Wigan Album

This was the old Wigan Highfield ground prior to their relocation to London.

London? You are joking aren't you?

Ross Works sports field

No Jarvo, I'm not joking. Wigan Highfield were relocated to White City Stadium in London in 1933 beginning a nomadic existence.They were known as London Highfield. A year later they returned north becoming Liverpool Stanley, playing at Stanley Greyhound Stadium in Kensington, Liverpool. In 1951 they moved to Knotty Ash as Liverpool City. Then in 1968 became Huyton playing at Alt Park.In 1984 as Runcorn Highfield they played at Canal Street. Their next move was to Hoghton Road in Sutton, St. Helens in 1990 where they were known simply as Highfield. Their final move came in 1995 with a move to Valerie Park in Prescot calling themselves Prescot Panthers. In 1997 they finally called it a day and folded.

By thee ek, never realised a team could change there name and location so often.

I was brought up next to Highfield football ground, and this doesn't look familiar at all, it looks more like St Marks at the bottom of Alexandra street.

I am told by my gran and aunt (my dad is in this photo playing) that it is the field between Enfield Street and Queen Street in Pemberton, down the track next to The Railway pub.

The Lord & Sharman (slipper works) field was between Tunstall Lane & Queen Street on the site of what is now Barlborough Road. I don't ever remember the park/playing field behind the Railway ever having rugby posts on it or the sheds and fences seen in the photo.

It is not the Lord and Sherman/Highfield playing field, but if it is the field behind the Railway pub, what is the short street behind the shed?

Don't think it's either of those two fields now. Neither had/has gable ends alongside. Lord & Sharman field was bordered by the rears of the house on Tunstall Lane, Queen Street and Valley Road. Maybe some of the houses on Campbell Street as well and the slipper works of course. The field behind the Railway was bordered as it is now by the rears of the house on the opposite side of Queen Street and the ones on Enfield Street.A brook was at the north side of the field where Brentwood is now.At the southern end is the Railway, Highfield Gardens bowling greens and a small industrial unit all of which were there in the '70s

I agree with YT, the houses don't look right for any of those locations, but the white building in the next St Cuthberts picture look very much like St Marks old canteen, beside Laithwate field.

I would say that this is St Pat's off Darlington Street. It's a Catholic thing.

Don't think it's there either, Jarvo. The houses by St. Pat's all back onto the ground there too. I'm not entirely convinced by Jimmy's suggestion but it's the best so far. I went to St. Mark's mid '60s to early '70s but don't remember it looking like that. As I remember it there was more land around the canteen. I think though there was another similar building several yards away alongside it that was used by St. Mark's Church youth organisations in later years.

Maybe I can get hold of my dad and just ask him where the game was :)

It looks like Coronation park in Poolstock to me, it's where St Jude's used to train and play before relocating to parsons meadow.

Hate to disappoint you all, but "Ross Works" was the correct name of the slipper works.
I've sat on that field with a brass band for hours playing for Morris Dancers on a "Field Treat" as they called 'em after a walking day. These days they use ghetto blasters for their music....Then! it was the infernal tune called "95", why?, because we had to play it 95 times over for each competing group of dancers. So much in fact that we left the band in pairs in turn to go for a pint...Nourishment..hehe!..The whole afternoon playing the same tune could drive some folk mad...I rest my case 'yer 'onour

I agree with Dave Shaw. I think its Coronation Park. It was our home ground, Springfield ARLFC. However,when we played there circa 1977 the changing rooms were made of concrete, unlike the wooden structure in the photo.

I've just had another look and I don't recall the houses on the extreme left of the photo being at Coronation Park. That was the main entrance on to the park.
All what was there was De romas shop opposite the Honeysuckle. I'm not so sure what ground it is now!!

it looks like coronation park, we used to train there for wigan town team late 70`s early 80`s, the houses on the extreme left faced the footpath that lead to what was de romas, the honeysuckle would be top left looking down the the street.

I'm sticking to my guns that its coronation park, the terraced houses behind the posts being coronation street and cygnet street, the houses to the extreme left of the photo is cowling street, that was the only way onto the field, the terraced houses in the foreground are the houses on swan meadow road.

The key to this may be the semi-detached house to the right of the rugby post, as you look at it...Weren't there some semi's on Swan Meadow Road? I think there were. And still are.

Despite Arthur Culshaw's certainty, if he sat on that field with a brass band then it wasn't the slipper works' field that they played '95' on. It is definately not that field. Having never been on Coronation Park I cannot say that it definately is that field but it looks the most likely venue. The terraced streets seem to fit the bill.Also, whilst Mr. Culshaw is correct in saying that the slipper works was called Ross Works, it is also correct to call it Lord & Sharman as that was the name of the company for at least a large part of it's existence. Ross Works was the name of the building 'yer 'onour.

I think if you look on google streetview from the bottom of Cygnet street back towards the main road you will see the house with the window in the end and lean to. This house would be on swan meadow and could have been McGuires removals.
Coronation park it is then?

YT: We want to know the venue; not the name of the bleedin' slipper works...It was you who put all of us on a bum steer by saying it was the Ross Works field! Swan Meadow Road at the back then?

It wasn't me!! It was James Marsh who posted the pic who said it was slipper works field. Says he'll ask his dad then goes all quiet on us.I think unless anyone can say different with certainty, that it's Coronation Park. All agreed?

Spoke with my dad today and this picture was taken at Coronation Park either in 1969/1970. His sister and mother where wrong with the Slipper Works info.

That is definitely Coronation Park. St Joseph's school team used to play there in the 60's; we were coached by Ray Unsworth. I remember the rugby posts being at the canal end and the 'Meadows' end, the Meadows being a dirt path from the back of De Roma's ice-cream factory to Chapel Lane. Other teams we played included St Pat's, St Williams, St Benedicts, and Bickershaw. The schools cup final was then played at Central Park as a curtain-raiser to one of Wigan RLFC's matches.

You are dead right it is Coronation Park. Played for st Joseph's against the teams you mention. Ray Unsworth was our rugby teacher. Brings back memories.

This is Coronation Park in Poolstock,The building you can see is the old wooden shed that once stood at the side of the changing rooms.They used to play all the Ken Gee cup games there in late 60s and early 70s and later St.Judes used it as there base.

To Carl Rad - I take it your brother was John Radlinski, who was in my class at St Joseph's (last year, teacher Miss Topping: 1963 I think). Best wishes to you all, and if I have guessed your age right, you might remember my younger sister or brother Helen or Gerard. St. Joe's had a good team then - brings back happy memories, playing on that field. Billy Boston used to live 100 mtrs away on Swan Meadow Road.

Coronation Park for sure,St Cuthberts in Red behind the Posts,With Charlie Toman the Coach/Teacher in Light Blue Top.

Coronation park, 7 a side final StCuthberts v St Pats, it was the only final we lost that season, (Cuthberts) we won everything else, McDermott cup, Platt cup, Lancashire cup, great team.