Re: Ian Van Bellen : Wed Jul 31, 2019 2:40 pm  

herr rigsby wrote:

Thought he went to them from us

From memory we got him from Huddersfield, ad he left us to go to Fulham.

He played for about 20 minutes per game - real blast-from-the-past type player. Big lump with no stamina or fitness! He wouldn't last five minutes in the modern game

But that drop goal was phenomenal!

[Bulliac]

Re: Ian Van Bellen : Wed Jul 31, 2019 2:48 pm  

Sad to hear.

Ian was a 'big lad' in every way. It's true he was perfect for the substitution rule but he was very effective and took a lot of stopping. I guess he was very much in the same mould as Paul Anderson, who most younger fans will remember. If I remember correctly he came from Huddersfield, but I could be wrong.

Commiserations to his friends and family, including his younger brother Gary, who also played for the RA&B.

[Bullseye]

Re: Ian Van Bellen : Wed Jul 31, 2019 3:23 pm  

It was versus Hull FC was that drop goal apparently.

Re: Ian van bellon : Wed Jul 31, 2019 4:00 pm  

EW for PM wrote:

Yes, R I P Ian

Anyone else remember his drop goal from near the half way line?

Hull away at the Boulevard in a cup quarter final replay in 1979, I remember it as if it was yesterday

An 8-4 win when Hull had 70% of the ball and a great pack, but they did not pass!! Their points came from 2 pens, we scored 2 tries and 2 drops including Ian's

The Threepeny stand started laughing when he attempted it, they stopped when it was still rising when it went over the posts.

I knew someone who knew someone on the board at Hull. They told him there was over 25,000 in the crowd that night, but they only declared 18,000 as that was all the ground was certified for and that we had shafted them in the game at Odsal by declaring about 10,000 less in the ground than there was so we could pocket the difference!! Some things keep coming round for our great club
We had about 2,000 in the crowd at Hull, it wasn't a place for the faint hearted

RIP big man!!

Re: Ian van bellon : Wed Jul 31, 2019 4:18 pm  

[quote="Mirfieldbull"]Hull away at the Boulevard in a cup quarter final replay in 1979, I remember it as if it was yesterday

An 8-4 win when Hull had 70% of the ball and a great pack, but they did not pass!! Their points came from 2 pens, we scored 2 tries and 2 drops including Ian's

The Threepeny stand started laughing when he attempted it, they stopped when it was still rising when it went over the posts.

I knew someone who knew someone on the board at Hull. They told him there was over 25,000 in the crowd that night, but they only declared 18,000 as that was all the ground was certified for and that we had shafted them in the game at Odsal by declaring about 10,000 less in the ground than there was so we could pocket the difference!! Some things keep coming round for our great club
We had about 2,000 in the crowd at Hull, it wasn't a place for the faint hearted

RIP big man!![/quote]

I can confirm it was indeed very scary for a 12yr old at his first ever away game

Re: Ian van bellon : Wed Jul 31, 2019 4:27 pm  

herr rigsby wrote:

I can confirm it was indeed very scary for a 12yr old at his first ever away game

It was scared for a 21 year old who thought he could handle himself!!

Re: Ian Van Bellen : Wed Jul 31, 2019 5:22 pm  

Post deleted. Wrong thread.

Re: Ian Van Bellen : Wed Jul 31, 2019 5:37 pm  

Back to Ian, the bloke managed to be a stand out character in a time when every team seemed to have at least one entertaining prop. Sad news.

Re: Ian Van Bellen : Wed Jul 31, 2019 7:35 pm  

I remember the big chap being sent on as a substitute by Peter Fox. Because he had such an awkward upright running (possibly walking) style he attracted penalties like wasps to a jam pot from the opposition when they could not put him down.
I was at the Boulevard the night he dropped that goal, unbelievable.
My best memory of him was his performance against Widnes in the 77/78 premiership final. He should have been man of the match in my eyes. Possibly he didn`t get it because he was substituted early in the second half after tiring, but he caused Widnes plenty of damage before going off.
RIP Ian a fantastic character and player who always had a smile on his face.

Re: Ian Van Bellen : Wed Jul 31, 2019 9:44 pm  

He had a great comb over and good hands - RIP Ian and my sympathies to his younger brother Gary who served us so well too.