I stumbled down the terracing last year in North Stand when we beat Warrington but that was my own clumsiness.

Just cut my elbow a bit but pride was really hurt.

It was worth it with the win and felt better after a celabratory pint.

Seriously though, it is a hazard in places with the broken concrete etc and my Dad who is a lifelong fan is now not so steady on his feet doesnt go so much these days. I think if things were different he would still be going

I have been involved in insurance for some of the most modern football stadiums and have still seen claims for supporters falling down the steps some even by hit by wayward shots on goal. This means you can still have the most modern development and not prevent claims.
To be able to make a claim you must prove the club to be negligent, with any claim falling under the Public Liability policy. Those running the club could be charged following a fatality but these are rare and usually result from gross dereliction of safety requirements.
This is my understanding but I am sure some on here will correct me if I am wrong.

I'll be immensely sad if it comes to pass. As for the developer, they might go "wow, we could build some stuff on this, cheers," and that's the end of Wakefield having a rugby team.

I don't criticise the decision, entirely understandable, and it is indictment on numerous others.

I'll see how I feel when it happens. I support the club because it's the club I have supported since I lived on St Catherine Street when I was 5, but as I am from Wakefield but no longer live there, the connection to the city is important to me. At what point is the club just a limited company? I support the club in Wakefield called Trinity, not the limited company that runs it. But I'll give it a go, and I might find I can live with it. I'm just not sure how I'll feel about doing a 150 mile round trip to watch a team that isn't in Wakefield, even if it is called that.

I can understand your view point and the club may loose a few supporters like yourself. However life moves on and just as people drop off, others will get on board. Its not like Owl Lane is at the end of the universe, its still as densely populated as BV and I am sure new people who live nearby may go along to the games just like you did all those years ago.

Realistically PB, whether the move is right or not, you will lose many more than a few. I very much doubt that you would get more than half the support we currently get, going to Owl Lane.
My own view is unchanged, I will go BUT only for a couple of season and only IF a POSITIVE move is there for a new stadium or revamped BV. Otherwise I'm done after 60 years.

For the record, Dewsbury's stadium is 2.9 miles from the M1 at J40.

Didnt we submit plans a several years ago for around here/Queens Drive?

Really isn't that far

I've got my tin hat ready but, why ?

An expanded stadium at Owl Lane MAY be the only way for Trinity to play in a "modern" stadium and IF the capacity could be increased to 8000+, what is the problem with going to watch us play just outside the "city limits".

If we had some other options, I could understand what you are saying and I would agree with you but, maybe these options have been explored and when you bear in mind that any future change needs the support of WMDC, do you really think they will happen.

I would love to be watching Trinity in a new ground, in Thornes Park, Newmarket or wherever but, the chances of this happening seem as far away as ever.

If Castleford get their new stadium, if won't require any upgrades, it'll be modern and in the Wakefield District? Would you be happy if we moved there?

NO

The way you feel about that, others feel about Dewsbury.

I dont think there is any rivalry between Wakefield and Dewsbury plus, the major attraction with Dewsbury is that it would be outside the "Box" empire.
I've lived in Wakefield for 44 years and I supported them on the terraces for just shy of 30 years and believe me, I dont want Trinity to move out of Wakefield but, with the clock ticking both in terms of the state of BV and the dispensation given by The RFL for playing in an unsuitable stadium, what other realistic choices are there.
Of course, there are politics a plenty to consider as well and sharing with Cas (or Fev) would likely lead to calls for a merger so, again, what choices do we have.

Some people don't mind, but others, myself included feel quite strongly that the club should be based in Wakefield. I could live with a temporary move with a definite timescale on coming back, but anything else and we could lose the identity which attracted a lot of us to support the club in the first place.

Also, I'm still quite happy to watch games at Belle Vue. The facilities aren't really a problem for me.

Ultimately, RL is played by 26 blokes on a piece of grass (or plastic ) and most Trinity fans have got used to watching at BV but, whether you or I mind watching in the crumbling old ground is irrelevant.
IIRC, MC said at one of the fans forums that we had "special" dispensation from THe RFL to continue playing there and the clock is still ticking so, at some point, that option may also disappear ?

Hi Slugger,

For once I'm intent on being the voice of reason so I'll try my best



First of all I'm not going to argue with you or anyone who's being reasonable over this issue which of course you are. However I'd like to make a few points and suggestions that may help. I know Mr Carter reads this forum so nows the moment.

So my points....

1: Although I currently agree with PB and Belly that Dewsbury is the best option at the moment it needs pointing out that they and me are approaching it from very different angles - not saying I'm right and they are wrong. Unless I've misunderstood past conversations with both of them I think I'm right in saying that they are both not just pro Dewsbury but anti BV. Even if a BV upgrade was available they would still prefer a move away so there is a bias on their part - hope that's fair. I on the other hand am totally pro BV even over NM let alone Dewsbury but I just cant see either of those happening in any reasonable time frame, hence I'm left with only one option IMHO.

2: I'm assuming you are accepting of NM? Yet I think I'm right in saying NM isn't technically within the city limits it's only in the WMDC but I may be wrong on that. If I'm right it makes NM no more 'true' Wakefield than Cas or Fev, in which case we may as well share with Cas. It makes it still closer than Dewsbury but by a small degree especially after my next point.

3: What I am certain about is that NM is on the edge of a disputed boundary with Leeds. It's only about six years ago since Leeds tried but failed to get the boundaries re-drawn. What's to say that couldn't happen again but with a different result. Would you then stop attending games at NM if it was suddenly 200 yards inside Leeds MDC? This is the problem with metropolitan districts in that they are not real, WMDC is no more real than Kirklees.

4: As if to prove it the Dewsbury Stadium has both a Wakefield postcode and a Wakefield dialing code - how close can you get?

5: This is more a suggestion but one I think could put peoples minds at rest. What if the club were to take a long term lease out on a bigger shop in the town centre or very close. Property must be dirt cheap at present. Doesn't need to be prime but visible yes. Apart from the shop if it also had a ticket office and upstairs where the main registered office of the club where housed, all non ground essential staff could work there and the BOD could meet there as could sponsors and clients etc. Would that not be a very clear message that we are still very much a Wakefield club. By doing this the Council/RFL/Press would still have to recognise our legitimacy as a Wakefield club. It may be slightly more expensive than a stadium office set up but if it gives us the power to keep pressurising the council to honour their commitment it's money well spent.

6: No reason why the Council can't offer us a deal where we can't base our under 17's and development squads in Wakefield - Thornes Park Athletics Stadium seems a good one. This then gives local young players and their parents an affinity with the club.

Points 5 and 6 are the model by which a number of NFL clubs operate - their club base and supporter base are normally in their heartland but the Stadium may be in a close but different district. I think, South, Roosters, Bulldogs and a few other work a similar model but not absolutely sure on the detail

HTH

I understand the reasons, and I assume that there is constant pressure from the RFL, but at the same time if the club leaves without a plan, then long term they risk alienating a large percentage of what currently a small fan base. It's a tough one, and there's going to be unhappy people whichever way it goes.

Give over there is a world of difference that is a very poor analogy.

The facilities may be OK for you tillidie, but if they are not OK for Health and Safety regulators, the RL and Super league, what do you suggest ?I know some people who would not go to Newmarket, as they see Belle Vue as our spiritual home.
Wigan, Saints, Salford , Leigh , Hull, Warrington et all have all relocated.Some even sharing with football.
Come on! Dewsbury's stadium is hardly out of Wakefield .
As a poster has stated a damn site nearer for many., myself included.
My son is a loser if we move there as he lives in Normanton, but he says he is up for it.
Don't be so 'bloody minded' you doubters!

Wheres your proof - you may be right but saying it without proof is not debate it's just an opinion without credibility - sorry.

Personally I think you're very wrong but I can't prove it either.

At the end of the day Carter is doing this because he probably has to not to spite the fans.

There are fans out there who feel very strongly about the club moving to Dewsbury. They're obviously a lot less important than yourself, but trust me, they're out there. And the club could lose them instantly.

Having read Vasty's post I would like to add my first choice would be Belle Vue, second Newmarket, and with Dewsbury seemingly the only other option, that third.
But in reality , Dewsbury moves to no. 1 , as I cannot see the other two coming to fruition.

Dewsbury is just as easy for me to get to as Belle Vue. Newmarket I could walk to, but I still think it's the wrong location so I'm not saying it for personal gain. I just think the club has to stay in Wakefield to keep its identity. A temporary move would work if if it was just that, temporary, but long term the club would have a fight on its hands to retain much of the older support.

Well, I'm older .I'm on my way to 66.

No sorry but you can't use that 'vastman is a bully" tone on this one I'm not taking that as it's unreasonable.

The question is simple can you prove it? no you can't anymore than I can.

There is no room for personal dogma on this one it's got to be facts. If you don't want to move then fine that's your perogative - I don't blame you. But the clubs not about me or you or your mates it's about the culture of the city and it's future and future generations so why no keep it factual.

It's more the point that anyone who is against the move is shot down, that's the tone I don't like. Fans have genuine concerns and if we ignore anyone when we have a core base of just 2,000 fans it is going to damage the club.

I know of people who would follow the club anywhere. People who would give it a go and see what happens (I'm in that bracket if it was temporary). And people who would pack in all together. Without asking them to write it down and sign it, sadly I won't be able to give you that evidence. But surely common sense would tell you that would be the case? My opinion seems to be a minority on here, but I feel that Wakefield Trinity represent the City of Wakefield and moving to any other town would de-value that.

You're certainly right with regard to the Rabbitohs. Their 'home' is in Redfern in the southern part of the city, an old 'blue collar' area where the club offices and club shop are located, opposite their old ground, Redfern Oval. Redfern Oval is still used as a training base for the team. However their home games are played at the ANZ stadium (Olympic Stadium) which is 18kms away to the west of the city where they attract healthy crowds. Like other NRL sides they occasionally take games 'on the road' having played in Cairns and Perth in recent times. They also have to date 25000 members.

Whilst the Rabbitohs profile and that of the Rugby League in Australia is miles higher than ours, I agree with you that it could work in this fashion, but requires people to open their minds, and would need a lot of marketing.