Future of The Shay secured? Council chiefs agree sale to rugby boss
Plus, Halifax finds national fame on UK sex map
Hello and welcome to the midweek edition of The Calderdale Lead.
I hope you’re having a good week and enjoying some of this spring sunshine.
Talking of which, there looks to be brighter days ahead for The Shay Stadium after Calderdale Council chiefs rubber-stamped plans to sell the stadium.
I was at Halifax Town Hall on Monday as the council’s Cabinet made the decision to sell to Huddersfield Giants boss Ken Davy. We’ve got all the details and some reaction below.
Plus, we’ve got an insight into the bedroom activity of Halifax folk thanks to a new map that’s been released this week. Intrigued? Read on below…
Sale of The Shay will bring ‘millions of pounds’ in improvements
Calderdale council chiefs have agreed to sell The Shay Stadium to Huddersfield Giants owner Ken Davy - but have made it clear it must remain as a stadium.
The borough’s ruling Cabinet made the decision at a meeting on Monday, agree with officers’ recommendations that the sale to Mr Davy was the most viable option.
But they say the sale must include a restrictive covenant meaning the stadium - home to the Halifax Panthers rugby league club and Halifax Town FC - could only be used for sports in the future.
Councillors said a counter-proposal, put forward by the working group made up of fans, was not viable because they didn’t have access to funds needed for stadium improvements or its continued running costs.
Coun Sylvia Dacre, presenting the report to Cabinet colleagues, said Mr Davy’s offer including ‘millions of pounds’ of improvements to the stadium, which the council decided last year they could no longer afford to run.
Mr Davy’s investment would bring The Shay up to Super League standards and improvements will include new floodlights, LED advertising boards, a big screen and the stadium’s West Stand being brought up to usable standard.
Coun Dacre said for many years the football club was considering applying for a Football Foundation grant for a hybrid pitch but the biggest stumbling block has been neither council nor clubs being able to afford necessary match-funding of around £300,000 to £400,000.
She said: “Ken Davy has offered interest-free loans to both clubs for their share in that match-funding to overcome their inability to raise the money up front.
“He has asked the council to provide the third share – this would be a one-off contribution from us, it would be in the region of our current budgeted one year costs, but of course considerably less than our actual costs for one year.”
Coun Dacre said Mr Davy has also proposed to cover costs of relocating the Panthers temporarily this summer while work is carried out.
Councillors said they understood concerns supporters of both football’s FC Halifax Town and rugby league’s Halifax Panthers have about Mr Davy buying the ground to provide a home for the Giants for a few years while a new ground in Kirklees is developed for them.
It is undestood that Mr Davy believes the Giants might need to use The Shay for ‘five or six’ years from 2026.
Upon depature, Mr Davy plans to offer the ground for sale to Halifax Town and Halifax Panthers. If they could not afford or did not want to buy, his company would continue to run The Shay with them as tenants.
He’s also offered a 10-year lease on the stadium to satisfy the Football League’s requirements, should Halifax Town - currently sitting in the National League play-off positions - get promoted to League Two.
The move has been backed by the town’s MP Kate Dearden.
Ms Dearden said that she would continue to ensure that the voices of fans were head but welcomed the news of investment.
She said: “This decision will bring much-needed investment into the Shay’s pitch and facilities, giving fans a stadium to be proud of while securing a more sustainable financial future.
“It is vital that nothing jeopardises the future of these clubs, and I expect all parties to honour their commitments as this new partnership moves forward.
“I will continue working closely with fans, Calderdale Council and Ken Davy to ensure that supporters’ voices remain central througout this process and that we build a stronger future for both of our iconic clubs.”
Councillors rejected an alternative proposal from a working group to set up a trust to take on the running of The Shay from the council as, despite its merits, they said it would effectively require the council to overturn last year’s budget decision and find alternative savings.
Does size matter? Apparently it does in Halifax!
As a journalist, I often come across stories which expose corruption in high office, failings in public services or scandals involving footballers or celebrities.
I also get sent a whole heap of press releases at the other end of the spectrum, some advertising products I know no-one will ever use or notice of events I know no-one will be interested in.
Well, this week I’ve got a corker to end on.
Apparently, according to Lovehoney - which I’m reliably informed by colleagues is an online sex toy retailer - Halifax is ninth on its list when it comes to those who enjoy, erm, bigger dildoes.
Lovehoney has produced its Sex Map for 2025 which, using sales data, has worked out that the average length of a toy ordered by people in the town is 7.01 inches - placing it in the top ten.
According to the map, Hereford locals buy the biggest dildos of anywhere in the country - coming in at a whopping 7.13 inches.
Here’s the top ten (because I know you were all interested!):
Hereford – 7.13 inches
Jersey – 7.11 inches
Inverness – 7.10 inches
Twickenham – 7.09 inches
Hemel Hempstead – 7.07 inches
Doncaster – 7.04 inches
Wigan – 7.03 inches
Peterborough – 7.03 inches
Halifax – 7.01 inches
Norwich – 7.00 inches
Well, that’s it for this edition of The Calderdale Lead.
We’ve got so much planned over the next few months so… you’re in a position to do so, please consider taking a paid subscription so I can keep popping into your inbox twice a week with a Calderdale digest and stories.
As always, if you have anything you think I should be reporting on or looking into then I’m on calderdale@thelead.uk
Enjoy what is left of the weekend and we’ll be back in your inboxes on Wednesday!
Andrew