Before the lights went out

[Sven Vath]

First time I've attached a file so not sure if this works.

Took this on the way out of Belle Vue, just before they turned the lights off for the last time

[Reg of the Rovers]

Great shot Sven, it's like you can see across the galaxy.

One for the Rovers museum definitely. There was a fab shot from Belle Vue in the National Football Museum when it was in Ambleside - looking at the pitch through a crack in the red painted fences, would love to see that again if anyone has a copy to share here?

[BobG]

I've got it on my pc at home Reg. Snag is home is almost 6,000 miles away. If you remember, give me a nudge in mid December. It was called 'A Crack at Belle Vue' or something like that. Very red. Peeping through a hole in the gate at the Town End of the Pop Side. I think.

BobG

[Ldr]

I was the one who turned the lights off for the last time, my claim to bv history

[Nudga]

I was the one who turned the lights off for the last time, my claim to bv history

Murderer!!


I've always wished that belle vue would have been redeveloped, but in the same style as the grand old lady she was.

A double tiered Town End (for away fans)
A doubled tiered Main stand with exec boxes in the middle, keeping the separate home and away tunnels.
And a huge sweeping stand for The Popside into the Rossington end.

All modernised and looking fantastic on the main road approach to the City centre.

Just imagine the buzz of seeing great big stands built during the season and the anticipation of going into your preferred, updated plush new stand.

I'm still not fully into the Keepmoat stadium, I think a trick was missed in the design of it.
It's just very functional isn't it. Only feels to have a bit of soul and a heartbeat when it's got over 10k in it.

I miss the smell of burgers, cigs and cigars and bovril on the open terrace.
I miss the characters of the Popside, and there were plenty. 

I've loved reading the other thread about 20k and 30k crowds in belle vue.
I never got to see that but I can visualise what it would have been like.

A thing of beauty.

[roversdude]

Is there an easy way of posting pictures on mobile version of the site please

[drfchound]

When on the mobile site, scroll down to the bottom and you can see an option to “go to desktop site”.
Once there you can attach pictures to your post.
Just switch back to mobile site when done.

[roversdude]

Thanks Hound - I have this as a postcard

[Chris Black come back]

I was the one who turned the lights off for the last time, my claim to bv history

Murderer!!


I've always wished that belle vue would have been redeveloped, but in the same style as the grand old lady she was.

A double tiered Town End (for away fans)
A doubled tiered Main stand with exec boxes in the middle, keeping the separate home and away tunnels.
And a huge sweeping stand for The Popside into the Rossington end.

All modernised and looking fantastic on the main road approach to the City centre.

Just imagine the buzz of seeing great big stands built during the season and the anticipation of going into your preferred, updated plush new stand.

I'm still not fully into the Keepmoat stadium, I think a trick was missed in the design of it.
It's just very functional isn't it. Only feels to have a bit of soul and a heartbeat when it's got over 10k in it.

I miss the smell of burgers, cigs and cigars and bovril on the open terrace.
I miss the characters of the Popside, and there were plenty. 

I've loved reading the other thread about 20k and 30k crowds in belle vue.
I never got to see that but I can visualise what it would have been like.

A thing of beauty.

You could maybe have redeveloped on the same footprint but it would have been hugely expensive.

More than that, the only way we could finance a major redevelopment or new ground was to move, from the expensive real estate we were sat on, to less expensive real estate. With the difference financing the build.

As it was we ended up with an unbelievable deal that the taxpayers of Doncaster effectively footed. We are still I think on a deal that is a 100k payment annually to City of Doncaster Council for our lease on the site, inflation linked from signing in 2012. This is an unreal deal for us given the cash machine that stadium is relative speaking.

Obviously no atmosphere anywhere is better than Pop Side midpoint on a packed evening game, but sacrifices had to be made.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Thanks Hound - I have this as a postcard

Mrs S-T bought me a limited edition signed copy of that as a birthday present a long time ago. Got it on the wall in front of my desk at home. The colours alone are just glorious. Stuart Roy Clarke said it was the best photo he ever took.

The OP photo is glorious too. I really like that.

So many memories, just about to be confined to eternity.