Re: Central Park JJB/DW
Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 5:24 pm
My memories of Central Park are of course of all the many good times.
But; the view was so poor we had to take camping stools to stand on to see what was going on. The toilets were smelly cesspits and the facilities for ladies were an embarrassment. The ground sloped and sometimes produced a soggy pitch down by Central Park way,and there were roof supports to block many views. It was out of date, and well past its sell-by date. It may have been bigger than Knowsley Road or Naughton Park, but was no better as a stadium.
Off the field the club hadn't been run well and was effectively bankrupt. And the great team we'd once had was getting old and inevitably had lost its aura.
Some may have issues with Mr Whelan, but without him we might not have had a club at all, so I think vitriol directed that way is misplaced. He bailed us out in our darkest hour and for that we should all be eternally greatful. (See "Playing to Win" at all good bookshops).
So I for one don't regret the move to the new stadium for a second. Let's enjoy our success and put it down to being a well run club (again). The stadium is alright and will do very nicely thank you for years to come.
But; the view was so poor we had to take camping stools to stand on to see what was going on. The toilets were smelly cesspits and the facilities for ladies were an embarrassment. The ground sloped and sometimes produced a soggy pitch down by Central Park way,and there were roof supports to block many views. It was out of date, and well past its sell-by date. It may have been bigger than Knowsley Road or Naughton Park, but was no better as a stadium.
Off the field the club hadn't been run well and was effectively bankrupt. And the great team we'd once had was getting old and inevitably had lost its aura.
Some may have issues with Mr Whelan, but without him we might not have had a club at all, so I think vitriol directed that way is misplaced. He bailed us out in our darkest hour and for that we should all be eternally greatful. (See "Playing to Win" at all good bookshops).
So I for one don't regret the move to the new stadium for a second. Let's enjoy our success and put it down to being a well run club (again). The stadium is alright and will do very nicely thank you for years to come.