Interview: Back to Belmore President, Luke Brailey

Graeme Hughes and Jimmy Smith, "Talkin' Sport", Radio 2SM, Sydney -
November 25, 2005


TRANSCRIPT

Graeme: Back to Belmore President, Luke Brailey. G'day Luke.

Luke: G'day Graeme, how are you going?

Graeme: I'm good, thank you.

Luke: That's the way. Look, basically, I'm at the heart of an ongoing campaign at the moment to have my local sporting venue, Belmore Sports Ground, upgraded and for the Bulldogs to return and remain at their spiritual kennel.

Graeme: Yeah, look I know that everybody would love to go back to Belmore but, Jeez, we're talking some big bucks.

Luke: Well yeah and....

Jimmy: Luke, what's against it?

Luke: Well, unfortunately, the sports ground is in a very dilapidated state at the moment due to neglect in the community; urgent repairs are needed in order to bring it back up to contemporary 21st century standards, and basically I'm calling for the local Canterbury council, the football club and the Canterbury Leagues Club to establish a special taskforce between them to upgrade the Bulldogs traditional home.

Graeme: Have you had any reaction from those parties?

Luke: I have spoken to council and I have spoken to the football club, I have not yet heard a response from the leagues club. The only sort of correspondence that I have heard from the leagues club was a letter that basically said that "Belmore Sports Ground is a football club issue and I've forwarded your correspondence to the football club."

Graeme: What about the council?

Luke: The council said that they would like to see the Bulldogs return but I think it's fair to say that a contribution has to be made by all of these three parties.

Jimmy: Luke, have you got maybe a list of businesses or business people in or around that 1-kilometre zone from the ground behind you?

Luke: I have spoken to several businesses in the local area in regards to their thoughts and their reactions for a possible return of the Bulldogs to Belmore, and most people have been in favour of this.

Jimmy: Well, I mean, you've got to argue that, what, they're going to train there, they're going to play probably every fortnight there and there's an economic benefit to the businesses and the actual area, that's a good argument from a council perspective, that's what council do.

Luke: But not only that, I mean, the Bulldogs should be playing at Belmore, where they have a home ground, a traditional support base, and a local area to identify themselves with, not that big colossal Telstra Stadium because even when you put 20,000 people in there, it still looks like nobody's watching.

Graeme: But there are other clubs that are going there, I mean, and I don't think this is about Telstra because it is a wonderful facility but, you know, as far as the costings are concerned, has anybody put a figure on the money required?

Luke: Most people estimate that it would cost between around $15 million to $22 million.

Graeme: So, you're obviously saying that you'd have to be looking towards some government support as well?

Luke: I will be calling for federal government funding next year because as we know Oki Jubilee was given a grant of $8 million, Penrith Stadium was given a grant of $10 million...

Jimmy: Luke, Luke, if you could enlist some business help, if you could raise between $8 [million] and $9 [million], you're a chance of getting corresponding funding from federal or state government, they'll match to match the dollar.

Luke: Essentially, that would definately be beneficial but what I really am calling on as well is for the biggest contribution of all to come from the leagues club, because a lot of people argue that the Pokies tax is restricting the leagues clubs' financial assistance but evidently, that hasn't restricted the leagues club from multimillion-dollar refurbishment that will be going ahead within the next few months and the leagues club is the most, or at least one of the most, successful licenced clubs in Australia, and that money that was used for the refurbishment should definately have been put in to Belmore Sports Ground, instead of spending it on refurbishment that is, I mean, reminiscent of the Taj Mahal. I mean, have you actually seen the proposals in the foyer of the leagues club?

Graeme: Yeah, I have actually. How many supporters do you have so far, Back to Belmore? Do you have signatures or members support?

Luke: Basically, I have, at the moment, over 700 people who have signed this petition but I can tell you, I have not even started. There is all of next year to go, I will be at all home and away games next year, garnering support, galvanising public support for this and I'll also be doing a doorknocking weekend on December 3 and December 4 to 40 streets that encircle the sports ground and I'm definately hoping for people to support this campaign, because loyal Bulldogs supporters who understand the traditional heart and soul of the football club would appreciate this campaign and I would definately hope that they would support any logical moves to bring the Bulldogs back to Belmore.

Graeme: Luke, look, we appreciate it, I congratulate you on your passion and your enthusiasm, I wish you well with it, it certainly won't be an easy challenge for you, we'll stay in touch throughout the season for you.

Luke: Would I be able to give you the website for my campaign?

Graeme: Just quickly, yeah.

Luke: Yep, it's www.backtobelmore.com.au

Graeme: Okay thanks, Luke.

Jimmy: President of Back to Belmore is Luke Brailey there.