Mount Pleasant, Batley
Mount Pleasant is a rugby league stadium in Batley, West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Batley Bulldogs.Renowned for its famous slope, Mount Pleasant is situated at the top of the hill that overlooks the town of Batley. The end of the ground at the top of the hill is surrounded by three grandstands. Behind the rugby posts is a relatively new terraced stand, which houses the players changing rooms and also executive boxes.At the opposite end at hill is an open terraced stand, as you go back up the pitch down one of the sides, the terrace is closed off due to safety reasons. The bottom corner of the pitch sees quite a large dip, which the home side use to their advantage.In the diagonally opposite corner is the players entrance, which is situated between the new terraced stand, and a small all seater stand that runs down half of one side of the pitch.The ground has undergone major redevelopment over the last ten years, work is currently continuing on the bottom part of the ground at the famous "nine ole" end.HistoryBatley Cricket Club played at the foot of Howley Hill, more commonly known as "Owd Billy Wood’s Cloise". The cricket club decided to merge with Batley Athletic rugby football club in 1880. The new rugby club played at Mount Pleasant at the top of the hill. The first game on the new ground was on 2 October 1880 when the hosts beat Bradford Zingari. Captain and right winger, J. Parker, scored the first try.In 1886/87, there was just one small covered stand, under which poultry were kept. This was situated where the current main stand is now. The ground was used to host a Yorkshire v Surrey county match at around this time.