It wasnt jealousy. More about the manner in which HRLFC moved to the Shay. But, as I argue with FCHT supporters, its bloody years ago and shouldnt reflect on the rugby club anymore or even be considered when looking at potential ways of working together in the present and future.
While I was initially sorry to leave Thrum Hall, I now feel we are fortunate to have a ground like the Shay which is the envy of most championship clubs - and a fair few in Superleague. On the rare occasions when we get a crowd of 3k/4k there's a fantastic atmosphere - the problem we have unfortunately is not the ground but our inability to fill it. Leaving Thrum Hall was sad for a lot of people who had great memories of the old ground - moving grounds again is not only totally impractical from a financial point of view, but wouldn't address the issue of low crowds.
Ilkley Fax wrote:While I was initially sorry to leave Thrum Hall, I now feel we are fortunate to have a ground like the Shay which is the envy of most championship clubs - and a fair few in Superleague. On the rare occasions when we get a crowd of 3k/4k there's a fantastic atmosphere - the problem we have unfortunately is not the ground but our inability to fill it. Leaving Thrum Hall was sad for a lot of people who had great memories of the old ground - moving grounds again is not only totally impractical from a financial point of view, but wouldn't address the issue of low crowds.
Exactly and I don't get the parking and access issue at the Shay..as for the Ovenden park suggestion...
Joined: Apr 19 2009 Posts: 4914 Location: on the outskirts of halifax
the biggest bug bear about the shay these days is the unfinished corner. this could bring in extra revenue straight away. big council fail. just sums them up.
been around here long time, thought would start posting...........
Joined: Dec 22 2001 Posts: 31956 Location: The Corridor of Uncertainty
Ilkley Fax wrote:While I was initially sorry to leave Thrum Hall, I now feel we are fortunate to have a ground like the Shay which is the envy of most championship clubs - and a fair few in Superleague. On the rare occasions when we get a crowd of 3k/4k there's a fantastic atmosphere - the problem we have unfortunately is not the ground but our inability to fill it. Leaving Thrum Hall was sad for a lot of people who had great memories of the old ground - moving grounds again is not only totally impractical from a financial point of view, but wouldn't address the issue of low crowds.
Used to love my trips to Thrum Hall (but not the toilets there!) and it was sad to see it go but you needed to move with the times. Wish my own club had a ground like the Shay. What's the capacity? What level of crowds could you reasonably expect? I remember the heyday of the mid 80s saw crowds of 8-9k.
"If you start listening to the fans it won't be long before you're sitting with them," - Wayne Bennett.
Joined: Dec 22 2001 Posts: 6620 Location: Halifax, the sleeping giants of Rugby League
Bullseye wrote:Used to love my trips to Thrum Hall (but not the toilets there!) and it was sad to see it go but you needed to move with the times. Wish my own club had a ground like the Shay. What's the capacity? What level of crowds could you reasonably expect? I remember the heyday of the mid 80s saw crowds of 8-9k.
We moved to the Shay in 1998. The relegation season 1988-89 we averaged more than 8k at Thrum Hall, which ironically was higher than the 1985-86 title winning season! If I remember rightly, even in our 3rd placed Super League finish in the late 90s at the Shay, we struggled to get an average of 5k, but I do remember good crowds against Bradford.
Ah yes, Thrum Hall, with it's fire hazardous wooden main stand and the toilets in the opposite Popular stand knee deep in urine. But we all loved it, even the 2nd team got crowds greater than 2k. That's why I'm on a downer re the Shay. But I get it. We can't live in the past and I apologise for bringing the whole ground debate up.
Tony Fax wrote:We moved to the Shay in 1998. The relegation season 1988-89 we averaged more than 8k at Thrum Hall, which ironically was higher than the 1985-86 title winning season! If I remember rightly, even in our 3rd placed Super League finish in the late 90s at the Shay, we struggled to get an average of 5k, but I do remember good crowds against Bradford.
Used to go up Thrum Hall in the early 90s. Whilst I was a diehard HTAFC supporter, I loved going to Thrum Hall and to see a crowd
I started going to watch Fax again when they moved to the Shay and the atmosphere was equally as good. The razzamtaz of Super League at the time worked and it was a real family occasion along with some great rugby.
I'm with Bullseye, you have a lovely ground, and it's a blessing compared to what many of us have to put up with. You perhaps are too close to it to fully appreciate what you've got, but surely when you come to our place you realise what slumming it really looks like.
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