Stanningley RL / Bramley Buffaloes

Stanningley are an amateur rugby league side from Leeds, & I was fortunate enough to travel up there ast the start of the 2010 season when Bramley Buffaloes, who groundshare there, had a pre-season match with South London Storm, Unlike southern amateur rugby league clubs, the majority of northern sides have their own grounds, whereas outside the heartlands of the game rugby union grounds have to be hired.



They play at the Arthur Miller Stadium.



A number of their players have moved on to the professional game.



I'm told most amateur rugby league grounds up north are very basic, just railed off. I wouldn't know, as this is the only one I've been to, but it's still pleasant enough. There is a big, new social club/changing room complex, opened in 2008. Which we see as we walk round. Here we begin our walk round, from the path where we walk into the stadium. Most people 'hug the rail', but the grass bank gives a good vantage point.



This scoreboard box looks very strange to me. I don't know if they're a common feature of northern grounds or not.



The dugouts are unusal to me, as a football fan, as they on on either side of the pitch. Here is the home one, very smart.



Hard standing continues past them, along this side.



From this point we look across the pitch, we see the floodlights, & also the ugly electrical pylons behind.



The area behind the goal is also grass banked.



Before we get there we look back down the popular sloped side.



Almost at the corner now.



Another glance down the hard standing along the side.



From the corner we see over the pitch.



Then turn behind the goal.



Where we see the banking continues some way along the far side.



From on the slope behind the goal we can see the clubhouse complex down the far end.



Annother look toward it, through the posts.



Moving onward, we look back behind the goal.



Now going toward the far side.



From this side we look across the pitch.



We're now at the other dugout, this is the away one, with the South London Storm bench in shot.



Moving on past it, the grass bank goes, and we are now above part of Leeds below, to our left. The hard standing continues round the pitch.



Here we look back down the less populated side.



And now we're behind the other goal, looking toward the clubhouse.



Another 'through the posts' shot, this time the other end!



Getting closer to the clubhouse corner.



Most of the crowd on the sloped isde.



Another glance across the pitch.



Before we're back to the path where we started, & I can now enjoy the remainder of the second half.

Staines Lammas

I took the opportunity to visit Staines Lammas towards the end of the 2009/10 season when I had a free Saturday afternoon, & I had read that they were leaving their ground to stage their First Team matches at Ashford Town(Middlesex) as they could not get planning permission for floodlights at their traditional home here. They currently compete in the First Division of the Combined Counties League.

It's a shame that clubs have to move to try to progress, frustrated by one or two local NIMBY objectors, despite not complaints by the majority of other nearby residents.



The ground is down this driveway, allotments to the left.



This is the sign at the top of the drive.



The club is not actually in Staines, despite the name of the club. It is based in Laleham Village.



Staines is down the road.



Once you walk down the drive to the ground the pavilion comes into view. This comprises of both the clubhouse & the changing rooms.



Three cheers for the Lottery!



This is the other side of the pavilion, looking towards the sports pitches. As you can see from the scoreboard cricket is also played here.



There is a smart clock at the top of the building.



Inside the clubhouse there is a hatch for hot food & drinks.



Photo blurred by the bright sun through the windows, some of the groundhoppers present take a pew.



The bar was busy at half time.



There was a photomontage of a local Sunday league side Stanwell FC on the wall.



Outside the pitch is a basic railed off one,as you might expect at this level. Here we are along the 'main side', as the teams show 'Respect'.



To our left it is railed off behind the goal too.



Along the side where we are there is hard standing laid down. And you can see it also railed off down the far end. we ar going to continue along this path, & head round the ground anti-clockwise.



There are dugouts either side of the halfway line.



They look rather 'well worn' from behind, but I like the fact they're in club colours.



In between the two dugouts we look toward the far goal.



Here are the dugouts from on the pitch.



Official Co-Co League number boards!



Right across the halfway line.



Beyond the dugouts the hard standing continues.



As we move on we glance back & see the pavilion.



From the corner we look across the pitch...or try to!



That's better!



Behind the goal it's just railed, no hard standing. There's that man again. Ah...he's taking photos too. I forgive him then! ;-)



Here we look behind the goal, from the corner flag.



Moving on round we look back down the main spectator side.



And on we go, toward the goal.



From behind it we look over to the popular side, where we've come along.



Can't recall what happened here, but I like the photo, so kept it in.



A bit of goalmouth action.



Now we look back over the pitch from the other side of the goal.



At the next corner now, we get a full length view at this end.



No spectators down the far side, just enough room for the linesman to try to do his job.



I find a gate in the chain link fence, & club up the slope outside the ground, to look down on it.



Another one, with a bit of goalmouth action in it.



On the halfway line, looking over to the dugouts. Linesman paying attention to his job, as I try not to distract him!



At the other end now, looking down the 'linesmans side'.



Railed off again behind the goal, making this a basic three sided ground.



Standing back a few yards, we look down the pitch.



I'm not sure why I didn't take a proper snap of it, but set back behind the goal is an old turnstile, obviously acquired from London underground. Presumably for potential ground improvements, but pointless without permission for floodlights.



Back behind the goal now, pitch maintenance equipment close to the railing.



Almost back to the side where we started our walk round the pitch.



Set back behind this corner is the tractor & other 'junk' for the groundstaff.



Obviously having a clearout, & the cue for us to clearoff!



So it's time to settle in one spot, just along here, & enjoy the rest of the match!