Quite rightly so, a player who has given 10 years' fantastic unbroken service to the club, created a record that is going to take some beating and done tremendous work with schools.

I would have to say I didn't feel the same when the 'Heritage Stand' was renamed. Was there a valid reason for this? Why rename it at all?

The stand had been partly paid for by supporters and the 'heritage' name covered a wide spectrum. It would have been a fitting home to house a photographic history of the club covering its heritage.

To rename it after a player who arguably spent his prime years away from Mount Pleasant was, in my opinion, an error of judgement.

This is in no way having a go at the player who the stand was renamed after – one of the best I've seen at Batley, but my time of watching only goes back 28 years.

To name stands, etc, should in my opinion be only in exceptional circumstances and for it to be done just because someone breaks a record is madness.

There are many names, not necessarily just players, for whom such an honour would have been more justified. People who have made financial or career sacrifices to stay at Mount Pleasant, also people who have given many years' service for very little or no financial reward.

Also the old score box at the bottom of the cricket ground, built in 1949 and greatly financed by the Batley RL Supporters' Club is in real need of a repaint. If anyone would like to help me in this venture it would be greatly appreciated, if not I'd be happy to do it alone.

The score box was opened by director and former Batley rugby and cricket player Frederic Wilfred Hoyle Auty and dedicated by the vicar of Batley, the Rev E C Hamer before the Batley vs Morley game on May 21, 1949, was erected 'to the memory of the members of the club who gave their lives in the two world wars.'

The present board, under chairman Kevin Nicholas, has done many great things in their time at Mount Pleasant and deserve great praise for this.

Let's not forget if it had not been for the great efforts of many before us, we wouldn't have The Mount or a club, which we all love. Let's be careful not to leave our future generations thinking nothing happened of note until recent years.

The club used to give a report of its annual meeting to the Batley News and Reporter. Maybe if the people of the town were given a far greater insight into the club's affairs they would in return show a greater interest?

I'd be interested to hear the club or anyone else's views on these matters.

MATTHEW G PRICE
Bridle Street
SOOTHILL