For me, it's still a no-no, although I accept that it may become Hobsons Choice. It's a sorry state of affairs when the actions (or inactions) of those in charge results in us thinking that a stadium that isn't big enough to accommodate a Super League club and a long way from the centre of Wakefield is acceptable as a new home. It may be close to the edge of the Wakefield metropolitan boundary but it is nowhere near the city of Wakefield.

I get the rebranding of just Trinity mentioned by Vasty, but that would mean giving up on rugby league in Wakefield. Most people support Trinity because it represents their city. What will happen when it doesn't, and is merely the nearest rugby team? Support will dwindle. For people who don't live on the western side of the city, it would not even be the nearest rugby team, and where is the requirement not to watch Cas, for example, when your own city doesn't even have a team?

A move to Dewsbury would be an indictment on those in charge of the Newmarket project, with no positives. I accept, however, that it may become a matter of having no choice, and Peter Box will have achieved his dream of there being just one top flight team representing the Metropolitan District of Wakefield.

A lot of enthusiasm for Owl Lane but do we know that Dewsbury actually want us there?
That aside - I think it would be a great move, permanent if necessary. We could still be Wakefield Trinity but I actually think it would be better to remove the geographical tag and just be Trinity. That could give us a massive catchment area - the city of Wakefiekd, East Kirklees and parts of S Yorkshire down to Barnsley.
Slugger - we'd have to work hard to market Trinity in the areas I've mentioned as the "go to" Super League team. I live in North Warwickshire, about 25 miles from Leicester but there's loads of Leicester Tigers supporters around and about because Tigers have become the club to represent this area not just the city of Leicester.
I'd rather we stayed at BV but if it's not feasible a move to Dewsbury could be a massive opportunity for us.

Very much my thoughts Slugger. Box will be rubbing his hands with glee when Trinity depart the city. All focus can then legitimately be focused on the districts only top flight club.

I take your point about Leicester but I think you've actually got it the wrong way round. You'll tell me if I'm wrong, but the appeal for the Leicester Tigers is, I presume, that they are the biggest club in the area, and nothing more. If Trinity leave Wakefield and drop the city name from the title, the choice for Wakefield residents becomes which of the nearest big clubs do they opt for (and only one of which will be in the Wakefield district). Now, Wakefield residents opt for the team that represents the city. In Dewsbury, the choice is not so automatic.

We already have all parts of South Yorkshire to market to. I'm not sure we should be focussing on small towns in Kirklees, some of which already have rugby teams. The focus should be on Wakefield, "Your City, Your Team", etc. Unfortunately, those at the top don't see it that way.

I agree it would be brilliant to have a council that backed sport and the tag Wakefield but can anyone expect that to happen any time soon.
Just how long will Box be in charge how old is he now.
His preference may well be Cas but if other members can not see an advantage of a club with the Wakey tag then we are truly scuppered.
For me it's about the History of the club and representing Wakefield but unfortunately that does not appear to be the view of people who can make a difference, so without the backing it's time to move on.
Fighting wakey council will be a long drawn out costly affair and I don't see a favourable outcome.

I would have no problem moving there permanently, rather then let the sorry saga drag on and on.Surely in partnership with Dewsbury the undeveloped area could be sorted and stands at each end could be realised with a combination of Vasty's idea and the moving of our two ' new' stands.Seem to remember MC saying increasing capacity to 7000/8000 was doable.

As someone who was around to see and feel the buz in the 60s it really is sad to see the state of the club. When you look at such as Hull the city of culture who have a premiership football team and 2 Superleague rugby teams all attracting good support and super stadiums it really is sad that Wakefield are in the position they are in.

That's the key though. They all attract support. Unless people want to come and watch Wakefield Trinity play rugby, we'll be skimping around for a stadium and a team.
It's a business that needs income.

If the Cas stadium is realised and we are are still struggling on at shabby, miserable Belle Vue the exodus of 'fans' to Cas will happen anyway. Yes my dream is still a fully developed Belle Vue, but at some time we have to ' bight the bullet'. If the new landlords do not come up with a definate scheme we will have no alternative.As for accessibility and nearness to the city centre Dewsbury's ground is on a par with Newmarket.

As a matter of interest who actually own the Stadium - is it the club or the Council?

If you map it on Google the Newmarket site and the Dewsbury ground are equidistant from the city centre.

Which stadium are you referring to ?

I think Dewsbury's is owned by the Club.

My only doubt about Dewsbury would be public transport from Normy way, wonder if the club would attempt to get sponsors and put on free buses from the city centre for a couple of seasons?
Obviously not just for us from Normy.

Except they don't, in any numbers that justify the continued existence of a SL club.

Given the absolute certainty that WMDC have washed their hands of WT, it seems that MC has no choice but to find a viable alternative; and it would seem that Dewsbury is it - sad, but true.

Maybe the two will merge and form some kind of super-club; almost what Uncle Maurice wanted, but not quite...

Dewsbury, sadly I'm well aware who owns or doesn't own BV

I was thinking that the other day, by moving the Owl Lane and producing a new club you's have the real Calder RLFC - wonder if we could get the money back dated to 1995.

Indeed, so when the club up sticks and leaves the city, even less new fans will feel inclined to go watch a Wakefield team play out of another town, notwithstanding the existing support who may or may not drop away after the move. I don't see a positive future but I concede we appear to have little choice, especially if 88m want to develop the land into something other than a sports arena. Reading the loverugbyleague article, they do have plans all be it Carter isn't very optimistic of a decent outcome.

Thought you may have been thinking about the proposed stadium at Glasshougton.

Cant see any Wakefield fans going to Cas, unless its to watch Wakefield play them.
I wouldnt watch Cas if you paid me and game me a lift



IF Trinity ceased to exist, Id go to Dewsbury or Fev, Cas or Leeds are off limits.

Being slightly more optimistic - if it's managed properly, and PR'd in such a way that tells the story and spins it as the only way to secure the future of the club, it might generate some support from those people who have had an interest, but have been complicit in the clubs continued lurch from failure to failure by never actually turning up to support? And you might just waken some extra interest in Ossett, Horbury, Netherton, Middlestown, Dewsbury, Batley etc - bit of SL razzamatazz on their doorstep could see them make the short trip to Owl Lane?

One thing's for sure - if nothing changes, everything stays the same.

Agree, that's why Newmarket (or a redeveloped Belle Vue) was such an important project to Trinity, both from the stand point of getting out of crumbling ground, but from the stand point of also attracting new punters (both new ones from home and away), sponsorship, corporate etc. It seems we're going to be left with little choice but most thought in a new stadium, with a decent performing team playing in it, it could literally put thousands on the attendance. I can't see that future at Dewsbury unfortunately but I suppose it's better than nothing.

The other thing is, would Dewsbury let us have any stake in their ground. The only way I personally could see them agreeing to anything, other than just playing there and paying them rent, is if we bring cash to the table, or paying for making the place bigger. Something I think we'll struggle to do. Also I wonder if we made a permanent move, what would the RFL consider the minimum Capacity for SL?


Tbh I've been sticking it all to the back of mind recently because it's a complete downer. Especially when things look so positive in all other aspects of the Club atm and the only thing holding us back from really progressing is the bloody ground.

I can't see anything but a move to Dewsbury myself, I know MC likes to call people's bluff at times but reading the article on the ground holding us back he doesn't sound convinced.

Yes perfectly true and that is why approaching the problem in a managed way is much better than waiting for the inevitable to happen when BV will be deemed unsafe and we would have to make an immediate move perhaps mid season..

One other point, its not only Belle Vue stadium but the area around the ground which is also the issue. The way that part of Wakefield has spiralled down hill into its present state of degradation is a damning indictment on the Box controlled council.

I certainly know the location of the ground itself is a big negative factor to away supporters and also there are plenty of people in an around Wakefield who will hold back from trying out the 'match day experience' due to the location and state of BV.

I'd support a team that was merged, and retained the Wakefield identity but a team, even borne out of the Wakefield Trinity team, without Wakefield affiliation will mean nothing to me.
There is no diffference then to supporting Cas or Leeds.

I support Wakefield Trinity as it is my city team. Councillors will come and go but if you lose the Wakefield name you will lose your biggest draw to supporters.

People would come back in numbers I think, with a little success and the ground sorted (in the city!)
I wandered how long it would be before 'merger' was suggested.
I may be in a minority on here but a permanent move to Dewsbury is the end of Wakefield Trinity.