Your Central Park Memories

[ancientnloyal]

Reet lads

I’d like to hear your own personal recollections and memories of Central Park. I am aware that some of us may not remember Springfield Park or Prescott Street any more, sadly. Central Park will have to do.

Just doing some work on Central Park at the moment and there isn’t anything better than stories from the people who were there.

I’m after anything and everything, your stories, photos etc

Send in an email to wigan1872@gmail.com

[Warrior1961]

Lots
Billy Bostons testimonial (1st game)
Sitting on top of dugout watching summer7s
Entering ground at standish end to a view of men in urinal in opposite corner
Keri Jones flying down wing (when he was fit)
Every home match of our relegation then promotion seasons
Getting thashed by Saints by 50 odd
The riduculous try from Farrells dropout by Henry Paul
Are the immediate memories

[Warrior1961]

Part2
Entry of the gladiators played when players entered pitch overwhelming smell of embrocation.
Numb feet watching us beat Johnathon Davies Wire at new year!
Dave Myers cutting inside to beat fullback
King Bill Ashust chant when trademark drop goal
Excitement of seeing Martin Offiah make his home debut

[bill.inger]

I've sent my recollections of my first ever visit to Central Park to 'wigan1872@gmail.com'
Now I'm thinking of all the thousands of other games I've seen there.

[ancientnloyal]

Geoff I enjoyed reading that email! That’s what it’s all about.

[ancientnloyal]

Part2
Entry of the gladiators played when players entered pitch overwhelming smell of embrocation.
Numb feet watching us beat Johnathon Davies Wire at new year!
Dave Myers cutting inside to beat fullback
King Bill Ashust chant when trademark drop goal
Excitement of seeing Martin Offiah make his home debut

That’s a good list of events! Get ‘em written down and send them in!

[Big stick]

One of my great annoyances that I never got to watch Wigan at Central Park. I started watching Wigan in the early 2000’s season when they’d moved to the JJB

[widdenoldboy]

Lots
Billy Bostons testimonial (1st game)
Sitting on top of dugout watching summer7s
Entering ground at standish end to a view of men in urinal in opposite corner
Keri Jones flying down wing (when he was fit)
Every home match of our relegation then promotion seasons
Getting thashed by Saints by 50 odd
The riduculous try from Farrells dropout by Henry Paul
Are the immediate memories

and the River Caves!!!

[PJCE]

Too many to list .
I may have dates and scores wrong but here goes. In no particular order
Central Park had a unique atmosphere and history, it can never be replicated. It was in the town, part of the town. Standing on the Kop end you looked towards the Parish Church. You felt that your town team was beating some else’s.
Wigan beating the Australians 1968 . Cliff Hill being replaced by his brother David and the Aussies thinking it was him.
Standing in the hen pen.
Probably my first game in 1964 against the New Zealand tourists.
Bill Ashurst making his debut. There was a headline in the Observer saying that Wigan needed a hero after Saints thrashed us on Boxing Day. He became a regular soon after.
A full house against Manly.
The first floodlight game in 1967 against Bradford when the lights failed. Georgie Fame kicked off.
Queuing at the Colin Field road end.
A 4 pm ko when Wigan played Warrington in a cup replay 1967 ?
One of the best games I have seen. Wigan played Leeds 1969 ? They had a back line of Risman. Smith, Hynes, Langley, Atkinson, Shoebottom , Seabourne.
The cold Boxing Day games when the game wasn’t guaranteed to be on.
Earl pre season 7s played in the sun.
I could go on and mention the glory years of the 1980/90s but I have said enough.
Apart from Wigan’s last game there against Saints.
…

[First Try Tickle]

Singing " John Monie's Red and White Army" for all the fist half of one game.

Stewards came down at half time and said there had been complaints from the fans in the stand behind that they couldn't concentrate on the game with the racket going on.

In the second half the singing would go quieter at times with cheers from behind, only to start up again even louder. In the end the full stand were singing it and my dad who was sat behind said most of the stand ended up joining in.