Rugby Featherstone Rovers

When a club decides to rename its stadium, it is normally done for financial reasons or to honour a legendary player but Featherstone are different.

In 2006, when Rovers decided they had had enough of Post Office Road, they opted for the Chris Moyles Stadium after the BBC disc jockey.

Although it was a publicity stunt, it worked, as through his radio show Moyles plugged the club on his show and attendances have climbed as a result.

However, a stadium named after a DJ is not the only reason Featherstone Rovers are famous. They won the Championship in 1977 and lifted the Challenge Cup three times - in 1967, 1973 and 1983.

Rovers hit financial trouble in the Super League era, though. In 1998 Featherstone narrowly missed out on a place in the top division when they lost to Wakefield in the last minute of the Grand Final and in 2002 the club were plunged into administration with debts of more than £400,000.

Three years later they dropped into National League Two and in 2006 fans joined together to help pay the players' wages and boost transfer funds in an attempt to return to National League One.

A year later their generosity was repaid, as they beat Oldham 24-6 in the National League Two Grand Final to return to National League One.

Share/Save
Your rating: None
Bookmark and Share