The Big Interview: There's no place like home for Sheffield Eagles

For years, that is all they have wanted.

Without a home following the demolition of Don Valley Stadium in 2014, the Eagles endured a nomadic existence which threatened the future of the club.

Three successive seasons of rugby outside the city limits hardly helped, with last year’s campaign at Wakefield seeing only the most hardy of supporters sticking by the Eagles.

But this year saw the light finally appear at the end of the very long tunnel as they made a long awaited return to Sheffield.

From heading out of the game, they are back in it and sitting at square one.

Built from the rubble of Don Valley, the Olympic Legacy Park is what the Eagles have craved for a long time – a place to reestablish their foundations.

While there is plenty of work to be done to make their new house a real home, the Eagles are back in the Steel City.

And six months into their tenure in Attercliffe, director of rugby Mark Aston is delighted.

“To be back in the city is massive for us,” he told The Star.

“The last four years just about killed us stone dead.

“Being out of the city, the fan base dropping, corporate numbers going down and down.

“What we need is to reverse that trend and get people coming back to look at us.

“Some people have come back for a look and liked what they’ve seen in the facility.

“Probably they’ve not liked so much the on-the-field stuff, which we’re trying to put right.

“But so far, the experience of being back has been good.

“It’s been needed and we’re enjoying it.”

The Eagles are a work in progress both on and off the pitch.

On-field, the side are attempting to secure Championship survival.

Off-field, they are merely at the beginning of their life at the Olympic Legacy Park (OLP).

They have a pitch and so far that is about it. The actual stadium will come later.

Supporters are housed in a temporary stand, or position themselves on grass banks surrounding the playing surface.