Broadstreet RFC
Bears will take ground move in their stride
By Mike Hyde
Starting on Saturday, Coventry Bears will be playing their next three games at Broadstreet RFC while the pitch at Butts Park Arena is relaid.
Bears CEO Alan Robinson was confident the temporary move would not disrupt the Bears progress on the field.
‘The guys will take the ground move in their stride, and it’s not the first time we have played a home game at a different ground’ he added.
While the BPA is synonymous with the Bears time in Rugby League’s semi-pro ranks, they took a game to the Ricoh Arena three seasons ago and they performed really well against Keighley, then a very strong side, so Broadstreet will be the third ground they have used while in the league.
However, the Bears have been around for twenty oneyears, and in their sixteen years as an amateur side they have played at several other iconic locations.
They started at CoundonRd, a well loved old ground back in 1998.
Barker Butts RFC was also used as a venue, and Broadstreetfeatured for the first time in 2004, so they already have history there.
But that’s not all, they have also played at the Xcel Leisure Centre and Coventry University’s Westwood Heath Grounds.
Other grounds used on odd occasions include GEC’s Copsewood ground, and recently a trial game at Newbold Revel this year before the season started, giving a total of eight grounds in Coventry in just over two decades.
Whilst being Coventry based, the Bears have made occasional excursions further afield, including a ‘home’ game at Bedworth, and back in 2000, an exhibition game at Rugby School, the first ever game of the 13 man code of rugby to be played at the hallowed birthplace of the game.
Like the game at the Ricoh Arena in 2016, this was as a prelude to the RL World Cup being held in England.
‘So, migration is nothing new for the Bears, and everywhere we go, we know we will pick up some new fans which is a positive, and we look forward to welcoming people to our temporary home which has great facilities and parking’
Coventry Bears play Workington Town RLFC at Broadstreet RFC, Ivor Preece Field, CV3 2AY Saturday 11th May kick off 3pm.
