Happy Birthday

Discuss all things Wigan Warriors. Comments and opinions on all aspects of the club's performance are welcome.
Southern Softy
Posts: 1458
Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2012 5:15 pm

Re: Happy Birthday

Post by Southern Softy »

Old age creeps on! There's a pretty sketchy bit of video on the web where the drop out is by a left-footed Wigan player but I can't see who it was. Henry Paul arrives like a train past a startled Sonny Nickle (I think) and strolls home.
Odd how memory plays tricks.
Charriots Offiah
Posts: 4127
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2020 1:14 pm

Re: Happy Birthday

Post by Charriots Offiah »

Wigan v Hull 1985 Challenge Cup Final, nilling Saints at Wembley and beating Manly in the WCC are three of my favourites.
medlocke
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Re: Happy Birthday

Post by medlocke »

Southern Softy wrote: Tue Nov 22, 2022 11:54 am Old age creeps on! There's a pretty sketchy bit of video on the web where the drop out is by a left-footed Wigan player but I can't see who it was. Henry Paul arrives like a train past a startled Sonny Nickle (I think) and strolls home.
Odd how memory plays tricks.
The way Nickle and the other player missed the ball reminded me of something from keystone cops :D
the pieman
Posts: 1310
Joined: Sun May 22, 2005 5:34 pm

Re: Happy Birthday

Post by the pieman »

been trying to find the drop out on youtube, but failed, so heres a different treat for you all :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz5j8BHutOo
Southern Softy
Posts: 1458
Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2012 5:15 pm

Re: Happy Birthday

Post by Southern Softy »

That is aces! Saints copping because one man pushed half their pack back fifteen metres and surely that was the all-round Mr Clean Jason Robinson coming in swinging like Tyson Fury. Priceless.
Fizz Bomb
Posts: 92
Joined: Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:55 pm

Re: Happy Birthday

Post by Fizz Bomb »

It’s a shame to limit it to one memory. From the fifties I can just remember Ken Gee kicking for goal from just outside the 20 yard line and 10 yards from the touch line. Everyone in the stands expecting him to land short due to the water an old fashioned rugby ball absorbed ( it was like kicking a heavy lump of concrete) . Please forgive me but as l was under 4 years old l can’t remember if he kicked it or not. I also remember the Good day Friday game against St Helens when Central Park was packed literally to the rafters with officially a crowd of over 47000 .They had to put several people on the roof of The New Stand as it was called to remove people already up there to get a better view and stop other people climbing up. You really couldn’t move on the terraces. The anticipation of seeing Billy Boston hammering Tom Van Vollenhoven into the ring side seats was all anybody talked about all week. T V V was such a threat Billy B swapped wings to cope with him.

In the sixties l can remember the CC Final at Wembley against Hunslet (remember them ) . A forward pack of John Barton, Bill Sayer, Brian Mc Tigue, Norman Cherrington, Frank Collier, and Roy Evans, what a pack that was.

In the seventies even though it was a quiet decade there was the O’loughlins, Bill Francis, and the incomparable Bill Ashurst to watch, even though we were relegated. Colin Tyrer getting his jaw broken in the CC Final against Castleford, still can’t understand where Classy Cas comes from. Signing George Fairbairn from Scottish RU.

The 80’s started off with promotion and went on from there. The Manley game must be a standout. Everybody will have a favourite game. Maybe Hull FC at Wembley. So much happening at Wigan.

The selling of Central Park and moving into a shared ground with Wigan Pathetic in the 90’s. Andy Farrell giving his all. Martin Offiah flying down the wing. Players like Chris Radlinski emerging from the youth set-up. Watching Va’aiga Tuigamala playing with a smile on his face no matter what the opposition did to him.

Skirting with relegation again in the ‘00. Bringing in one of the most overrated coaches ( and now commentators) Brian Noble who let Kevin Brown go. Ian Milward didn’t work out either. 17-18 000 people watching hoping we could avoid the drop. In my humble opinion it was Michael Dobson that saved us from relegation not Brian Noble’s coaching.

In the ‘10 emerging like a chrysalis and starting a new era with the ups and downs that followed.
It’s certainly never been boring supporting this Club, and whatever happens in the ‘20 l will be there as long as life will let me. Nothing will be completely new and will have happened at sometime before and if people like me who post occasionally on this forum were good enough we would be out there playing along side them.

So many thanks to the players who have shed blood, sweat and tears; gone through countless pain barriers and made my life a lot better. To the present and future players l hope they remember we are nothing compared to them, they are “ simply the best”
Last edited by Fizz Bomb on Tue Nov 22, 2022 3:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
We have the history Sentelins wish they had
pedro
Posts: 5293
Joined: Thu Jul 08, 2004 9:37 pm

Re: Happy Birthday

Post by pedro »

Southern Softy wrote: Tue Nov 22, 2022 10:53 am Are we talking about the same try? The one Meds was describing and I remember was where Henry Paul dropped out from under our posts - the wind pushed the ball back to him and he then went the length of the field to score. How do you get to be offside from your own drop out?
maybe not, the one im on about he didnt kick it

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=538308900389059
josie andrews
Posts: 35575
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2007 10:17 pm
Location: Wigan
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Re: Happy Birthday

Post by josie andrews »

Fizz Bomb wrote: Tue Nov 22, 2022 3:24 pm It’s a shame to limit it to one memory. From the fifties I can just remember Ken Gee kicking for goal from just outside the 20 yard line and 10 yards from the touch line. Everyone in the stands expecting him to land short due to the water an old fashioned rugby ball absorbed ( it was like kicking a heavy lump of concrete) . Please forgive me but as l was under 4 years old l can’t remember if he kicked it or not. I also remember the Good day Friday game against St Helens when Central Park was packed literally to the rafters with officially a crowd of over 47000 .They had to put several people on the roof of The New Stand as it was called to remove people already up there to get a better view and stop other people climbing up. You really couldn’t move on the terraces. The anticipation of seeing Billy Boston hammering Tom Van Vollenhoven into the ring side seats was all anybody talked about all week. T V V was such a threat Billy B swapped wings to cope with him.

In the sixties l can remember the CC Final at Wembley against Hunslet (remember them ) . A forward pack of John Barton, Bill Sayer, Brian Mc Tigue, Norman Cherrington, Frank Collier, and Roy Evans, what a pack that was.

In the seventies even though it was a quiet decade there was the O’loughlins, Bill Francis, and the incomparable Bill Ashurst to watch, even though we were relegated. Colin Tyrer getting his jaw broken in the CC Final against Castleford, still can’t understand where Classy Cas comes from. Signing George Fairbairn from Scottish RU.

The 80’s started off with promotion and went on from there. The Manley game must be a standout. Everybody will have a favourite game. Maybe Hull FC at Wembley. So much happening at Wigan.

The selling of Central Park and moving into a shared ground with Wigan Pathetic in the 90’s. Andy Farrell giving his all. Martin Offiah flying down the wing. Players like Chris Radlinski emerging from the youth set-up. Watching Va’aiga Tuigamala playing with a smile on his face no matter what the opposition did to him.

Skirting with relegation again in the ‘00. Bringing in one of the most overrated coaches ( and now commentators) Brian Noble who let Kevin Brown go. Ian Milward didn’t work out either. 17-18 000 people watching hoping we could avoid the drop. In my humble opinion it was Michael Dobson that saved us from relegation not Brian Noble’s coaching.

In the ‘10 emerging like a chrysalis and starting a new era with the ups and downs that followed.
It’s certainly never been boring supporting this Club, and whatever happens in the ‘20 l will be there as long as life will let me. Nothing will be completely new and will have happened at sometime before and if people like me who post occasionally on this forum were good enough we would be out there playing along side them.

So many thanks to the players who have shed blood, sweat and tears; gone through countless pain barriers and made my life a lot better. To the present and future players l hope they remember we are nothing compared to them, they are “ simply the best”
Absolutely spot on. Thank you for putting into words everything I was thinking about. Mind you, mine thoughts weren’t as in order that you put them.

In my mind it was like ‘oh, when we were relegated’ ‘Andy Farrell with the first super league trophy & shouting "you beauty", ‘watching Billy Boston for the first time’! That’s how mixed up things in my head are 😂😂
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
southportcdm
Posts: 1150
Joined: Sun Dec 22, 2013 5:05 pm

Re: Happy Birthday

Post by southportcdm »

Southern softy - I was there for the Henry Paul drop out try and I'm sure it was a young Faz that took the drop out. I'm sure we'll never see that kind of thing again. It was one of those incidents where you can't believe what you've seen and look around for the replay which of course we didn't have in those days.

My partner has asked me to add all the times that Tuigamala "rag-dolled" the opposition players!
morley pie eater
Posts: 3219
Joined: Tue May 02, 2006 2:01 pm

Re: Happy Birthday

Post by morley pie eater »

Fizz Bomb wrote: Tue Nov 22, 2022 3:24 pm It’s a shame to limit it to one memory. From the fifties I can just remember Ken Gee kicking for goal from just outside the 20 yard line and 10 yards from the touch line. Everyone in the stands expecting him to land short due to the water an old fashioned rugby ball absorbed ( it was like kicking a heavy lump of concrete) . Please forgive me but as l was under 4 years old l can’t remember if he kicked it or not. I also remember the Good day Friday game against St Helens when Central Park was packed literally to the rafters with officially a crowd of over 47000 .They had to put several people on the roof of The New Stand as it was called to remove people already up there to get a better view and stop other people climbing up. You really couldn’t move on the terraces. The anticipation of seeing Billy Boston hammering Tom Van Vollenhoven into the ring side seats was all anybody talked about all week. T V V was such a threat Billy B swapped wings to cope with him.

In the sixties l can remember the CC Final at Wembley against Hunslet (remember them ) . A forward pack of John Barton, Bill Sayer, Brian Mc Tigue, Norman Cherrington, Frank Collier, and Roy Evans, what a pack that was.

In the seventies even though it was a quiet decade there was the O’loughlins, Bill Francis, and the incomparable Bill Ashurst to watch, even though we were relegated. Colin Tyrer getting his jaw broken in the CC Final against Castleford, still can’t understand where Classy Cas comes from. Signing George Fairbairn from Scottish RU.

The 80’s started off with promotion and went on from there. The Manley game must be a standout. Everybody will have a favourite game. Maybe Hull FC at Wembley. So much happening at Wigan.

The selling of Central Park and moving into a shared ground with Wigan Pathetic in the 90’s. Andy Farrell giving his all. Martin Offiah flying down the wing. Players like Chris Radlinski emerging from the youth set-up. Watching Va’aiga Tuigamala playing with a smile on his face no matter what the opposition did to him.

Skirting with relegation again in the ‘00. Bringing in one of the most overrated coaches ( and now commentators) Brian Noble who let Kevin Brown go. Ian Milward didn’t work out either. 17-18 000 people watching hoping we could avoid the drop. In my humble opinion it was Michael Dobson that saved us from relegation not Brian Noble’s coaching.

In the ‘10 emerging like a chrysalis and starting a new era with the ups and downs that followed.
It’s certainly never been boring supporting this Club, and whatever happens in the ‘20 l will be there as long as life will let me. Nothing will be completely new and will have happened at sometime before and if people like me who post occasionally on this forum were good enough we would be out there playing along side them.

So many thanks to the players who have shed blood, sweat and tears; gone through countless pain barriers and made my life a lot better. To the present and future players l hope they remember we are nothing compared to them, they are “ simply the best”
Brilliantly well written - you should be a journalist!

I cant quite stretch back to Ken Gee, but remember most of the others.

Even the huge disappointments become memories worth preserving: Wigan v Saints Championship play-off final in 1971 at Station Road. We were in the lead with time almost up when Benyon (?) scored a try from an attempted drop goal when he was offside. Coslett kicked the goal and we lost 16-12.

All the good and bad memories are stored away. I don't want to be corrected on any of them, they're precious. It would be like being told my Grandad's pocket watch is only chrome and not worth a fiver - better to leave me believing it's sterling silver and priceless!
. . . . . . ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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