By Luke Brailey
Back to Belmore Inc. President

July 7, 2007

For most Bulldogs supporters, the issue of whether or not we should return to Belmore is not affected either way by the tumult and calamity at Homebush. The realisation that the question of a move back to our rightful home ground is essentially unrelated to dismal crowd attendances and crowd violence at Telstra Stadium signifies a healthy awareness of the nature of the Belmore debate, for the central question relates not to the advantages and prestige of Telstra Stadium. The question is: Do we, as Bulldogs supporters, wish to return to our traditional home ground for a select number of NRL home games per year?

If the answer to that question is yes, the debate must move on to the issue of how the football club can engage in diplomacy and dialogue with Canterbury Council et al. to pursue avenues of obtaining government funding to upgrade the dilapidated venue, and how every Bulldogs supporter could be suitably involved in the process. But the indication that a high percentage of 'Doggies supporters believe the dissatisfaction at the Homebush venue is irrelevant in the Belmore debate may signal that the majority is now of a firm opinion about a desired return to our grass roots. If that is so, it is now time the issue was moved to the top of the Bulldogs agenda, and the football club should feel duty-bound to hear our views.