After 85 years of blood and thunder and a need for speed, one of Bradford's most iconic sporting venues could have closed its doors for the final time following yesterday’s news that Bulls are set to leave Odsal and move to Dewsbury while they seek to establish a new home in the city.
Odsal has been the Bradford club’s base since 1934 and has witnessed some of rugby league's iconic moments, including a world record crowd of 102,575 in the Challenge Cup final replay 65 years ago.
But the high six-figure annual maintenance costs are proving too much for Bulls to bear, on top of a rent of £72,000 paid to landlords the RFL.
It has become unsustainable for the club to remain at Odsal, and at the end of this season, they are all set to move out, with a two-year deal agreed with Dewsbury to play at their Tetley's Stadium.
As we potentially say goodbye to the famous old stadium, we thought it was time to look back at some magic memories.
The ground officially opened on September 1, 1934, with Bradford Northern (how Bulls were known before the Super League era).
RELATED: Bradford Bulls to leave Odsal for Dewsbury
The game ended in a 34-16 defeat to Huddersfield, but with a crowd of over 20,000 turning up to watch, it was the club's biggest home gate in over 25 years.
Odsal's vast space was soon put to good use. In 1945, speedway began there with the Odsal Boomerangs, again with crowds of 20,000 plus, with an international clash between England and Australia drawing an enormous 47,000 fans in July 1947.
1947 also saw Odsal draw a huge international rugby league crowd of 42,685 for the England v New Zealand test match, a game which finished 25-9 to the home side.
In October 1951, Odsal played host to the first floodlit rugby league match ever held in the North of England.
In that same year, city engineer Stanley Gordon Wardley drew up plans for a 92,000 capacity stadium, at the huge cost of £250,000.
It was not long before stock cars made their bow at Odsal. The ground hosted its first ever race in 1954 and drew big crowds right up until the final race in October 1997.
Two famous local stars were Silsden father and son duo Frankie Wainman Snr and Jnr.
Frankie Snr spoke to us about his memories, but expressed some bitterness about what he felt was a premature end to stock car racing at Odsal.
He said: "We were the only thing in there making money, because the speedway and rugby league weren't.
If Bradford Northern (Bulls) do leave, I reckon we could do deal on the lease and run stock cars at Odsal again." - Former Odsal stock car racer Frankie Wainman Snr
"When we first went there in 1976 the place was a dump, but money got spent resurrecting it, bringing it up to standard.
"But as soon as they made it a nice venue again, we were kicked out.
"We could have a stock car meeting running there within a month if we got the chance, totally self-financed.
"If Bradford Northern (Bulls) do leave, I reckon we could do deal on the lease and run stock cars at Odsal again.
"We could get another rugby league team to play there, it just wouldn't be Northern (Bulls)."
Back to our history lesson and fast forward to 1960, when Odsal hosted the Rugby League World Cup final, with Great Britain taking the crown after a hard-fought 10-3 win over Australia.
Also that year, the Boomerangs (now known as the Panthers) were on their way out of Odsal, after a dreadful season.
In 1963, Northern looked to be departing Odsal too, as following a season of dwindling attendances and woeful results, the club went out of business in the December.
Fortunately by July 1964, a new club, Bradford Northern (1964) Ltd had been formed, led by popular ex-players Trevor Foster and Joe Phillips, and the famous old ground had a famous old team to play there again.
That same year, £50,000 was spent on terracing the Rooley Avenue end of the ground in 1964, but Mr Wardley's grander plans (from 1951) were finally shelved a year after that.
Meanwhile, speedway soon returned after a brief hiatus. A team, known as Bradford Northern, moved back briefly in 1970, but attendances and results soon flatlined, and the team folded a few years later.
Many great rugby league players have graced Odsal over the years, none more so than in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the club won two Championships, the Premiership and the Yorkshire County Cup.
Colin Forsyth scored 54 tries in 161 games for the club, playing for England at the 1975 World Cup, while Keith Mumby made his debut as a 16-year-old in 1973, playing nearly 600 games for the club over a 20-year period.
The 1980s also saw a new sport make its bow at Odsal, albeit in tragic circumstances. After the Valley Parade fire in 1985, Odsal passed a September safety inspection, and hosted Bradford City's home games until December 1986.
Sadly, one of the abiding memories from that short stay was a food stall catching fire in the away fans section as violence marred the City v Leeds United derby.
Football was not around for long, but speedway was making a comeback. Odsal hosted the World Speedway final in 1985, won by dynamic Dane Erik Gundersen.
It also hosted the 1990 final, with Swede Per Jonsson taking the crown.
There was domestic speedway success for the Bradford Dukes during this period, winning eight trophies between 1987 and 1997.
"It's such a shame the Council cash invested then wasn't the spark for Odsal to be then 'loved' much more. So many memories, friendships and indeed marriages (including mine!) were born from speedway there." - Speedway superfan John Murphy
Bradford man, and speedway superfan, John Murphy knew Odsal was in trouble, but was still sad to hear that it was on the verge of imminent closure.
Sharing some fond memories of his time there in the 70s, 80s and 90s, he said: "It is 22 years since American, Greg Hancock won the last speedway race there. At least Sky Sports captured that meeting.
"I lived near Valley Parade so it was always football for me. But speedway caught my eye and in April 1972 I went to Odsal to see Bradford v Crewe. I was hooked.
"In August 1985 Odsal hosted the World Final, the first time in the sport's history, that it had been held away from Wembley on English soil.
"It's such a shame the Council cash invested then wasn't the spark for Odsal to be then 'loved' much more.
"Twenty-four World Champions graced the Odsal shale and the roll of track record holders embraced the cream of the sport.
"So many memories, friendships and indeed marriages (including mine!) were born from speedway there."
Speedway finally said goodbye to Odsal in 1997, and it was around then that the Super League was formed (in 1996).
Bradford Northern were renamed as Bradford Bulls, and so the club embarked on arguably their greatest period of success since the 1940s, when the side won five Yorkshire County Cups, three Yorkshire Leagues and three Challenge Cups.
Odsal was central to much of that late 1990s-early 2000s glory. They won all but one home game as they romped to their first Super League title in 1997 – their first of four in the summer rugby era, which also saw them win three World Club Challenge crowns and two Challenge Cups.
I have a lot of fond memories. To be able to represent the city you're born in, I'm really proud of that and to do it alongside my brother Karl too. Those are some of the best memories of my life." - Leon Pryce
Meanwhile in October 2003, a stunning 30-14 semi-final win over Leeds Rhinos at Odsal paved the way for Bulls to beat St Helens in the Super League Grand Final two weeks later, and secure the first-ever modern day treble (League Leaders Shield, Grand Final win and Challenge Cup win).
Bulls then destroyed Hull 71-0 at Odsal in 2005 in the end of season playoffs on their way to winning their fourth, and so far, final Grand Final.
Bradford-born winger Leon Pryce was a key player during that spell but his memories of Odsal stretch back much further than that.
He said: "I've been going to watch them at Odsal since I was six or seven, back in their Northern days and when there was speedway there too. I have a lot of fond memories.
"To be able to represent the city you're born in, I'm really proud of that and to do it alongside my brother Karl too.
"Those are some of the best memories of my life."
Asked to cherry pick one highlight from his time at Odsal, Pryce enthused: "As a player, it was when played Leeds in 1999.
"It was my first proper season and I think it was a record crowd for Super League at that time, about 24,000. So to win in front of a packed crowd was special.
"Then, from a different perspective, when I was at Workington last year. Taking on Bradford in my first season as head coach, we were massive underdogs, and we won up at Odsal (and in Cumbria).
"There's not too many Bradford fans who'd say that's their fondest memory though!"
Asked about the decision on whether Bulls could be leaving Odsal, Pryce was philosophical.
He said: "There's two ways to look at it. It's so historic and you'd like us to keep playing there, but it's got to be financially viable.
"With all the stress and the state of the club's finances over the last 10 years, you just want things to be easier.
"And if that means moving on from Odsal then so be it."
It has been a steady downward spiral since that golden era of Pryce, Robbie Hunter-Paul, Jamie Peacock and Stuart Fielden.
In 2011, the Rugby Football League purchased leasehold land and buildings comprising the Odsal Stadium to ease the financial burden on the club.
This could not prevent the club from falling into administration in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
They were then liquidated in January 2017, with the entire playing and coaching staff made redundant.
The club unsurprisingly finished bottom and were demoted to the third tier for the first time in their history.
Under the stewardship of rugby league stalwart John Kear, good times have returned to Odsal over the last two years.
In 2018, they were promoted from the third-tier, with highlights including their all-time record win at Odsal, 124-0 over West Wales Raiders, and victory in the play-off final there, 27-8 over Workington Town.
It has been a solid return to Championship action in 2019, with a 26-12 victory over a high-flying Leigh Centurions side a league highlight at home. But there is no doubt that the Challenge Cup win at home to long-time derby foes Leeds Rhinos – rekindling memories of Odsal at its best – was the biggest thrill of the current campaign.
Sadly, their clash with rivals Sheffield Eagles on September 1 is set to be the last ever game there, but after 85 years and all manner of sports taking place there...
Odsal, it's been a pleasure.
Community answers
Share Your Odsal Stadium Memories
"What are your favourite memories of Odsal? Do you have any pictures from Odsal over the years? Send your memories by using the 'add your contribution' button below. *Contributions are moderated, so may not appear immediately"
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What is your response?I raced there for Ellesmere Port back in 1974/75 and broke my wrist in the process. But I went back there many times to watch some of the big meetings after that. It could be a big venue again with a bit of investment. Poland are doing it...why can't you?
What is your response?Good old days watching Bradford Tudors speedway team and the world final one year. Pity the speedway could not return there. Just after the war the team had 100,000 supporting fans most weeks. Happy memories.
What is your response?We had the privilege of promoting Stock Car Racing at Odsal until its closure in 1997 for the ill-fated Superdome, which is another story. My company has on several occasions made contact for the sport to return. It is clear that the stadium needs to be multi use to ameliorate costs and given its status and history it has Heritage which must be protected. Not only do Speedway and Stock Cars have huge regional interest, but as in the past can and have brought major events. Sadly the Odsal vision has been blinkered to only Rugby League without a structure commercially to develop it’s usage. It should not be redeveloped, let’s get around a table and IF a new stadium is to be the only outcome then let’s be inclusive. However, Odsal is part of the fabric of the city and that MUST be the focus. To return oval racing there would cost in excess of 300k but could not afford to stand alone on its present cost. Let’s talk! Steve Rees, Startrax Oval Motorsport
What is your response?Some pics from some recent pre match stock car parades that I organised in conjunction with the Bulls Stadium manager. Such a sad loss to Odsal, along with the Speedway, over 20 years ago now. Perhaps the old girl wouldn't be closing now had they been allowed to stay.
Your pictures
Some pics from some recent pre match stock car parades that I organised in conjunction with the Bulls Stadium manager. Such a sad loss to Odsal, along with the Speedway, over 20 years ago now. Perhaps the old girl wouldn't be closing now had they been allowed to stay. 
Some pics from some recent pre match stock car parades that I organised in conjunction with the Bulls Stadium manager. Such a sad loss to Odsal, along with the Speedway, over 20 years ago now. Perhaps the old girl wouldn't be closing now had they been allowed to stay. 
Some pics from some recent pre match stock car parades that I organised in conjunction with the Bulls Stadium manager. Such a sad loss to Odsal, along with the Speedway, over 20 years ago now. Perhaps the old girl wouldn't be closing now had they been allowed to stay. What is your response?I vividly remember as a young child being taken to the speedway on heady Saturday evenings. Arthur Wright and Arthur Forrest competed with the likes of Split Waterman and Howdy Byford with the whiff of kerosene filling the air and fans filling the terraces. I returned to Leeds in the late 60s and was a season ticket holder in the Peter Fox era and throughout the Superleague era . The atmosphere on a big match day was second to none.
What is your response?In 2012 I remember an event to celebrate the London Olympics at Odsal. I went with my primary school and it was one of the best and fun days of that year and there was singing and dancing and I think Barney Harwood was presenting at the event. So many memories flooding back. I'm gonna miss the Bradford Bulls being in Bradford. I hope the move to Dewsbury works well.
Share Your Odsal Stadium Memories
What are your favourite memories of Odsal? Do you have any pictures from Odsal over the years? Send your memories by using the 'add your contribution' button below. *Contributions are moderated, so may not appear immediately
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