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Focus on positives of Bramall Lane Move

Dear Forge,

I am writing to comment on Paul Garbett’s piece about next year’s Varsity location (‘White advises change of venue after Varsity unrest’).

Should the final event take place at Bramall Lane stadium next year (note my words, since it is next year’s Sports Officer Kate Rickard’s decision), that would be a real step up from this year, as anyone who attended the Varsity final in 2006 will testify.

Bramall Lane in 2006 was my favourite Varsity to date, and Bramall Lane itself offers enormous benefits that no other venue can match.

“The move to Bramall Lane is prompted by crowd trouble at last month’s Varsity final.”

Really? That’s the reason?

In my mind, the obvious reason is that Varsity has outgrown Abbeydale Sports Ground.

In short, over 4,000 people attended Finals Day, and the sheer numbers really hamstrung the organisers.

Being so far away, and in such an awkward place, unreachable by many forms of public transport, means that organising travel to Abbeydale for such enormous numbers is nigh on impossible!

Using Bramall Lane allows people to walk to the event, and provides an atmosphere which simply cannot be beaten.

“The traditional men’s rugby finale will be replaced by the men’s first team football fixture as the final event.”

“The traditional men’s rugby finale” which has lasted three whole years?

Varsity is a celebration of all of the hard work which goes into University sport.

Rather than looking at the negatives of a move to Bramall Lane, you should be focussing on the massive benefits of the decision.

Here’s to 2010 and 6,000 supporters!

Yours,
Elliott Josypenko
Molecular biology
Fourth year

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