In My View - October 2005

By Luke Brailey
Back to Belmore Inc. President

Although there is a move by the Bulldogs from Belmore, I want to emphasize the point that Belmore Sports Ground has a long and interwoven history with the people of the Canterbury–Bankstown area, both culturally and as a junior sport facility. It would be a great tragedy to lose that cultural connection and access to a sporting facility.

So far, the football club has resisted their fans’ yearning for our spiritual kennel to be converted into a facility capable of hosting NRL games. Despite howls of protest from most supporters, they don’t really seem to care. Disregarding Belmore Sports Ground is an expression of contempt for local values and traditions. My fear is that the shift from Belmore, while a financial windfall, might be an absolute disaster in every other way.

The football club’s management has decided that there is no place for rugby league in the Canterbury-Bankstown district and they’ve decided to deny the Bulldogs’ football team an opportunity to return to their home ground. The Bulldogs for over 70 years have been the heart and soul of Belmore. They symbolise the fighting spirit of rugby league.

It would be natural of Bulldogs fans since 1999 to take a supportive view of Homebush but this seasons' average crowd attendance (18,000 in a stadium that can accommodate 80,000 bums on seats) clearly indicates that loyal supporters are just not happy with the venue. With the Tigers playing some home games there and the Rabbitohs set to move to Homebush in the foreseeable future, it's going to be a bit crowded.

Why should prominent NRL teams have to share venues? It is ridiculous. Teams should have their own individual venues, the Rabbitohs should be at Redfern, the Tigers should be at Leichhardt and Campbelltown and we should be at Belmore.