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Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: VivaRovers on November 23, 2024, 02:37:28 pm

Title: Billy Bremner and the Belle Vue pitch
Post by: VivaRovers on November 23, 2024, 02:37:28 pm

A very specific question to help with an article I'm writing about Belle Vue for a national magazine.

I know that Billy Bremner had the Belle Vue pitch made smaller, but was this during his first or second spell as manager?

And, can anyone confirm whether it was made shorter or narrower?

Title: Re: Billy Bremner and the Belle Vue pitch
Post by: drfchound on November 23, 2024, 03:27:43 pm

To try and answer one of the questions, I’m sure it was made shorter.

Title: Re: Billy Bremner and the Belle Vue pitch
Post by: Armthorpe mickler on November 23, 2024, 03:31:02 pm

Think it was in the 70's when Bremner first took over.

Title: Re: Billy Bremner and the Belle Vue pitch
Post by: knockers on November 23, 2024, 03:51:30 pm

I think it was made narrower.

Title: Re: Billy Bremner and the Belle Vue pitch
Post by: roversontheup on November 23, 2024, 03:53:24 pm

I’m certain it was narrowed.

Title: Re: Billy Bremner and the Belle Vue pitch
Post by: bradford exile on November 23, 2024, 03:55:09 pm

Hi Glen I'll check my scrapbooks . Regards.  Ray

Title: Re: Billy Bremner and the Belle Vue pitch
Post by: Bristol Red Rover on November 23, 2024, 05:44:15 pm

"At one time the pitch was the biggest in the football league, measuring 119 yards by 79 yards, but it was reduced under the management of Billy Bremner in 1981."
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/housing-developer-to-reveal-plans-for-former-football-stadium-1864288

So that's the date, and pretty sure it was made narrower, possibly a tiny touch shorter.

Title: Re: Billy Bremner and the Belle Vue pitch
Post by: bradford exile on November 23, 2024, 06:22:38 pm

Hi Glen.......

The plans for the Belle Vue playing area were approved approximately round about February 1979. It was reported in the press around that time.

The changes though would not be brought into effect until the forthcoming close season. The report by a Mr Jim Fergusson stated ("Quote") "The ground alterations have been approved ,but it may be the close season before they go ahead"

I hope this helps, but if you need to see the newspaper article let me know. raymond.jest@gmail.com

Regards

Ray Jest (Bradford Exile)

Title: Re: Billy Bremner and the Belle Vue pitch
Post by: BobG on November 23, 2024, 06:37:40 pm

I thought narrower too.

BobG

Title: Re: Billy Bremner and the Belle Vue pitch
Post by: drfchound on November 23, 2024, 06:48:43 pm

I seem to recall that the goals were moved further away from the walls behind them too.

Title: Re: Billy Bremner and the Belle Vue pitch
Post by: DonnyBazR0ver on November 23, 2024, 10:07:39 pm

Pretty sure both narrower and shorter. You can see from this vid (8 mins in) there's loads of turf behind the nets. A good 2 yards each end at least. Both touchlines brought about a yard in.

https://youtu.be/zGk0nKvYTmY?si=2yRF3_yPu_eSM2-H

Title: Re: Billy Bremner and the Belle Vue pitch
Post by: VivaRovers on November 24, 2024, 12:30:37 am

Cheers folks, much appreciated

Title: Re: Billy Bremner and the Belle Vue pitch
Post by: Donnywolf on November 25, 2024, 08:15:07 am

I thought both but I had in my head 119x72 so looks like memory failed there

Are there any regulations going forward to standardize Pitch sizes as newer Stadia are built

It would have been hard to do in the "olden" days but surely now the new Grounds emerge they could have a standard pitch size built in ?

Title: Re: Billy Bremner and the Belle Vue pitch
Post by: selby on November 25, 2024, 08:59:20 am

  An interesting one is when Scunthorpe moved to their new stadium from the old Ground.
   There was a mix up with the builders or planners who asked what size the pitch needed to be and were given the dimensions of the old playing surface.
    They took them to be the dimensions of the surrounding walls hence a narrow playing area.

Title: Re: Billy Bremner and the Belle Vue pitch
Post by: VivaRovers on November 25, 2024, 11:34:09 am

After all this, I ended up having to trim this bit off to make the word count. But again, thanks all for the info.

Piece should be in next month's When Saturday Comes as part of their 'Lost Stadiums' series for those interested.

Title: Re: Billy Bremner and the Belle Vue pitch
Post by: streathamdave on November 26, 2024, 05:07:36 pm

Probably both, but certainly narrower