Re: Nostalgia : Tue Apr 28, 2015 7:42 am  

Toddy Senior wrote:

I'm a 66 year old Saints supporter and have been for the past 20-odd years but, back in the 1950's and 1960's, I followed Trinity, home and away, with my mum, dad and younger brother. We were originally from Normanton so I guess I'm also included as one of those "dirty Yorkshire b*stards" which Saints fans frequently chant when the rhinos are at Langtree Park. I'm a proud Yorkshireman and the reason I follow Saints is because my son was born in Lancashire and, when he became old enough to decide for himself, he asked if we could watch Saints. I've seen great players at St Helens but I also remember other greats such as Round, Smith, Skene, Fox, Etty, Poynton, Holliday, Wilkinson, Oakes, Briggs, Vines, Firth and Turner - the Trinity team which won three challenge cups in four years. My wife's dad was also Ron Gelder, the referee for four Challenge Cup finals, including the 1954 replay at Odsal. Trinity had good days and gave my family lots of pleasure and that's what Saints have also done for my son and I. Rugby league is a wonderful game, teams have their ups and downs and I sincerely hope that Trinity regain some of their former glory. Sorry for being boring but I love the game and fans, whichever team they support.

Ron Gelder was one of the best referee's ( if there is such a creature LOL), All refs wore black in those days, Ron was always conspicuous with his rather large white collar.
Didn't Trinity sign one of the most renown sprinters of the day, if my memory serves me right his name was Berwyn? Jones who later signed for Saints, I remember him being interviewed on TV when he signed for Trinity as he was part of a quartet that was going to represent Britain at the Olympic games. Halcyon days

Re: Nostalgia : Tue Apr 28, 2015 8:56 am  

To be honest, I never much liked Wakey's ground. It was either cold, wet and miserable. Or nothing went right. Or both.

I remember going when Tea Ropati first came over and it was obvious from the first minute that his leg was gone. The Andy Northey debut game was one of the lowest points I've ever hit watching Saints. It was bad enough being zilled. Worse still - we never even looked like scoring (whilst I was being drowned).

The other thing about Wakey is it seemed to attract the most obnoxious, foul-mouthed and ultra-militant faction of the opposite sex (with the possible exception of Thrum Hall: what a hell-hole that was!). One woman in particular springs to mind who was ever-present each year. I'm talking about the uncovered popular side opposite the seating. By herself she seemed able to completely drown out the rest of the stand. And she was SCATHING. Of EVERYONE.

I'd love to know if she still goes. Probably a local hero.

Re: Nostalgia : Tue Apr 28, 2015 9:12 am  

Mugwump wrote:

To be honest, I never much liked Wakey's ground. It was either cold, wet and miserable. Or nothing went right. Or both.

I remember going when Tea Ropati first came over and it was obvious from the first minute that his leg was gone. The Andy Northey debut game was one of the lowest points I've ever hit watching Saints. It was bad enough being zilled. Worse still - we never even looked like scoring (whilst I was being drowned).

The other thing about Wakey is it seemed to attract the most obnoxious, foul-mouthed and ultra-militant faction of the opposite sex (with the possible exception of Thrum Hall: what a hell-hole that was!). One woman in particular springs to mind who was ever-present each year. I'm talking about the uncovered popular side opposite the seating. By herself she seemed able to completely drown out the rest of the stand. And she was SCATHING. Of EVERYONE.

I'd love to know if she still goes. Probably a local hero.

I think the one you refer to posts on here under the guise of SAD END

Re: Nostalgia : Tue Apr 28, 2015 9:45 am  

Keep em coming guy,s i,m loving it.
Idont know if its the woman you are refering to but there was a stout lady in the 80s i think had a reilly loud voice you could here her all around the ground drowned out the northstanders, but all i recall her shouting was "come on trinity" dont remember any foul language.
I also remember in the 60s one wakey player breaking his leg carnt remember his name but you could hear it crack from the terraces, made me feel sick.

Re: Nostalgia : Tue Apr 28, 2015 10:05 am  

BRIGGY wrote:

Keep em coming guy,s i,m loving it.
Idont know if its the woman you are refering to but there was a stout lady in the 80s i think had a reilly loud voice you could here her all around the ground drowned out the northstanders, but all i recall her shouting was "come on trinity" dont remember any foul language.

Probably her. Or her mate. She was pretty big. And she sure as hell was no looker.

Wakey's ground improved out of site when they put those boxes in at the far end. You could rent one out dirt cheap if you were with a group of lads. And get a cracking view, to boot.

Re: Nostalgia : Tue Apr 28, 2015 10:08 am  

Mugwump wrote:

Probably her. Or her mate. She was pretty big. And she sure as hell was no looker.

Wakey's ground improved out of site when they put those boxes in at the far end. You could rent one out dirt cheap if you were with a group of lads. And get a cracking view, to boot.

Come to think of it - the Willows was pretty good, too. You used to be able to get a transfer into the seating behind the posts for 50p. The view was incredible.

Swinton's old Station Road ground was another one. Every seat seemed like it was the back row at the Reebok stadium. Shame that place was lost. It was old and needed a lot of work. But I loved Station Road.

Re: Nostalgia : Tue Apr 28, 2015 10:31 am  

Toddy Senior wrote:

PS I was also there when the film "This Sporting Life" was filmed, stood behind the posts at the Doncaster Road end.....great days!

I was at the game that day. It was a challenge cup tie v Wigan

Re: Nostalgia : Tue Apr 28, 2015 1:51 pm  

It was indeed versus Wigan and the crown was over 27,000, believe it or not. I think the final score was 5-0 to Trinity, in which winger Fred Smith scored the try (3 points in those days) and my all-time sporting hero Neil Fox kicked the goal. I further remember that Richard Harris scored his "try" at least three times, to get it right for the cameras, during the half-time interval. My problem is though, whenever I think of Trinity during the 50's and 60's, I think of my dad George (bless him) who was chairman of the Normanton branch of the Trinity supporters club and was the only member of the Neil Fox benefit committee who was absent when the official photograph was taken for the benefit magazine, which I still have a copy of today. My dad introduced me to the game with Trinity and I'm thankful that I could do the same for my son, with Saints.

Re: Nostalgia : Tue Apr 28, 2015 1:59 pm  

Incidentally, in response to Benidorm John's query, the players name was indeed Berwyn Jones and he was one of Britain's 4x100m Olympic squad, which is why his move to Trinity got such publicity on TV. His first game was against Huddersfield at the old Fartown, under the pseudonym "AN Other" and, the first time he got a bit of room to move, he was lightning quick on the left wing (I was there that day as well!) He eventually played several times for Great Britain, such was his quality.

Re: Nostalgia : Thu Apr 30, 2015 7:48 am  

Sorry to report guy,s, been posted on the wakefield forum Derek Turner is ill, awaiting someone to post more info.