Strangely enough, the first match I went to was an away game, standing on the stone and shale at Belle Vue in 1945 as competitive rugby resumed after the war.
All the sides were in a period of transition but that afternoon Leeds were beaten 71-0! We weren't too upset or scarred because it was such a novelty and sense of occasion to see a live game. Even the travel to and from the grounds in those days, whether by bus, tram or train, was all just part of the entertainment.
One Good Friday evening I had to walk all the way from Stanningley to Headingley to see the derby match against Bramley because there was a bus strike and never even thought twice about it. People's expectations were very low after the war, they were only too happy to be able to go out and watch and be part of sport.
The atmosphere in the grounds was terrific, especially as crowds of 30,000 or more were commonplace. There was never any trouble, children were passed down over the heads of the adults to sit on the walls at the front and going to the game was an absolute pleasure. Working people lived from one match to the other and made every effort to get to see the action, no matter how much inconvenience there was getting there.
We always travelled in fear to Lancashire as we went through an era when good hidings over there were the norm. Of course the odd victories then stood out from the expected defeat but the result never put anyone off going to support their team, whatever was happening to them. Winning wasn't everything, going was the important thing and it became a way of life that we took seriously.
Geoff Caplan
Originally published in 'Headingley Rugby Voices' Recollections of supporters, compiled by Phil Caplan.
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Memory added on September 26, 2012
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