: Sat Jul 29, 2006 9:35 am  

There are loads of memories I have of the place from matches to the fact that when I first started going, I could never get over how they stopped the traffic on the junction when the game ended to let all the fans get out of the ground. Favourite moments are the 42-36 win over Bradford when Edwards scored four tries and still had time to get sin binned for fighting with Graeme Bradley, the last game obviously, standing with two Halifax fans when we beat them 22-21 in the last minute after being behind all game with a last minute penalty, and the lads couldn't even watch it they were so nervous, beating Oldham 44-16 and the team getting booed off because the fans thought they weren't trying , and the game against Saints when we won the Championship and Henry Paul scored from his own drop out. One last memory was walking around the outside of the ground a couple of days after the last game with the ground silent, thinking that I'd never get to go in there again. I've never been near it since.

: Sat Jul 29, 2006 10:50 am  

The first and only time that I went to Central Park, we'd scored a try, and I was walking and dancing to the Flute for 50 pence song thing, and tripped on a step and fell flat on my face.

: Sun Jul 30, 2006 12:04 pm  

Have to say I used to love derby day at Central Park - even though we were usually on the end of a hiding! The atmosphere in the kop on those occasions was something to behold - None better I think than in the '93 8-8 game.

We also had a few humdinging Semi Finals there and won our one and only JP trophy at CP in '88 so the memories - thankfully - weren't always of defeats!

The North Stand on derby day is good, But it's not the Kop and never will be.

: Mon Jul 31, 2006 1:40 pm  

1985 when Brett Kenny kicked for the corner and the ball was collected by Phil Ford (who was at least 5 yards offside when he caught it) in one of our last league games of the season (v Hull KR). I nearly burst a blood vessel with cheering that try.

We all thought we would win the league that year (for the first time in decades) but it wasnt to be.

: Mon Jul 31, 2006 1:40 pm  

The burger van fire during the 40-2 defeat v Queensland.

: Mon Jul 31, 2006 1:42 pm  

Finding a padlock in the ground and locking it over the bridge of a fellow fans spectacles (before a Saints game) thus preventing him from being able to see any of the action until the second half when he returned to the ground having had the lock hack-sawed away.

: Mon Jul 31, 2006 1:45 pm  

Writing a letter under the guise of Abe Frohman from Chicago (in 1993) and asking the programme editor to omit my real name for fear of retribution, only to see a programme with my letter in it credited to "Chicago".

The letter was in response to the constant moaning from the fans sat in the Pop Stand, and a Mr IG Roberts of Westhoughton who seemed to take ultimate pleasure in bemoaning "the new moronic chanting army".

: Mon Jul 31, 2006 6:12 pm  

As a youngster sat on the ringside and Boston sliding in to score in the corner and seeing my mam jump on his back.

Again from my ringside seat, a scrum and McTigue was packing down for Wigan just in front of me.. All I heard was whoosh. The pack broke up and there was one of the opposition pack laying flat out and Mac running to get into position.

On the Duggie side a cup game v Leeds and Wigan losing 11 - 9 with two minutes to go.
Mick Sullivan scored in the coner and Griffiths kicked the goal from the touchline to give Wigan a 14 - 11 win.

1965 on the Kop.
Wigan v Saints in the cup. McTigues brilliant slight of hand to send Roy Evans 40 yards under the post at the Kop end.

I could go on and on and on. (many think I do )

: Tue Aug 01, 2006 9:19 am  

The last ever try at central park......

: Tue Aug 01, 2006 9:44 am  

went with my dad to the game against bradford to officially open the floodlights, ther was somewhere in the region of 36,000 people on the ground for a friendly. another great day out was the annuak pre-season sevens competition. bu the best memory for me was the championship decider against widnes when we lost, which was a lock out and it was an evening game to boot!