Memory is a strange thing. I always remember Boothferry Park as a perfect pitch. I remember the Stoke fa Cup game at played under a bright blue sky on a wonderful surface. It wasn't apparently. Quick look at you tube showed it was worn, cut up and had mud patches in the penalty area. Compared to what was around in the 70s it was special but not to be compared with a modern pitch. Considering the weather we've had. The position and shade. There's always goingto be problems Wasn't there a problem with a nematode infestation a few seasons ago (Or did I dream that ) Football pitches are a science now. B.P. was a highly skilled groundsman and fish meal fertiliser https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/15/silicon-valley-of-turf-uk-perfect-football-pitch
Was just reading about the first RL game at Boothferry Park. It was 1953 and Harold Needler let Rovers stage their game against FC there as Rovers were having financial problems. Over 27,000 there, Rovers record crowd and the highest ever for a derby in Hull. Amazing, as that season Rovers average was 4,500 and FC’s was 7,500. (City’s was 25,900 after a poor season where they finished 18th in Division 2.) Of course it has always been a rugby city, the Boulevard was packed out every week etc, etc…
There a lot of photos from Waggy’s time showing divots and worn surfaces. It did have good drainage (though there is a photo of it flooded and under water in the early 1950s). The drainage seemed to deteriorate after houses were built on land on the other side of the railway line on the field previously used as a car park.
The game is on Sky and it's freezing out there Credit to Acun , call it good PR or whatever but the contrast with the Allams is incredible
Don't know much about 'nematode infestation' but yes we did have a problem with some sort of parasitic worms at one point? Clever ****ers they were,some of them survived and post on here nowadays
I can remember divots sometimes as long as your arm on BP's pitch, the players doubled up as ground staff by treading them back in. The views expressed in my posts are not necessarily mine.
Omg .. that brought back some memories, 1970/71 was my first full season .. my dad used to take me as I was 8 at the time, and I remember being there that day, the Banks save in particular !
Nope, although I heard a rumour you went round in 82, then played the other nine holes. The views expressed in my posts are not necessarily mine.
Football - Hull city average attendance 22/ 23 18108 Rugby League - Hull average 23 12355 HKR 23 8770 Total 21125 A few facts for one or two posters to digest - RL is well supported in Hull in fact last year Rl attracted more than 15% more fans than City did
Stan Coombs was the groundsman. I had a massive crush his daughter, a year or two older than me at Franny Askew.
S So, City are the biggest club in Hull with 50% bigger crowds than FC and about 110% more than Rovers. Which means there should be most articles on front of HDM about City, followed by FC then Rovers.Which we all know is not the case.
Rovers to their credit are really trying to outreach to their area. I went for an interview to work in their team a while ago and the plans they had for a RL club were fairly ambitious. Doing a good job
