Wakefield Trinity • Re: Belle Vue

The bar under the old west stand was a real experience. You had to push through the crowds at half time to get to the bar and wade through a sea of spilt Beverley's and Melbourne's bitter.
I worked for WMDC Building Services at the time that the west stand was condemned. Not only was it at risk from fire as per Valley Parade but the timbers were absolutely riddled with rot and woodworm after a life of nearly. 100 years.
The players used to emerge from that side from under the stand at the time.
I recall that for years the south stand had the words PULMO BAILEY painted in huge white letters on the roof, obviously so it could be read fom the air and all over the ground.
What or who the heck was Pulmo Bailey????
At the eastern side of the south stand where the club house is there used to be a large shale embankment that formed a great viewing spot during the game.
There were no railings at the top of the concrete walls down along the east and west edge of the pitch and kids used to sit on the top of the wall or on the grass at the edge of the pitch. I recall my own son as toddler sitting there and getting a clout from Neil Fox's boot as he was tackled in to touch.
Say what you like about the old girl, but Belle Vue has a myriad of memories for me and I reckon thousands of others alsoover the years.