My dad recalls that the West stand as the lay out is today was undergone a few years before the war ,
totally agree here my very first ST was in the old upper west stand, at the northern end behind and to the left of the press boxes as you look out over the pitch... It was a bit small the seat, but well cosy in winter . I had that seat for a good few seasons too. My take is a refurbishment done sensitively enough to preserve its heritage, I do not know what's underneath now since the team facilities are under the North stand, but maybe some improved facilities for the fans could be put in. I am not going to even think about saying owt on the West Stand Bog's... Dyson would lynch me for that I am sure. But as for the West stand, a good makeover would not go amiss. I would re-locate the TV set up too, so that the little dorma thingy could be seen and emblazoned with our crest or the like.
Re: totally agree here Me too. I used to sit with my Dad in Block B circa 1974. Mick Butler got the winner v Rotherham in my first game. We didn't move to the terraces until 1982-ish.
Re: totally agree here I like sitting there because you don't have to look at it. It will go before too long. And hopefully be recreated to the same basic design in keeping with size and spec of the rest of the new stands.
Re: totally agree here I could be done. I think the lower tier can stay intact and the upper rebuilt and extended through the yard to grove street. Though the bogs would go... Salvage memorabilia might be worth a few quid. I'd definitely have some timber, bricks and seats.
Re: totally agree here I will be sad to see it go, BUT, It needs replacing, with additional hospitality boxes for revenue (Marketing, Dept. please note) better media facilities for the 21st century, increased legroom for the upper tier, and decent steps for the elderly (tread and riser).
There's no way anything is going to happen with the West Stand. How many years did we bumble along with a broken scoreboard - something much cheaper and easier to fix. Not a chance of anything being done to West Stand when we never ever use it to capacity anyway.
Be careful what you wish for. If it were to be listed it would cost the club a bomb and would need approval for anything done to it from a lick of paint to a sign up. It cant be that bad cos pc etc sit in it but imagine the noise if the east stand was mirrored, kept the pitch close and the corners filled in. Oakwell is already intimidating to other teams.
There's peeling paint on the west stand and the price boards on the Ponty end are all cracked and broken. They can't even be arsed to open a tin of paint and buy some plastic boards. The West Stand is going nowhere.
My first match was in the west stand as well..Hereford Utd, Nov 72..peeing it down all day...0-0...Floodlights on, I couldn't believe how green the pitch was or how bright the lights were..We still had a black n white telly at home..Happy days.