Central Park floodlights

Heard the name Georgie Fame today and every time I think of

‘that’s the bloke who first touched a ball under the floodlights at Central Park’

He kicked off the first floodlit game between Wigan and Bradford which I seem to recollect finished in a 7-7 draw

unsure of year but my guess would be 1968?

oh .....and the lights failed during the game as well!

and many years later we had a similar teething problem with the undersoil heating

He's a Leigh lad but saw the light and supported Wigan.

Georgie Fame and the Earl of Derby shared the honour of starting the game. When the lights failed about two thousand folk on the Kop either lit Matches or Lighters, think they went out twice. If I'm not mistaken I think Graham Mayor made his debut that night against the Van Bellen brothers and got a battering. Think 1968 is about right

rio caroni

26th Septmber 1967.

Georgie Fame, who was a school mate of Frankie Parr later played with Parr in the Testimonial game for Colin Clarke.

And played well!

I seem to remember Pat Phoenix "kicking off" a game at Central Park,was it not this game,maybe she kicked off the second half

I think quite a few Corrie stars have done similar things.
Didn't Vera Duckworth get the first 40-20 at the DW

Rio,
I may see Graham Mayor tonight, if he's out, I'll ask him. ( My guess is '68 would be a season or two early for him )

Pat Phoenix must have kicked off a lot. I saw her do it at Sprigfield Park about '65.

Them celebs do a lot of kickin ' off these days , but not at charity matches, eh

Wigan Athletic then a non league club of course had their floodlights before the rugby

think latics got them off man city blues fan pisolivadi she did do a kick off at springfield park but was it for one of those charity matches celebrities v whoever rember tommy steele and des o'connor playing in one

david49,
Sure you're right; I saw Stanley Matthews play at springfield park, and in my mind's eye it's the same day Elsie kicked off, but probably not...
Was there a friendly or cup match against Port Vale when Stan would 've been 50-odd?

I know this is supposed to be about Central Park Floodlights, but does any one else remember the silver painted model floodlight with a collection box at its base that got hauled round Springfield Park at half time for donations to build the future lights?

don't remember him playing pisolivadi but didn't he manage port vale round about the year your talking about so you could be right

Didn't Wigan Rugby get their lights from Old Trafford
Thought Latics got Evertons old ones

Rio,
Graham Mayor says his debut game was as A.N. Other against Featherstone at CP, probably '69 he reckons.

rio you may be right they played man city for the official opening of the lights,

rio

I heard the same,back in '67,about Central Park lights coming from O.T.

I can also remember a few weeks later,when Wigan beat the touring Aussies 12 - 6 under the very same lights,with no black-outs this time

And the latics 1st floodlit game,against City was in fact a 4 - 0 defeat,not sure what date though

Here's a question for the die-hards of the 60's,what was the idea of the "Makinson" trophy,it wasn't a knockout comp.and I never found out what it was all about..anyone ?

Kenny: the Makinson trophy was a competition initiated to find the best rattle throwing baby in Wigan; and the two finalists, a certain ‘Jay’ and ‘Walshy’ still keep up the tradition even today!

kenny

It was actually the 'Mackeson Trophy' named after the famous stout.

It was played for between the 1962/63 season and the 1969/70 season in various formats, but mainly on the club with the best scoring average over a season.

Wigan won it twice in the 1963/64 and 1965/666 seasons.

Georgie Fame A.K.A, Clive Powell was born and brought up in Cotton Street in Leigh, formerly sang with the Beat Boys along with Ronnie Carr, how the bloody hell anyone born within shouting distance of Hilton Park, or Kirkhall lane as it was then known, can end up supporting Wigan just because of one player (W.J.Boston) I will never ever know, a traitor to his hometown who was also a crap singer.

peawapp: rumour has it his 1983 hit 'goodmanland' was a testiment to Wigan; and likewise his earlier hit 'getaway' a reference to Leigh!

peawapp

So what does that make his school pal Frankie Parr then?

And others like Colin Tyrer?

Colin Tyrer is a friend of mine I worked with him when he was 15 ,the fact that he played for Leigh and then went to play for Wigan is understandable. as he was a player, but fans as you well know ruddy are the only loyal people to their teams, and the fact remains that Powell was a turncoat, and the fact also remains that he was a crap singer,

Not that crappy, peawap. Is Savanna Way a street in Leyth?

crappy singer?

kenny first game under floodlights at springfield was the 19th oct 1966 v crewe alex, official opening of the lights was against city 24th oct 66 you got the correct score 4-0 to city

david49

I will have to my hands up to you,and take your word for that,I wouldn't have known,but I did go to Springfield Park when City were there,as you say "the official opening",sorry

Another thugby thread turns to the great sport footy

did you not no the answer

wigvet (1143)


Kenny: the Makinson trophy was a competition initiated to find the best rattle throwing baby in Wigan; and the two finalists, a certain ‘Jay’ and ‘Walshy’ still keep up the tradition even today

wigvet...walshy's a decent bloke

says winging wigvet.......priceless

thanks kenny, i only give back what people give me apart from the comments that certain people cant back up and go missing or all shy when you ask them to prove it

if people want to stand there and let people have a pop thats up to them but dont come on here moaning because someone has stood up for themselves

good holiday kenny

Walshy turns thugby thread into a moaning thread

i'll take that as a no

Dear dear has Walshy been on the wine gums

Kenny, Can you show me a thread he has contributed to positively?

make something up...like you normally do,like you've done before


you better reply kenny otherwise,according to one mon,he'll go and tell brian

kenny the 12-6 game against the aussies did dennis boyd play in that one? i've got it in my head that it was his first game for wigan in the first team

david49 - no he didnt - team that day is as below - I was there and remember singing ' we shall not be moved' in the Kop - Auusies were that taken with the Wigan experience they chose them as opposition for their susbsequent 'one-off' game in Ireland later in the tour which never materialised because of the foot and mouth outbreak - pity

1 Colin Tyrer Full Back
2 Billy Boston Winger
3 Eric Ashton Centre
4 Peter Rowe Centre
5 Bill Francis Winger
6 Cliff Hill Stand Off
7 Frank Parr Scrum Half
8 Danny Gardiner Prop
9 Colin Clarke Hooker
10 John Stephens Prop
11 Terry Fogerty 2nd Row
12 Ronnie Webb 2nd Row
13 Doug Laughton L.Forward
- - -
14 David Hill Substitute
15 Geoff Lyon Substitute

i was there as well wigvet, don't know why i thought dennis boyd played must have dreamt it

Remember being at the 12-6 Aussie game but about the only thing I recall is Eric Ashton scoring a try

bill francis got the other i think

both correct with Ashton/Tyrer getting the goals

gwim
I know him personally,and I really mean he is a decent bloke
a lot of people like to give but cant take,he stands his own corner

walshy

Yea mate a decent break,but I think we have exxhausted Lloret,time for a change next year

david49

Denis Boyd made his debut against Widnes (floodlit comp)a couple of weeks before the Oz game and scored,he also scored in hi s2nd game against Batley,but didnt figure in the tour match

Kenny, Can you show me a thread he has contributed to positively?

i will try..after all i dont want you telling brian

glad you had a good time kenny

Kenny. you know the whinging litte toerag personally and use the words 'Decent bloke'. LOL..

He doesn't stand his corner, just becomes abusive when people pick him up for his whinging.

Case in point, Wigvet , like many others, grew tired with his incessant whining, so typed so.
How did the retard respond?...


Posted by: walshy76 (4904)
says winging wigvet.......priceless

You can keep him, I would sooner leave him....lying there.

walsh is the one on the left?

He doesn't stand his corner, just beciomes abusive when people pick him up for his whinging


hahahaha...at least i dont come with comments i cant back up when i start to lose an argument

or go running to brian

You do every time you post.

Further apologies to wigvet....the scrote isn't worth responding to, yet I fail to ignore it.

no i coudnt bring myself to stoop so low as to go running,or grovelling,to brian all the time

Sadly, you are still allowed to post, so my 'running,or grovelling,to brian' was without success.

yes it was .... but it just goes to show how low you will stoop when you dont get your own way


acs was right then

ASSUMSHUNS!

so my 'running,or grovelling,to brian'

Like feeding the rats, this.

“Believe none of what you read and half of what you see.”

so you tell lies as well

Proof.
ASSUMSHUNS!

so my 'running,or grovelling,to brian'

I would explain, but would be wasting my time typing to an ill educated wastrel who is wasting away.


(Pssst..Feel free to C&P again.)

oh dear you get easily upset dont you

not really a good image for a "big lad" as you called yourself

HAHAHA.

Struggling there eh!.

at least ive not made it up

i just glad i dont get that upset so easy

*I've

i must live my life on here then i dont get things wrong and then big lad assumption maker doesnt keep stalking me

I wonder how long it will be before we only have the 'Handbags' board.
I'm amazed at the ammount repetitive, pointless, childish bickering that goes on and infests almost every thread.

well said douglas

lol

Handbags is the only section that seems to be ignored and at least fifty percent of WW would fit into that category

True that Rio

ok ok ok

This WAS a thread on the legendary CENTRAL PARK

I clambered in the attic and found my programme for the game

it was played on Tuesday the 26th September 1967 and the programme cost a shilling!

and the reason why Wigan chose Bradford?

Apparently a close association developed between the respective clubs in the period prior to the third round challenge cup at Odsal in April 1966
when both teams agreed against allowing the game to be televised! And following the cup tie Bradford issued a challenge – in a friendly sort of way- to play them again

The Wigan team was: Ashby, Rowe, Holden, Ashton, Francis, Jackson, Parr, Gardiner, Clarke, Stephens, Fogerty, Webb/Lyon, Laughton
and the Bradford team contained names such as Terry Price, the former Welsh RU star who signed for £8,000 a few weeks before, Berwyn Jones, a one time sprint star, Bak Diabira, Tony Fisher (tough hooker who later went to Leeds i think) and Terry Clawson the GB player

in the notes about the lights it ironically states that:

‘We also have a complete emergency lighting system whereas should the main lighting fail, sufficient emergency lighting is available to guide the public from the ground and gives illumination for one hour’

Nobody knew this was to be tested within 30 minutes!

wigvet

I think you must mean1966
I never got tothat game,our coach broke down on the Pennines,but we had a good nights snow balling

corrected Kenny - thanks

(please e mail me as well so that I can send you details re: 'do' end of Nov)

walsh is the one on the left?

i guessing thats you on the right as its like you....bald