The Jungle (Wheldon Road)

Wheldon Road (Mend-A-Hose Jungle)

Location	Wheldon Road, Castleford, West Yorkshire, England
Coordinates
Owner	Castleford Tigers
Capacity	11,743
Surface	Grass
Construction
Broke ground	1926
Opened	1926
Tenants
Castleford Tigers (Super League) (1927 – Present)

Wheldon Road previously and often known as The Jungle, now known as the Mend-A-Hose Jungle for sponsorship purposes is the home ground of Castleford Tigers Rugby League Club in Castleford, West Yorkshire, England. It is on Wheldon Road, approximately 0.7-mile east of Castleford town centre. In 2014, the ground had an average attendance is 7,068; the record attendance of 25,449 was for a Challenge Cup match in 1935.

Layout

The Wheldon Road End is at the north of the ground. It is a standing terrace particularly used by Castleford supporters.

The Main Stand is at the east of the ground with seating for 1,500. A wooden terrace covers a third of the east stand, with the remainder uncovered and for standing.

The Railway End is at the south of the ground. It is an uncovered standing terrace, with a supporters' club, executive boxes and a scoreboard along its top.

The Princess Street Stand is at the west of the ground. It is almost identical to the Wheldon Road End.

Wheldon Road has fast food outlets within the ground, serving hot food, drinks and confectionery, restaurants and a bar.

History

The ground was originally the home of association football club Castleford Town F.C.

Castleford Tigers moved to the stadium in 1927 after the completion of their first season (1926–27) as a senior rugby league club. This first season was played at the 'Sandy Desert', which has since been redeveloped, and is the home of Castleford Lock Lane.

The record attendance at the ground is 25,449 for a third round Challenge Cup match against Hunslet in 1935. The record Super League attendance at the ground is 11,731 against Leeds on 7 March 2004.

Floodlights were installed for the 1965–66 season.

The stadium was called the Jungle from 2000 to 2010; the PROBIZ Colliseum from 2010 to 2012; the Wish Communications Stadium in 2013 and the Mend-A-Hose Jungle in 2014.

Transport

The stadium is 2.4 miles away from the M62 Junction 32 and 2.9 miles from Junction 31. Private transport routes from the M62 are signposted to the ground, and there is provision for match day parking, either public, or provided by the club. Bus services run to the ground, with Castleford connections to and from Leeds, Wakefield and Pontefract. Rail services connect Castleford with Wakefield, Barnsley and Sheffield, Pontefract and Leeds.

Relocation

In 2011 the Super League club signed a deal with developers who intended to redevelop the ground as a supermarket. This deal would fund a new £12 million stadium at nearby Glasshoughton for which the club had received planning consent. In October 2012 it was announced that the club was considering the possibility of redeveloping Wheldon Road, rather than moving. In 2014 it was announced that the club would be moving to a new stadium near Glasshoughton along with a new retail park on the same site.

External links

• Castleford Tigers official site