Reynolds Remembers: The Best of Belmore

Prodigal son Josh Reynolds has a lifetime’s worth of fond memories at Belmore Sports Ground.

The beloved stomping ground he grew up a stone’s throw away and eventually played at will host its sole NRL match of 2025 this Sunday afternoon.  

Development will begin on the Club’s Centre of Excellence in the coming months at famous venue which has been Canterbury’s home since 1936. 

Sunday could mark one of the final chances for Members and supporters to fill the hill and bring a winning atmosphere as they watch their NRL heroes in action until the completion of the project.  

For Reynolds, who played six NRL matches at the venue, comes a plethora of iconic moments both as a fan and player. 

First Memories

Born and raised in Belmore, Reynolds’ first memory of the famous ground was one of glory. 

The St George Dragons junior made his way through the grades, taking the turf as a youngster and getting some first-hand experience on the pitch.  

“I was seven when I played my Grand Final here and we won. It was pretty cool, it was a big crowd of families and it got pretty hostile for the junior grand finals,” he reminisced.  

“It was a really good memory for me and it’s pretty fitting I got to play my last game here. I started and finished here and there were some good memories.” 

A Family Fortress

In Round 23, 1998, the Bulldogs hosted their final match at the hallowed ground before a fulltime move to Accor Stadium, then known as Stadium Australia. 

It marked a significant moment in the Club’s history; and Steve Folkes' side marked the occasion with a low-scoring win in torrential conditions - ironically against the Melbourne Storm.  

And while he can't recall a whole lot from the dour contest, it was a memory that reinforced Belmore as a place for the Reynolds clan to connect to their football team and community.  

“My mum and my family used to come down here when they were kids, and they remember sliding down the back of the hill,” he laughed.  

“My grandfather used to bring them all down here, but for me I just remember one game against Melbourne back in the final game here.  

“I can’t remember much of it, but it was a famous win. We lived up the road and we always knew when a Bulldogs game was on.” 

Strapping on the Boots 

Few players in the game of Rugby League have the distinction of being synonymous with a venue in the hearts and minds of Members and fans.  

The man affectionately known as ‘Grub’ is one of those players. When you think of Belmore, you think of the fan-favourite no.6. 

From a first-hand account, he recalled the return match in 2015; only this time, he was taking the field against Melbourne instead of being in the grandstand. 

And now ten years on from that famous win, he believes the meaning of playing at Belmore still has the same significance. 

“Being the home team was crazy. I remember the first ever game back in 2015, it was huge,” he recalled. 

“To be part of that first team to do it again was unreal. I fully remember how excited everyone was, because this is where it all happened from 1936 onward.  

This is our history. Players spilt blood for this Club and sweated it out in the gym downstairs. They’re the ones you wanted to play for, and we got to do it years after they stopped playing there.  

“I just hope that the teams that will get the privilege to play in this match realise who they’re representing and why they’re doing it.  

“They’re representing themselves, their families and the ex-players, but they’re also representing this area.” 

The Centre of Excellence

With the Club’s state of the art Centre of Excellence set to begin development later this year, Belmore will usher in a new era that will facilitate the newest breed of Bulldog. 

For Reynolds, who still maintains a close relationship with the Club as an Ambassador, it's hard to contain the excitement for what the future holds.