Craven Park
Introduction
The story of Craven Park began in 1922 when Rovers moved from their Craven Street home to the newly built Craven Park ground further along Holderness Road.
The ground saw many great matches, many great teams and many great players on the lush turf, but the show-piece had to be the many trophy's that donned the Rovers trophy cabinet.
The Craven Park ground was to be Rovers home for 67 years until in the late 1980's. Time took its toll on the stadium and major renovations were needed to bring it up to scratch. Massive amounts of money were spent on the ground each year repairing sections but once one section was repaired another would fall into disrepair.
As directors were costing up how much the repair work would cost on the ground, along came Wright Properties Ltd who contacted the club about the purchase of Craven Park and the construction of a new stadium. The deal that was offered was too good to refuse and Rovers would be on the move yet again. The task was now in hand to find the site for the new stadium. Plans were drawn up for the stadium and a sports centre on the corner of Sutton Road and Leads Road, but before this was rubber stamped a site off Preston Road was signed, sealed and delivered and construction began.
The plans were drawn up similar to those of the first site, the main feature of the new ground was that it had to meet the new ground safety standards, but the new ground went far beyond that. The facilities underneath the West stand included a Boardroom (and carpet), in which meetings of the Directors are held, there's also a large social club with restaurant facilities for supporters. The administrative offices and souvenir shop are also situated underneath the West stand.
The Main Stand at New Craven Park
The major innovation in the provision of services for visitors to the stadium is the incorporation of two ‘hosting boxes’ in the design of the West stand. The new stadium being the first Rugby League Stadium to provide such a feature, in which up to ten people can view the match from within a room which looks out onto the pitch. The ‘boxes’ are serviced with dining facilities and the occupants receive the latest information on the game via a televisual monitor within the room.
The one main problem that was overlooked during the building was its position, with the open end facing out to sea, You can imagine the consequences, even in summer the breeze is freezing, thank goodness we don't play in winter anymore!
The next problem that Rovers came across was the stadium's name, "Wilf Spaven Memorial Ground" or "Clive Sullivan Park" were suggested but Rovers went with tradition and the ground was named ‘New’ Craven Park.
East Stand Faithful
The ground was officially opened on Sunday 24th September 15 minutes prior to Rovers' first home match, against Trafford Borough which Rovers ran out 48-8 victors. Former fullback Mike Fletcher scored the first try on the new pitch.
Under Don Robinson's ownership, 2000 saw a number of changes to Craven Park. Major renovation work was carried out within the clubs and bars to create one of the largest function rooms in the city and one of the best pre-match hospitality suites within rugby league.
Rovers have had their ups and downs at the new stadium but as of yet the glory years from the ‘Old’ Craven Park have not been relived at the ‘New’ Craven Park. One can only hope they will be shortly.
