Belle Vue : Wed Jun 08, 2022 8:22 pm  

The talk about the South stand got me reminiscing of what was.

North Stand
This was like now just terracing probably the same but with no roof. At the back was the scoreboard operated by humans using metal numbers. It was primitive but could be seen from most parts of the ground. We had the blue wooden shed providing warm sustenance (it was a winter game then).

East Stand
The one stand virtually untouched except for the sponsors names across the top. It was where the players emerged from the old dressing rooms onto the pitch between the dugouts. They were proceeded by the two cheerleaders who walked around the ground before standing outside the goal area Wakefield were attacking.

West Stand
This was actually quite beautiful but being made mainly of wood fell foul of the new legislation following the Bradford fire. It was of course not helped by having a bar under the stand which you entered via a tunnel at the back. This was also used to relocate to the end Wakefield were attacking, you wanted to and could do in those days.

I am sure I have missed somethings but it just what I remember.

Re: Belle Vue : Wed Jun 08, 2022 8:29 pm  

Scarlet Pimpernell wrote:

The talk about the South stand got me reminiscing of what was.



I am sure I have missed somethings but it just what I remember.

Yes you have.
The South Stand, that was the best of the lot. Its the only one that if it were still here would be acceptable today.

Re: Belle Vue : Wed Jun 08, 2022 8:58 pm  

Scarlet Pimpernell wrote:

The talk about the South stand got me reminiscing of what was.


I am sure I have missed somethings but it just what I remember.

The little shed at the upper east end of the North Terracing selling old programmes. Seemed to always have dozens of copies of some Tom Van Vollenhoven brochures.

Re: Belle Vue : Wed Jun 08, 2022 9:17 pm  

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.

Re: Belle Vue : Wed Jun 08, 2022 9:47 pm  

Redscat wrote:

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.

Cough mixture and I think that they advertised in the programs, I'll have to look one out.

Re: Belle Vue : Wed Jun 08, 2022 10:41 pm  

phe13 wrote:

Cough mixture and I think that they advertised in the programs, I'll have to look one out.

Re: Belle Vue : Thu Jun 09, 2022 5:51 am  

phe13 wrote:

Cough mixture and I think that they advertised in the programs, I'll have to look one out.

If you had concrete on your chest Pulmo Baileys would shift it, don't think it's available now, last time I had some was in the late 90s.

Re: Belle Vue : Thu Jun 09, 2022 6:17 am  

It would appear you can still buy it - the power of the inter web ! https://www.betterchemist.com/pulmo-bailly.html

It would appear you can still buy it - the power of the inter web ! https://www.betterchemist.com/pulmo-bailly.html

Re: Belle Vue : Thu Jun 09, 2022 10:07 am  

I seem to remember going to a Wakey v St Helen’s cup tie at BV, we were stood in the South stand and I’m pretty sure the attendance was over 10,000

Re: Belle Vue : Thu Jun 09, 2022 2:02 pm  

Looking at the Trinity heritage site it shows a cup semi final in the 1930's - apparently there were 37000 spectators at that game- you can see how they're all crammed in!