Letter to Malcolm Noad, Bulldogs CEO (3)

October 24, 2005

Dear Mr. Noad,

I am writing in response to your letter dated October 11, 2005.

You wrote that I should focus my attention on Canterbury Council and that they have indicated that they do not have the funds to undertake an upgrade of the sports ground. I have spoken to the council on several occasions regarding Belmore Sports Ground since I started my campaign in August.

According to various articles in The Torch throughout the year and a City Services Committee meeting that I attended earlier in the year, Canterbury Council did consider the football club’s request for a range of improvement works to be undertaken at the ground. The Committee was informed that the work, which included a complete office refurbishment, upgrading of the dressing rooms and extension of the gymnasium was estimated to cost over $1.2 million.

In my opinion, Canterbury Council also has a wider responsibility to its residents and ratepayers and the onus should not be solely on the council to fund an upgrade of the sports ground. Furthermore, the football club’s advice that there was no prospect of first grade games being played at the sports ground in the future and the lack of any assurance that they would maintain a presence at Belmore in the longer term were surely major factors in the council’s decision.

However, the council should still make a contribution, as should the football club and the leagues club. There are other ways in which Belmore Sports Ground could be brought back to an acceptable standard to host NRL games again in the future. As I wrote to you earlier, there needs to be a partnership established between the football club, Canterbury Leagues and Canterbury Council to ensure a permanent return for the Bulldogs to their traditional home ground. The partnership may also include the Bulldogs’ major sponsor Mitsubishi Electric, who would surely welcome the chance to have a sporting venue, such as an upgraded or redeveloped Belmore Sport Ground, named after them, i.e. Mitsubishi Electric Stadium.

After assuming your current position as Chief Executive Officer of the Bulldogs, you said, “I knew that it was a great opportunity to be involved directly with rugby league, a game I love, and a club that has a strong and proud tradition.” [The Torch, 28/7/2004]. Part of the football club’s strong and proud tradition is Belmore Sports Ground, the heart and soul of the Bulldogs, and the link between the Bulldogs and Belmore should be continued forever. Our past, our tradition and memories are at Belmore Sports Ground. Our future should include Belmore Sports Ground. The tradition must continue.

Furthermore, you also said in that article, “My impression since joining the Bulldogs is that our fans are the most loyal, courteous and friendly people a club could hope for. They love their football and they love their team.” A vast majority of fans also love their traditional home ground and as CEO, you are in a strong position to pursue a partnership with the Canterbury Leagues Club and Canterbury Council to effectively bring the Bulldogs back to Belmore.

I make mention of the leagues club in particular because it has grown considerably over the years out of the Bulldogs Rugby League club. One would assume that the leagues club would be anxious to see the Bulldogs return to their traditional heartland. In reality, it would be beneficial to Canterbury Leagues and I expect that they would support any moves by the community and the football club to have the Bulldogs returned to Belmore permanently.

If your commitment to the loyal fans of the Bulldogs is still as strong as it was 15 months ago, you could really show your loyalty back to the fans by working with them, the leagues club and the council to maintain the Bulldogs’ presence in Belmore.

My commitment to ensuring a permanent return for the Bulldogs to Belmore is non-wavering to the point that I have now established a web site and I will be widely advertising this in order to gain further support for my campaign. The URL address is backtobelmore.com.au and you may be interested to visit this web site regularly. I also encourage you to add this web site as a link to the Bulldogs Official web site.

Back to Belmore, the name that I have given my campaign, believes that the Bulldogs could have a bright future at Belmore if the football club, leagues club and Canterbury Council are willing to work together. Back to Belmore recognises that the Bulldogs are a community asset and the pride of the Canterbury–Bankstown district. Back to Belmore will continue to fight the battle until Belmore Sports Ground is upgraded and the Bulldogs play at least 50% of their home games at Belmore.

Yours Faithfully,

Luke Brailey
Back to Belmore