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Belle Vue Memories
Here are a few of your favourite memories of the Belle Vue stadium.
If you would like to send in your memories of the Belle Vue stadium or let us know what you thought of the Cardiff weekend, then please e-mail [email protected] and they may be put on this page and the best ones will be featured in the match day programme.
"I along with other Wakefield fans have many memories. The ones that stick in my mind the most include:
My very first game some sixteen to seventeen years ago. Wakefield managed a draw with Leeds. As it was my first game I said to my new husband that I thought a draw was good. That did not go down well. Now I have been going along all this time with him I know what that look meant. In his eyes it was a losing draw not a winning draw.
My second memory was the game against Warrington, the last game of the season. We won easily, but to stay in the Super League we needed Castleford to beat Salford. The wait for that result to come through seemed like forever, but the result was right for us.
Thirdly, another game against Warrington in 2000, my son was a mascot, and we won with a lucky bounce of the ball. Or should I say the ball hit the bar in a penalty, came back and Wakefield scored a try."
Sarah Whiteley
"I can remember watching Neil Fox leading out a Yorkshire side against the Australians – Yorkshire played in an all white strip which to a young lad who had never seen a floodlit match before looked very impressive against the green & gold of the Australians.
On another bizarre occurrence I can remember watching a demonstration game of American Football before the main match and thinking that it would never catch on!"
Paul Hanley
"I first stood on the hallowed terraces at about the age of three, standing on tiptoes to see over the wall as studded boots tore up the ground close by. I now live in Peru and find it difficult to attend as many games as I would like but for me five memorable times stand out.
1) The semi final victory over St. Helens in 1979, Andy Fletcher I believe won it right at the death after Saints looked like stealing it.
2) The time against Saints, when they had far too healthy a lead, and a smug Alex Murphy had the smile wiped off his face with a truly spectacular second forty minutes, and the Trinity fans in the stands singing "You thought you had won, you were wrong, you were wrong" over and over again.
3) Wally Lewis coming back on with a headband after colliding with the posts and orchestrating a tough 8-1 victory over local rivals Featherstone.
4) Harry Gration almost coming to blows with the Aussie coach after the "friendly". With the photo on the front page of the Yorkshire Post next morning with the Union Flag held up proudly by myself and younger brother and still regular fan/ steward Neil Bailey. Although we couldn't actually be seen. Anybody still got a copy of that one? Please!
5) The day Trinity ran out on the pitch for the first game of the season in the mid 80's with a truly awful new strip sponsored by British Coal (just after the strike!) and one fan shouting "we came to see rugby not a circus".
Hope these help some people jog their collective memories too."
Spencer Bailey
"My most memorable moment at Belle Vue was when I played before a match. My team got thrashed because I didnt know where to put the ball down to score a try (and it was very cold). The Wildcats beat Wigan and I have been going ever since rain or shine."
Alice Burnell
"I’ve watched Trinity for fifty years and so I have got so many memories of Belle Vue, I could probably write a book! In terms of matches I will never forget the match when Wakefield played the Australians in 1963. There was one of the biggest brawls I’ve ever seen in the game. For a young kid watching the match, it was quite an experience. My recollection is that the police had to be involved, which I had not seen before or since. I recall on one occasion in my childhood, I left the stadium without my feet actually on the ground. I was jammed between various adults. As a little kid I was just carried out by the crowd.
I also remember another occasion when I came out of Belle Vue behind the old west stand after a big game. Everyone was pouring out and some fool had parked a London-type cab right outside the main spectator exit. Somebody opened the door to the cab and quite a lot of people actually exited the ground walking through the middle of this cab. As there was such a crowd this was the only safe way to get out.
I remember the experience of coming out of the ground from the south stand end, going under the passage below the old west stand when it was absolutely packed. It was quite a frightening experience for a kid. This little passage had quite a low ceiling and it used to get jammed with people. I used to hang around there and get players autographs. We sometimes walked down to the bus stop with players. In those days many of them didn’t have cars so we’d talk to them whilst they waited for their bus. My memory of the Trinity players of the time – of the great 60s side – was that they all had time to talk to kids like myself. They made time to talk to you about the game and your own interests, which was appreciated and encouraged kids to get involved in the game."
David Hinchliffe
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