL, is arguably guilty of a failure to invest in stadia during more profitable eras. There seems to be naive and ignorant 'wait and somethin'll turn up' attitude rife in the executive centres of the game. The ramifications of such have arguably contributed to run-down, beyond repair, expensive to run grounds such as the Willows.
If only clubs had taken better care themselves when they could, the game as a whole might well possess far more assets and carry far more power than it currently does.

On the subject of ground safety and Hillsborough I was astonished to learn recently that a similar incident happened on the Leppings Lane terracing in 1981. The video below shows overcrowding on the terracing where 38 Tottenham supporters were crushed and injured at an FA Cup semi-final between Spurs and Wolves. They say but for the intervention of the police to open the pitch perimeter fencing gates a similar incident to 1989 would undoubtedly have occurred.

The overcrowding at this particular match was rumoured to be caused by turnstile operators allowing ticketless fans into the ground for cash at an all ticket fixture.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtzHVe2mEN0

On the subject of ground safety and Hillsborough I was astonished to learn recently that a similar incident happened on the Leppings Lane terracing in 1981. The video below shows overcrowding on the terracing where 38 Tottenham supporters were crushed and injured at an FA Cup semi-final between Spurs and Wolves. They say but for the intervention of the police to open the pitch perimeter fencing gates a similar incident to 1989 would undoubtedly have occurred.

The overcrowding at this particular match was rumoured to be caused by turnstile operators allowing ticketless fans into the ground for cash at an all ticket fixture.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtzHVe2mEN0

United went there in February 1989 and were lucky to escape a disaster as well - I've spoken to people who were there and they said they've never been so scared at a match. The Leppings Lane End was a death trap.

And it's all well and good saying that ground regulations were in place up to and at the time of the disaster - but the fact that Hillsborough hadn't have a valid safety certificate since 1981 shows you how well they were implemented. No one gave a sh*t about football fans and, to an extent, sporting fans full stop.

United went there in February 1989 and were lucky to escape a disaster as well - I've spoken to people who were there and they said they've never been so scared at a match. The Leppings Lane End was a death trap.

And it's all well and good saying that ground regulations were in place up to and at the time of the disaster - but the fact that Hillsborough hadn't have a valid safety certificate since 1981 shows you how well they were implemented. No one gave a sh*t about football fans and, to an extent, sporting fans full stop.

Frightening stuff. It begs the question of why action wasn't taken until after the Hillsborough disaster, some 8 years later?

Frightening stuff. It begs the question of why action wasn't taken until after the Hillsborough disaster, some 8 years later?