Fox’s Biscuit Stadium/Mount Pleasant Stadium (Batley)

Mount Pleasant stadium, officially known for commercial sponsorship purposes as Fox’s Biscuits Stadium, is a rugby league stadium in Batley, West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of the Batley Bulldogs.

General information

Arena capacity: 7,500 spectators

Address: 508-518 Bradford Rd, Batley WF17 5JX, UK

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 53°42′26″N 1°37′54″W

Year of construction: 1880

Field: grass lawn

Seating plan of Fox’s Biscuit Stadium

The Mount Pleasant pitch is sloped and is on a hill overlooking Batley. The end of the ground at the top of the hill has three grandstands. Behind the rugby posts is a terraced stand, which houses the players changing rooms and executive boxes.

At the opposite end at the bottom of the hill is an open terraced stand. The bottom corner of the pitch has a pronounced dip.

Where to buy tickets?

Buying tickets for Bulldogs matches is easy. You can get them online, over the phone, or by dropping into the box office in person. Prices are for general admission and cover standing or seating areas, subject to availability.

Cup Ties, Play-Offs and Friendlies to be agreed and advised when announced.

Please note: Proof of age & eligibility may be requested at turnstiles. i.e., student card or photo I.D.

Online orders may incur a booking fee of 20p.

How to get there?

The stadium is approximately 1 km (a 1/2 mile) south of Batley Town Centre.

Bus services 281, 283 and 283A run from Dewsbury and Batley Bus Stations to Purlwell Lane around 5-minutes walk from the ground.

Batley Rail Station is regularly served by trains from Leeds, Dewsbury, Huddersfield and Manchester (Huddersfield Line timetable).

The rail stadium is a 15-minute walk away to the Heritage Road entrance to the stadium.

From The East:

Exit the M62 at junction 27 and take the A62 towards Huddersfield. Pass the retail park and head down the hill, going straight through the first set of lights by the Coach & Six pub, at the next lights you will have Luigis Restaurant on your left and a Crillys Store opposite, here you need to turn left. Follow this road for approx 1.5 miles until the next set of lights, at this crossroads turn immediate right. Go straight across the next lights and at the second set turn left. You will then head down the hill and pass Fox’s Biscuits on your right. Take the next right-hand turn and follow this to the top of the hill, as you reach the top immediately after a row of houses set back above the road turn left into Heritage Road which takes you into the Stadium and Car Parks.

From The West:

Leave the M62 at junction 26 and take the 6th exit from the roundabout onto the A638. Follow this road for approximately 3 miles through Cleckheaton Town Centre and through Heckmondwike. As you climb the hill out of Heckmondwike you will pass a large Chapel (Now apartments) on the left. At the lights after this take the fork to the left. Go straight through the next 2 sets of lights. You will then pass Fox’s Biscuits on your right. Take the next right-hand turn and follow this to the top of the hill, as you reach the top immediately after a row of houses set back above the road turn left into Heritage Road which takes you into the Stadium and Car Parks.

There are numerous side streets around the ground, and there are also club car parks and surplus car parking down the side of the ground.

Where to eat?

Behind the main stand there is a lot of space, and here you can find refreshments. On some visits, bands have been playing in trailers behind the ground. You can also get food and drink in the northwest corner of the ground.

Facilities

With different facilities the Mt. Pleasant is a perfect place to hold your event.

Bryan Cooney Suite

Looking for a venue for your function, family meal or business meeting? Then why not consider Batley Bulldogs Rugby League Club.

At Batley Bulldogs there are various options for all your requirements.

The suite is attached to the main Bulldog Bar. The ‘Cooney Suite’ can seat 72 for a meal then by the removal of the tables the suite can accommodate 100 for less formal functions. The suite can also be arranged for business meetings or forums. The Bulldog Bar can provide all your drinks requirements and there are kitchen facilities too.

The doors of the suite open onto the outside picnic area where guests can sit (weather permitting of course!) and nearby is a large, grassed area where children can run and play. This area can also accommodate a ‘bouncy castle’ or even a ‘Marquee’ (these can be arranged at additional costs).

The possibilities for the ‘Cooney Suite’ are endless whether it be for birthday parties, formal dinners, christenings, funeral teas or business meetings.

There is ample free parking at the ground and all your catering needs can be supplied, from childrens’ party food, full buffets or formal meals to hotpots or pie and peas, again anything is possible so just ask.

Ron Earnshaw Lounge

This is situated across the ground and from its elevated position offers extensive views of the stadium and surrounding area. This room can easily accommodate 120 people and again it can be arranged to suit your requirements for parties or business meetings.

The lounge has its own bar and balcony where guests can sit and be part of the party or look out over the playing field and admire the view across the Valley.

There is ample free parking at the ground and all your catering needs can be supplied, from childrens’ party food, full buffets or formal meals to hotpots or pie and peas, again anything is possible so just ask.

Boardroom

Next to the Ron Earnshaw Lounge is the ‘Boardroom’. This can be used with the Ron Earnshaw Lounge to lay out your buffet, your teas and coffees etc leaving the Ron Earnshaw Lounge free of food. It can also be used by itself as a small meeting room to accommodate 50 people or more depending on your required layout.

Every Tuesday morning, they have Rons Breakfast Club that meet here for coffee and bacon sandwiches at 10.00 am. Everyone is welcome. Just one of the regular uses of the ‘Boardroom’ for meetings etc.

There is ample free parking at the ground and all your catering needs can be supplied, from childrens’ party food, full buffets or formal meals to hotpots or pie and peas, again anything is possible so just ask.

Accessibility

The Fox’s Biscuits Stadium boasts superb facilities for disabled supporters, offering excellent vantage points for you to enjoy the action.

There is a number of disabled car parking spaces available on site, meaning only a short trip from vehicles to your place in the ground.

Away supporters wishing to secure disabled car parking or admission are kindly asked to contact the club by emailing [email protected] – by 72 hours before the day of a game in order to ensure your request can be handled appropriately.

Disabled supporters wishing to attend Batley Bulldogs matches on a match-by-match basis must pay the full and appropriate admission charge, according to age for which the application is made.

A free ‘Carer Ticket’ for any match for which an admission charge is payable is available. To be eligible for the free ‘Carer Ticket’ you must bring relevant proof that you are in receipt of a Carer Component in the Disability Living Allowance for each match attended.

The above also applies to away supporters. Appropriate proof of disability must be included if applying in advance to the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium. We advise away supporters to book their tickets in advance of the fixture date.

Disabled supporters should currently be in receipt of either the Higher-Medium rate Mobility or Higher Care Components of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) OR P.I.P.

Disabled Supporters will also need to submit copies of the DLA or PIP.

History

Batley 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, Jacob Parker, scored the first try.