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Dont know if this thread will work but, I was thinking this morning about match-days at Central Park back in day. Just thought we could tell our personal stories of the ground.

*ahem*

Drove into Wigan through Aspull > Whelley and normally parked around the Scholes area or Longshoot. Always begged parents for some sweeties at the petrol station (now A&P Cole Car Sales) and walked down towards the River Dougie past the old people's home. Usually we entered through the turnstiles at the end of the Douglas stand and then again begged parents for sweets at that 'shop' underneath the Douglas stand or at the burger bar.

We always got there when the gates opened so that we could sit on the wall in the Whitbread close to the half-way line opposite the roof-box.

AAnyone remember Police cards? walk upto a policeman and he'd give you a rugby card with a player on?

One memory or at least 'experience' i will always remember is the smell of Pies, urine and Beer whenever i walked through the whitbread stand bar to go to the toilets behind. Wasnt it disgusting in winter when you went to the loo's and steam came off ur urine? anyways... at least JJB gets rids of that problem.

For some reason we always went to A-team matches. It was great! there was quite a big crowd at every game and loved it when it rained, used to stand at back of sticks to 'fight' for the ball after conversions.

Drive into Wigan from Goose Green and park on the car park behind what is now Blockbuster video.

Pre match drinks in any of the pubs/bars around (think we did them all from Swinley club down to the Griffin through the years) then onto the ground via the Kop and into my seat in the Popular stand.

Wouldn't have it any other way.

Gosh that had my head floating away thinking about old times then. Not sure if i want to go back to the smell of Pee though.

I used to walk down to the ground from my grandmas which is on bradshaw street across from whelly hospital, used to be great especially when they let you in for free toward the end It used to be good going to my grandmas because even if i couldn't get down to the ground you could here the cheers when wigan scored, ahhh those were the days lol

Dad used to park near Greenough street labour club then used to stand in amazement at the mecca that was CP. Remember being lifted over the turnstiles(even when i was Twelve) and walking under dougie stand with the smells of pee and pies. Off to the kop right in the middle just behind the away fans.
Oh the happy days

Walk from goose green picking up freinds and family along the way until it resembled a carnival. Get there before the turnstiles open so we could make the dash to sit on the wall behind the sticks. Used to call the people that sat down in the seats "dead posh n snobby" because we were jealous. Who would have thought when i grew up and had kids they would be calling the grounds without seating "dead scruffy"

Getting a £20 parking fine after a steward said it was ok to park there.

Watching Terry O Connor laughing at the big screen after he dropped the ball before grounding it and Cummings giving the try. That was against the Saints.

ive got great memorys. i was a ball boy for about 5 - 6 seasons (even did internationals) we got there as early as the stewards walked in the players door then into a cruddy little room about 10 of us. then lined up and provided a human tunnel for the players. stoped enjoying my rugby as much coz i was working and i wasnt in the crowd! even though the last game at CP was superb soooooooooooo loud! oh the memorys!!!

Couple of memories to share.
1. Trying to get a parking spec on Dicconson (excuse spelling) terrace. Getting the Becks beer crate out of the boot (for my lad to stand on)and going for a shuffle down the alley with my boy (must of been about 6 at the time). Getting our spec in the popular stand on the 40 yard line.

2. Bad memory of the last game.
got there about 4 hours before gates due to open and first in the queue at the turnstile. all gates opened apart from one (no prizes for guessing which one). By this time the rest of the qeues were half way down the street, so didn't get our spec for the last game. Brucie bonus, lady who was in front at the wall fainted half way through the game and my lad voomed in to get the spec

i wish central park was still standing because i never had the privilidge, that some had, to watch the old wigan play their. i can only imagine the atmosphere and the excitment of match days back then. i say i can imagine but i still probably cant even come close to what it was like.