Previously, St Helens council had rejected the original proposals for a new stadium that Warrington couldn’t win on. On Tuesday and after huge pressure from Saints RLFC officials, supporters and the whole Rugby League world the council had no choice but to accept the proposals for another stadium Warrington will never win at, included as part of a stadium/supermarket complex similar to the Halliwell Jones Stadium and Tescos Extra store.
While it comes as a huge relief that my away trips to Knowsley Road (or the GPW Recruitment Stadium) are limited, I cannot help but feel it’s about flaming time. If I remember correctly, after the launch of Super League the RFL came out and said that clubs had to improve their ground facilities or move to a better stadium. So while Hull jumped across the city to the KC Stadium and Warrington in 2000 were given the green light by their council for a purpose built rugby league stadium, Saints began stalling knowing full well that the RFL wouldn’t dare kick them out. But with the licences coming into affect from next year, the Saints board had to act and this time a new stadia could be a reality.
However, the need to be careful in their farewell of Knowsley Road. The last point scorer at Central Park was Tommy Martin, a Leyther in a Saints shirt. How ironic it might be if Andy Coley were somehow to be the last point scorer at Knowsley Road, a Wire in a Wigan shirt.
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