graveyard johnny Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 an "official" crowd of 37,000 although its estimated nearer 50,000 turned out to watch a bad tempered match between Manly and Wigan - on an oct wed night, watching youtube footage the aussie commentators were obviously overawed by central park - its atmosphere and noise levels compared to anything down under- no tries but no shortage of "the biff" had the huge crowd in raptures, some great names in both line ups and a masterstroke of planning by uncle mo. no booking tickets online or using the services of promotional teams and companies , not even a mobile phone in the ground - the whole of wigan must have felt central park rocking or at least heard it that wednesday night - not sure what happened to the man of the match after that game though? 5 did the bloke who invented the phrase "one hit wonder" invent anything else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowys Backside Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 Remember it well as a kid climbing up the stand to get the best view view available. 593 back to Leigh and Job done. Well done crustmunchers. Atmosphere was amazing ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunbar Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 Despite only having one set of fans, the best atmosphere I have ever experienced at a game. Simply electric. 1 1 "The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Frisky Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 Great stuff! - its amazing how the Aussies still can't generate a really good atmosphere at NRL games or even Origin. I used to be a Roosters member and going to NRL games was great but the lack of real atmosphere really was the big downside - just not in their culture. Thats why some of the Aussies love coming over here as they arnt use to it. Always remember when Andrew Johns played a few games for wire and how nervous he was on his debut infront of a noisy sold out crowd- best player in the world struggled to cope as he wasn't used to it ( also I'm sure Briers played him off the park that night as well) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stanley30 Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 Not sure he did, joey was pretty special that night 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graveyard johnny Posted October 6 Author Share Posted October 6 off topic in 4 posts - is that a record? 1 did the bloke who invented the phrase "one hit wonder" invent anything else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fighting irish Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 1 minute ago, graveyard johnny said: off topic in 4 posts - is that a record? ''I was there!''. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whippet13 Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 I was at Central Park that night on the old Spion kop and really couldn't move an inch it was that packed, incredible atmosphere before during and after the game. No way was there only the "official" crowd of 36895 on, which was just within the stadium capacity of 37000. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graveyard johnny Posted October 6 Author Share Posted October 6 3 minutes ago, Whippet13 said: I was at Central Park that night on the old Spion kop and really couldn't move an inch it was that packed, incredible atmosphere before during and after the game. No way was there only the "official" crowd of 36895 on, which was just within the stadium capacity of 37000. similar to the 82 cc replay at elland road- never heard anyone complain though 2 did the bloke who invented the phrase "one hit wonder" invent anything else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Fanatic Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 It was so full I'm sure I remember people standing on the road outside looking through the gaps between the stands in one corner 100% League 0% Union Just because I don't know doesn't mean I don't understand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graveyard johnny Posted October 6 Author Share Posted October 6 (edited) 4 minutes ago, Cumbrian Fanatic said: It was so full I'm sure I remember people standing on the road outside looking through the gaps between the stands in one corner nowadays wigan fans(all 30 of them) stand in the corner of the souless stadium looking out at the road through the gaps looking for a taxi Edited October 6 by graveyard johnny 4 did the bloke who invented the phrase "one hit wonder" invent anything else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigan Riversider Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 12 minutes ago, Whippet13 said: I was at Central Park that night on the old Spion kop and really couldn't move an inch it was that packed, incredible atmosphere before during and after the game. No way was there only the "official" crowd of 36895 on, which was just within the stadium capacity of 37000. 50000 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graveyard johnny Posted October 6 Author Share Posted October 6 would imagine been a youngster at a match like that in those days would set you up for life as a fan of the game - tattooing and etching the very fabric of it all in to your skin and blood 2 did the bloke who invented the phrase "one hit wonder" invent anything else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tattersfieldtreiziste Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 I was there. Drove up from Redditch, that hotbed of Rugby League in the Midlands and could not believe the atmosphere and crowd size, (and I used to go on the Kop at Anfield a few years earlier in student days.) Something about that game really captured the imagination, lots of great memories before then with the Dons and Trinity, and since then with Catalans and Cov Bears, but that game is in a league of it's own. Thanks GJ for reminding me of such awe and wonder, but not for reminding me it was 37 years ago!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunbar Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 27 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said: would imagine been a youngster at a match like that in those days would set you up for life as a fan of the game - tattooing and etching the very fabric of it all in to your skin and blood I knew within minutes of the kick off of my first match (1984 Lancashire Cup Final at Central Park) at 14 years old that Rugby League was my sport. At 15 I went to Wembley for the Wigan FC final. And then at 17 the Manly game. And here I am now, at 51, knowing that I will be a League man for the rest of my life. 1 "The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Padge Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 My copy of the advertising poster (Clash of the Titans) for the Manly game, signed by some of the Manly team, will soon be on display in the Museum of Wigan Life during a Rugby League exhibition they will be running. 3 Visit my photography site www.padge.smugmug.com Radio 5 Live: Saturday 14 April 2007 Dave Whelan "In Wigan rugby will always be king" This country's wealth was created by men in overalls, it was destroyed by men in suits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommygilf Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 3 hours ago, graveyard johnny said: a bad tempered matc Involving Wigan! You must be joking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voteronniegibbs Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 An epic game. When a RL match lasted 80 minutes not 105. When the Ref's decision was final, but no one understood his signals. When the ball could hit the floor but didn't always have to be a knock on. When a high tackle was only a high tackle if it removed a blokes toupee. When kids could run onto the pitch. When a clubs players were born with 5 miles of the stadium, unless they were Australian, or new Zealanders or from Lancashire. 3 Wibble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chronicler of Chiswick Posted October 7 Share Posted October 7 Still got the programme. Although there were obviously far more there than the official attendance, giving an official figure just below meant that the authorities wouldn't feel obliged to do something. Mind you, that did seem to give Brisbane an idea (think their motive might have been a bit different!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidM Posted October 7 Share Posted October 7 Brilliant stuff . Intense , rough , tough with some good old fashioned brutality and punch ups with fans in their droves lapping it up . If there was a video ref we’d still be playing it now 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Posted October 7 Share Posted October 7 14 hours ago, Cumbrian Fanatic said: It was so full I'm sure I remember people standing on the road outside looking through the gaps between the stands in one corner That happened even when it was half empty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Posted October 7 Share Posted October 7 My favourite match ever. I was only a kid but even at that age you just knew it was something special. The atmosphere was electric. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
del capo Posted October 7 Share Posted October 7 One of those rare and magical moments in RL history - ' and gentlemen in England now - a - bed shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here ' Blood and guts from a team of Englishmen including an incredible 8 Wigan St Patrick's players ( sole ' foreigner ' Graeme West as a substitute didn't get on ) but maybe it was those 50000 wearing the 18th man shirt who carried the night. Watch that video and listen to them... Me and the missus were in the massive queues at the colin street entrances and Wigan simply threw open the gates at that end with the stewards taking the ticket monies from those with the right change by hand to ease the pressure. After the game was the biggest party Wigan Lane has ever seen since Cromwell's lot had a go at the Parish church in the Civil War. Pubs ran dry. Last bells were ignored even by the bar staff. The Bowling Green was still hard at it well after midnight..... That video well worth another viewing. And the most satisfying part of it ? Listening to those whingeing Aussies in the after match interviews trying to work out what had just happened to them........ 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweaty craiq Posted October 7 Share Posted October 7 An era pre SL when fans watched their sport as well as their club, this and the Widnes v Canberra being prime examples 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigan Riversider Posted October 7 Share Posted October 7 It truly was a sparkling, scarlet and magical night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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