Back

Login

Don’t have an account?Register
Powered By
Pitchero
History 2 of 3

2. History 2


HISTORY OF THE GROUND

The first ground in 1921, was known as the Reservoir Field at the top of Bramley Park. After five seasons it was decided to move to Whitegate Farm, which was more central. Unfortunately, the extra cost of transporting teams from the changing rooms, which were at Bramley Baths, caused them to leave this ground after only a short stay. The next move was to a field near Bramley Baths, known as the Police Station Field. Here, too, the stay was a short one, due to the previous owner keeping pigs in the field, which had left behind an aroma, which combined with mud, had made playing conditions very bad indeed. So - back to the Reservoir field. A further six years went by before yet another move - this time to a field in Lower Calverley Lane, which proved to be much better. The Club made their home here until the outbreak of World War II, at which time playing activities ceased.In 1946, after the war had finished, Rugby Football resumed when the Reservoir Field was again used. However, the following season saw yet another move - this time to the Park. Conditions on both these fields were still not satisfactory and so in 1949 a Ground Fund scheme was started and in 1950 a hunt was instigated, by a newly formed sub-committee, to find a suitable site for a permanent ground. Their efforts were eventually rewarded when the Warrels ground was purchased in 1953. Hitherto this area had been occupied by allotment holders and belonged to the executors of the late W.L. Haley. After much litigation, which included a question in the House of Commons, they were able to buy sufficient land for the development of a Rugby Union Football Field and Clubhouse. At that time C.W. Mathers gave the Club a large wooden building, and a team of workers went up to Stonegate Road every weekend for. seven months to dismantle this building and make it ready for erection at the new Warrels ground. Meanwhile, the field was being prepared, levelled out and had 1,500 tons of topsoil tipped on the ground to give it decent coverage. The ground was then seeded in October and November 1955. The total cost of this work amounted to £1,350. Work continued on the erection of the building and the roof was on by October 1956. Unfortunately, nature then took a hand in the proceedings when, for a period, terrific gales ensued, and the whole building collapsed like a pack of cards! As you can imagine, this was a real blow to those who had given so much of their time and effort to get things to this point.