Rugby League and Family

[cpwigan]

Early Thursday morning my father passed away.

We spent late night Wednesday watching Wigan v Warrington together. He could no longer attend matches. I can now think of nothing better than sharing that enjoyment and just how important rugby league was to us both and our family. My father bought me my season ticket for umpteen seasons, we stood on the Spion Kop together, never missing a match. He would talk about the old days when if he was lucky he was picked from 1 of 3 lads to go to matches with my great uncle and sit in the 'hen pens' (?) around the perimeter wall. He'd talk of Brian Mctigue slipping passes, Boston/Bevan/Van Vol/Gasnier, Punchy Griffiths breaking people in two with crunching try saving tackles, seeing Lewis Jones come to Central Park and kicking touch finders diagonally from one corner to the other, the great matches, the Wigan v Saints record attendance, Mick Sullivan getting Murphy sent off. We watched all the great recent teams, never missed a Wembley, nights like Manly. One of my proudest moments is the last match we attended together, the Cardiff Challenge Cup Final when 3 generations of males in our family sat together and watched our team that day. He never lost faith in the team even during this season. His best friend in latter years was an avid Saints supporter. It never mattered.

My father was once the best footballer in Wigan yet he always watched the rugby and said you see more entertainment in 5 minutes of rugby league than a whole match of football. He loved sport for what it was, a field, a game, a contest where who you were, what background you were from, who you knew, how much money you had never mattered. Sport for him embodyed the ultimate contest, the one where the real man was exposed for all to see. Where mateship, loyalty etc was akin to that of your family. People always said to him he played the wrong sport he used to smile and then he would tell them about playing versus Bill Ashurst at soccer.

Until the last 2 days I never truly considered the importance of rugby league and the role it can play. For me I now have precious memories that shall never die. RIP Dad

[JIMH]

Nice post cpwigan, My thoughts are with you and your family.
I lost my father a couple of years ago, i now look back at the times sport brought my family together my father had been a sports fan for many years and i actually introduced him and my mum to Rugby league when he took me to a old regal trophy semi final before i could drive, he never looked back. After being a football, cricket etc.. fan, he really got to love rugby league and became a season ticket holder at wigan, it now makes me laugh hearing Brian Noble talking as Wigan coach, my dad always used to take the mick how bradford had to "muscle up!!" (just what we need to do now)
Being a Chorley Lad living in Preston my father loved the game of rugby league and regretted not following the sport earlier.

[The Pearl]

Sport and especially rugby league is a great uniter of people. And the times spent between father and son watching a match are perhaps most special of all as it allows you to be close without talking about 'sopy stuff!'. Many a great night spent watching a game and then sharing a pint whilst debating my favourites of this era against his from the past.

Sorry for your loss mate...............thoughts are with you.

[luke_robinsons_angel]

sory to hear of your loss, my thoughts are with you all, and i am sure everytime you sit and watch a match your dad will be shouting for them as well.

[taskmaster]

luke_robinsons_ angel posted:
sory to hear of your loss, my thoughts are with you all, and i am sure everytime you sit and watch a match your dad will be shouting for them as well.

here here my thoughts are with you at this sad time, another win this weekend for your dad

[Nine]

Memories like that help ease the pain of loss just a tiny bit, by focusing you on the happy days not the few sad ones in your life.

I know it does bceause your story reminded me so much of me & my Dad's. He died 20 years ago but I still miss him like hell, remember his tales of the great post-War era, recall happy times together at Central Park, and wonder what he would have thought of developments at the club when they come along.

You're shouting for two at games from now on.

[DaveO]

cpwigan posted:
One of my proudest moments is the last match we attended together, the Cardiff Challenge Cup Final when 3 generations of males in our family sat together and watched our team that day.

A very touching post and a nice tribute to your Dad cpw.

The above struck a chord with me as I am still in the fortunate position of being able to do that. My son, my Dad and myself were also at Cardiff. He didn't half struggle to get to hos seat in the Gods but he made it.

My Dad is now 80 and I take him every week to home games and all three of us are season ticket holders.

Living where I do and with most home games being on a Friday it isn't that often we get three generations there as it is impractical to get my son across but I know my Dad loves it when his Grandson comes along and when he does I always think how great it is to have three generations of us there.

Long may this continue and I can truly appreciate your sentiments expressed above.

Dave

[Likely_Lad]

CPW, an excellent post and one that most of us are sure to relate to, I'm very sorry for your loss.

It's also fantastic how you are looking back on the good times, whereas alot of people would look at regrets. I also find it very touching this great Rugby club that I love is given you such fond memories. Again I'm sorry for your loss.

[Lockers15]

my thoughts are with you cpwigan. It just shows what an amazing sport this is. Where would we be without it?
cpwigan the next match you go watching wigan, leave the seat next to you empty so your dad doesn't miss out.
Your dad sounds like a grear man, a great husband, a great dad, one of a kind and a very lolay and true wiganer.

[Stev0]

CPWigan... my thoughts are with you and your family at this time.