The Grattan Stadium, Bradford

Correspondent

Grattan Stadium
Odsal
Bradford
BD6 1BS

Home to: Bradford Bulls (Super League)
Capacity: 27,500
Opened: 1933

Facilities: The Coral Stand was developed in 2003 to create hospitality, conference and banqueting facilities at the ground. It was opened against Leeds in April of that year, and included Exectutive Boxes, a restaurant, bar, players lounge, media facility, directors lounge and scoreboard. The Tetlys stand was also refurbished recently, and now has 5,500 brand new seats.

Impressions: The bowl that Odsal is based in is rounded off by the new Coral Stand, and it creates a great atmosphere when full. The only negative is the view. At most points of the ground, you are quite a way back from the pitch. The pitch is also short at the ground too, with no 30m existing and dips and troughs in the in goal area near at the Coral Stand end.

Records: Bradford's Super League record crowd is 24,020 against Leeds on September 3rd 1999. The record crowd at Odsal was 102,569 on May 5th 1954 for the match between Halifax and Warrington.

History: The site which was to become Odsal was originally a quarry, with the site used for waste disposal after quarrying operations ceased. The stadium was first opened in January 1934, and has been the home of the Bradford rugby league side ever since. For fifty years one of the notable features of the ground was that the players and officials had to make their way to the pitch through the crowd – crowds of thirty or forty thousand were not uncommon – and the spectators were never shy about letting their feelings on the game be known.

Odsal’s place in rugby league history was secured after the 5th of May 1954, when the Challenge Cup final replay between Warrington and Halifax saw a then world record attendance of 102,569 packed into the ground. It has since been estimated that the real attendance was as many as 120,000. This contrasts sharply with Bradford’s record low attendance of 324 against Barrow in 1964, and the club went out of business.

Fortunately a group headed by Trevor Foster set up a new club that ensured that Bradford rugby league carried on. The new club has proved a success over the years, right up until the Super League era, with Odsal seen as ideal for the new summer game. The club were forced to play at neighbouring Valley Parade after the turn of the century, but made a happy return home in 2003.

Ticket Prices: Adults £15-£22, Concessions/Junior £8-£11

Directions: Exit the M62 at junction 26, and follow the M606 to the end. Take the second exit left on to A6038 (Rooley Avenue) and follow the road to the first roundabout. Take the first exit at the roundabout, and proceed for 50 yards before taking your first left onto Stadium Road. The Stadium is situated at the end of the road.

Car Parking: Gameday parking for pass holders is available in the Stadium Car Parks A-E accessible via Stadium Road, while parking for non-pass holders is available on the Richard Dunn Car Park located directly opposite the stadium on the A6038 (Rooley Avenue).

Local Pubs:

Fans View: Odsal can create an intimidating atmosphere at times, but it's a shame that the pitch cant be the full length. They dont use the speedway track anymore, so why compensate for it? The distance from the pitch also lets the ground down too.