SCARBOROUGH FC LIVES ON AT FEATHERSTONE ROVERS SUPERB GROUND OF CHARACTER

FEATHERSTONE ROVERS 6 V LEIGH CENTURIONS 40
KINGSTONE PRESS CHAMPIONSHIP POST OFFICE ROAD, THE BIGFELLAS STADIUM 15 MARCH 2015 3PM

THROUGH THE POSTS THE NEW STANDS IN ALL THEIR GLORY

Where do I start with grounds like this one you just have to fall in love with the history along with the undoubted current passion and commitment of the current Rovers fans.

IS THERE A BETTER ADDRESS
FOR A SPORTS GROUND

After a tight first half which saw the home side lead 6-4 the second half provided a performance that's was both clinical and dominant from Leigh Centurions in this battle of the roses.
As ever the visit took me via train to Wakefield Kirkgate and then because there are no trains on the Featherstone line on a Sunday it was an Arriva bus to the town of my intended destination arriving just after 1.30pm for this 3pm kick off.
As many of you will know the blog spent last summer watching National Conference Rugby and made a visit to see Featherstone Lions the towns amateur team.  During the visit I made a call to take a look at the Rovers ground and received a friendly welcome.  It was at that point that I marked down Post Office Road for a future visit for a game.  There in starts this trip of character can there be a ground with a better address than Post Office Road it just tells of the glory days of the 70's and 80's when the mining industry and town was powerful and more affluent.

POST OFFICE ROAD IN FULL SPLENDOUR AKA THE BIGFELLAS STADIUM

Sadly today the approach to the ground is accompanied by shuttered shops, it is after all a Sunday, but you can tell the town has seen better days and I could only imagine what the whole area was like in its more successful days in both community and rugby league.  As with then it is up to Rovers to make times slightly easier for their fans and community with some much sought after success.  The one thing that amazes you about Rugby League is the friendliness of the supporters alongside a large family element attending games and a large contingent are proud to wear their clubs colours here at Featherstone in the shape of all sorts of merchandise.

LEIGH CENTURION FANS MAKE THE MOST OF THE NEW STAND

Having entered the ground I purchased the programme and knew I had arrived in West Yorkshire with the thank you in the style of 'thank you cock', following onto to the steps that approach the terracing I also purchased a 'Golden Gamble' ticket and there was even a chance to donate to the final works of the two new stand here at The Bigfellas Stadium [more of this later].

FORMER SCARBOROUGH FC STAND ADMIRES THE OTHER NOW IN PLACE AT FEATHERSTONE

Once the stairway is climbed to the left is the main stand older in style which straddles the halfway line and then above the players entrance is the hospitality and bar areas before we move around to the stand behind the top posts which is at the front of the railway station.  Here lies a story because along with the a small stand to the right hand side touchline both have come from the former Scarborough Football Clubs Seamer Rd ground.  The passion and support of the Fev fans is no more evident than in these stands being moved and re constructed by a small band of supporters no mean feat and even with some work to be completed this is full credit to the guys for unbelievable work and fantastic commitment, Rovers you must be so proud of these guys-well done.
Coming down the opposite touchline to our entry and after the smaller of the two ex Scarborough stands is a large community stand with permanent non tip up seats.  Finally behind the posts at the Post Office Rd end behind the slope is some good old fashioned terracing its steep and others a cracking view of proceedings.

REFRESHMENTS BARS SIDE BY SIDE

Refreshments are superbly catered for with the a countless number of outlets scattered all around the ground with prices fairly reasonable, I managed to sample a chip butty and coffee but if you fancied a beer there were plenty of opportunities, well it wouldn't be rugby without a pint would it?
So onto the game and I was in excited anticipation my previous rugby league had been the old days of Mansfield Marksman on a few occasions and Sheffield Eagles at The Don Valley Stadium and the Owlerton Stadium neither of which are places conducive to good viewing so today it was a 'proper' ground.
The poor old referees and touch judges are kitted out in yellow and added lime green for the Specsavers adverts of which the highlight quote of the day came near the end form a Yorkshire lass in the stand who in full Yorkshire accent shouted at the touch judge "Tha wants t get back t Specsavers thas bin conned"! Priceless.

TERRACES IN ACTION

Half time had seen Featherstone come back from 4-0 down to lead 6-4 and all looked very good for the second period.
Sadly it was not to be as Leigh Centurions ran in 36 points without reply to secure a 40-6 victory as the hooter went.
Player wise the delightfully named Fuifui Moimoi, from Tonga, has the Carlos Valderama hair of rugby league and what's more and if he says its Thursday then its Thursday!

BIG HAIR, BIG PLAYER - FUIFUI MOIMOI

As ever with Rugby League the fitness and sheer coming together of the players in tackles never ceases to amaze me.  It was a trip and a game that I fully enjoyed in a ground of undoubted character with a supporter base of superb commitment to the cause of Featherstone Rovers.
Upon departure and all around the West Yorkshire area it always amazes me the lack of football pitches but the proliferation of rugby pitches and it was great today to see a large crowd of both Featherstone and Leigh supporters attending this game.
The reverse trip was via Arriva where we journeyed past Featherstone Lions ground, then the base of Sharlston Rovers ARLFC from The Pennine League and finally Wakefield Wildcats ground clearly visible from the top deck of the aquamarine liveried bus.  After an increasingly cold wait at a still under renovation, it seems after so long, Kirkgate station base was made just before 8pm.
If you have never visited Post Office Road give it a try I don't think you will be disappointed.


THEY THINK ITS ALL OVER IT IS NOW