Rekindle the pride
Letter: Anyone who can remember the role Aldersley Stadium played in the 1960s and 1970s will recall the pride and enthusiasm of the established sports there.
Letter: Anyone who can remember the role Aldersley Stadium played in the 1960s and 1970s will recall the pride and enthusiasm of the established sports there.
Competitors with dedicated officers, and the support of the unpaid coaching staff, produced some of Britain's top sporting and Olympic-standard medal winners. It was the jewel in the crown of Wolverhampton's sporting and playing field facilities.
Athletics had their own training and office facilities. Cycling, on their track, was attracting once again the publicity that Percy Stallard's Wolverhampton Racing Club drew in the 1040s. Wolverhampton Wheelers deserved a facility of its own to carry on into the future.
We had the finest outdoor rifle range in Britain, enthusing our youngsters from the likes of Wednesfield and Wombourne to take up what was our first national organised sport, competitive rifle shooting. These boys and girls aspired to national and international honours. Wolverhampton was so advanced in this sport, that it even drew the nomination of an Olympic venue.
With the social side of the Aldersley pub, an Aldersley Advisory Committee, and with our impressive row of new flag poles on the north bank, there was a feeling of great pride in Wolverhampton and its council of member sports.
Perhaps now is the time to rekindle that personal pride in our main sports stadium.
Make a start by pruning back those trees on the north bank that have almost hidden the neglected flag poles, which need restoration. Put a new, large flag pole at the entrance in Aldersley Road and fly the Union Flag from it at all times. Provide better office facilities for athletics and cycling; they are tucked away in the sports hall out of sight. These are the people that make Aldersley tick, they deserve better.
Provide new refreshment areas where they are readily available, downstairs, at the point of need, not upstairs away from the action. This should replace the social side that every main sports ground should have as a priority.
It would be multiracial in our city of change. Also it would stimulate a sense of belonging to those young people who have seen playingfields and youth clubs sold off about their ears. Do not blame these kids for lack of pride, give them something to be part and proud of. Starting at Aldersley.
Frank Spittle, Victoria Road, Fallings Park.
