: Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:23 pm  

DETROITSOUL wrote:

always a pleasure
to go to Batley great club and friendly fans

I couldn't agree more. It's an away fixture I always enjoy going to. Along with the other posters on here, there are 7 of us lot going so hopefully it will be a good day. I think we will win too.

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:49 pm  

Have to miss this year , will be at the willows watching the ' battle of Leyth ' give my regards to Kevin [ chairman ] at the bar

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:58 pm  

A few years ago I drove over to Batley a day or two before a match to pick up some tickets for a hospitality meal for the match against my club.When we arrived around 1-00pm a wonderful elderly gent sorted us out with our tickets and told us which gate to come in at on the Sunday.He chated for a while then looked at his watch and said "well must be off" So I said oh do you only work part time ? He looked a bit taken back then said ,well I do come in at 6-00am but as I retired 4yrs since my wife likes a bit of company in the afternoon, he looked after the office on his own too.
I felt ashamed of myself as my own club had always been in Super League till we at that time had recently been demoted but continued to retain several paid office staff and I presumed everyone else did.On visiting the ground there were more volunteer stalwarts selling raffle tickets serving tea and home made buns in the hopitality all elderly people that had given their life to the club.I felt very humble and that club epitimises to me what the "family of rugby league" is about. I too will always have a soft spot for it except when they are playing us.They will never get into Super League they are probably content to just enjoy what they have but you get a wonderful sense of the `50s about the place which is the time I first started to watch my own club and nostalgia is very powerful thing.

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:04 pm  

johnny freeman fan club wrote:

A few years ago I drove over to Batley a day or two before a match to pick up some tickets for a hospitality meal for the match against my club.When we arrived around 1-00pm a wonderful elderly gent sorted us out with our tickets and told us which gate to come in at on the Sunday.He chated for a while then looked at his watch and said "well must be off" So I said oh do you only work part time ? He looked a bit taken back then said ,well I do come in at 6-00am but as I retired 4yrs since my wife likes a bit of company in the afternoon, he looked after the office on his own too.
I felt ashamed of myself as my own club had always been in Super League till we at that time had recently been demoted but continued to retain several paid office staff and I presumed everyone else did.On visiting the ground there were more volunteer stalwarts selling raffle tickets serving tea and home made buns in the hopitality all elderly people that had given their life to the club.I felt very humble and that club epitimises to me what the "family of rugby league" is about. I too will always have a soft spot for it except when they are playing us.They will never get into Super League they are probably content to just enjoy what they have but you get a wonderful sense of the `60s about the place which is the time I first started to watch my own club and nostalgia is very powerful thing.

Lynda

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:13 pm  

looking froward to it, may well be going to leeds for a night out with my mate on the sunday, then making my way to the excellent pub outside batley train station to meet my dad for some more lovely beer on the monday. do i think we'll win, well i really thought we'd beat rovers, got that one wrong, but yes i do reckon we'll win, and wait for this, i think we'll take widnes at our place, now hows that for comfidence, or downright stupidity, you decide.

batley away : Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:09 pm  

I will be there although I shall drop in first for half of bitter at the excellent real ale bar at Dewsbury station.

Re: batley away : Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:14 pm  

frankb wrote:

I will be there although I shall drop in first for a gallon of bitter at the excellent real ale bar at Dewsbury station.

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:14 pm  

Leigh24.7 wrote:

I'm going

Great club - probably spent more improving their ground than many SL clubs and where else would you see a Chairman manning the outside beer pumps to satisfy us Leythers

kevin is a legend!!


if only there were more like him in the game

: Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:28 am  

Best away trip of the season, I'll be there. For reasons unbeknown to man, I've volunteered to drive....this might get very painful (and that's just trying to find the ground!):oops:

batley away : Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:56 am  

Leyther_Matt wrote:

Best away trip of the season, I'll be there. For reasons unbeknown to man, I've volunteered to drive....this might get very painful (and that's just trying to find the ground!):oops:

Stop off at Dewsbury railway station Matt I,ll buy you half a shandy then you can follow me