From a Wiganner
Strange this, but it was a game that Didn't involve Wigan!

My Dad (Who's passed away now) took me to watch Saints v Bradford approx early 85.

He'd only just learned to drive and ended up parking near an all weather pitch about 3 miles from the ground (Because he thought the lights were KR!)

and basically he wanted to see Hanley!

IIRC he scored 4 that night and was unbelievable but I remember being stood with the Saints fans and even though they gave him plenty stick during the game they applauded hm off the field at the end!

As Tracie said earlier, Have a Great Day and remember enjoy every second, I still 10/11 years later sometimes forget that Central Park isn't there and Miss those days with a passion, but trust me it's the best thing to do!

I will make the 25 mile trip down the East Lancs tonight for the last time as from now it will be a case of M62 to Widnes and the new ground.My first visit to KR was in 1981 once I had enough money to buy a car.I have also introduced my son to Saints with his first game in 1999 when we lost to London Broncos-not a great start!Many great memories of the place including Mal's season in 1984/85.Probably the stand out single moment was Wide to West.

I remember on a previous trip to KR a steward stopping one of our fans taking photos, this surely this wont be the case tonight???? they can go forth and multiply if they do!

A very emotional night in store for tonight. Some of the posts on this thread have really resonated with me.

As with many, it was my Dad who took me to my first game. He was born and raised in Thatto Heath (nutgrove), and was taken to games by his Dad (my Grandad, although I never met him). During the 70s and 80s, my Dad didn't really follow the saints. However, the Knowsley Road Centenary game in 1990 brought him back. There was a match against the touring Aussies, and pre match was a parade of past players. My dad wanted to go to see Vollenhoven who had flown over for it. He decided to take me along, just to keep him company really - at that time, I had no interest in Rugby League at all.

The day changed my life.

Whilst I don't remember much about that day (I do remember some of the past players who went on to play for Wigan getting jokingly booed !), the love affair with Rugby league, and in particular Saints, had begun.

Coming to Knowsley road over the years has given me some very happy memories, not always rugby related either. We lived in Chorley, and whilst I was learning to drive, my dad always let me drive to St Helens on match days. Must have done hundreds of miles before my test! I have met some great people at the ground too.

Memorable highlights of KR for me are:

1. The 1997 Cup win over Wigan with 12 men, and particularly the Hunte interception
2. Clinching the 1996 Super League
3. The last 10 mins of the Cas game the other week
4. The Sheffield game in 1996, where we scored some brilliant long range tries
5. The lancashire cup final in 1993, against Wigan, even though we got beat 5-4 (we had a try disallowed too). KR was bursting at the seams that day.
6. The regal trophy semi against wire - 80-0.

The ulimate KR moment for me was 41-6 against the pies in 1992. What a game, what a performance.

I am looking forward to my last visit to KR tonight. I am thankful that I will be spending it with some friends, my cousin, my Uncle, and importantly, my Dad.

Obsure matches..

A game against Bradford Northern in 1993 I think, where we won 54-3 - Loughlin was on fire, and created 4 tries for Sully. Was on Sky too - watching the tape at home, I remember Eddie saying "They're gonna get the 50!!" as Gus O'Donnoll ran under the posts.

Also remember a game against Halifax in 1993 too, where we drew 18 all or 16 all. Prekkie had just broke into the first team, and had to kick a late goal to earn a draw. I actually remember the game for 2 tries that Halifax winger Mark preston scored!

Just manged to get a ticket for tonight and really looking forward to sending Knowsley Road off! I maybe a Widnes fan but I was brought into the game watching Saints on TV and some of my best memories stem from Knowsley Road watching Widnes there and also a few side Saints games.

Though it was needed will be a shame to see KR go (definately need a final wee on the wall tonight

) and I am sure it will be an emotional affair for a lot of you and then I welcome you to the Stobart stadium next year



Saints, Cunningham, Gidley... let's go out in style!

Cheers mate I have always had a soft spot for Widnes which stems from the 70s/80s when they where the cup kings.
Anyway we will see you lot soon in the Superleague and hopefully you will beat Wire on a regular basis like we do.

My Dad is 86 and a season ticket holder for 50 years, Im 52 and my lad is 24. My lad is the 4th gen of Saints fans and a whole clan is coming to the game tonight. My dad had a mild heart attack last November so I am just hoping he hangs on for the new ground especially as its only 1/2 mile from where he lives.

Even as a wigan it was my favourite ground to visit, the atmosphere, the banter but most of all the great rugby league matches witnessed here, enjoy tonight and good luck !.

The noise that used to come out of the place on Derby days while walking up Knowsley Road/Alder Hey Road/ Millfields/ Dunriding Lane/ wherever I'd parked/ been dropped off is something I'll always remember. Really got the heart rate going and the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.

Enjoy the memories, I certainly will.
Some strange ones for me, a folded chair as a ringside seat, the Harlem Globetrotters playing there, the 5 -4 game, the 75 - 0 defeat and the masterclass Wigan display in the Challenge Cup replay.

Have a great night, I'm sure there'll be a tear in the eye for many tonight.

Goodnight god bless old girl.

If you would only have played that U20 final on Sunday I would have come and said goodbye in person.

Even though one of the bitterest memories of my childhood was Saints fans wearing Tesco bags at Central Park and all the associated songs being sung, I still feel for you Saints fans as I know how much you'll all miss it. Hell, I'll miss it, derby day will never be the same again.

Thanks for the good and bad memories.

Farewell KR. A great old ground full of character & atmosphere. Some fantastic memories of watching Wigan there over the years starting with a Brett Kenny inspired win on Boxing Day 1984. No finer place in the world to get behind Wigan than the away end at KR.
Glad to see Saints get the new ground as well. Good for RL.

As with other fans, ive had some good memories of KR. Good & Bad. God bless you KR

Didn't have the most pleasant first trip to KR - Boxing Day 92 - I was only a young un, and it felt like walking into the enemy's castle. I think Wigan went 6-0 up and the rest is history!

75-0 was a strange one. Despite the thrashing there was a great feeling of togetherness, very few did 'the Walk'. Had some great memories to balance that one out, the Kev Brown / Luke Robinson show being particularly sweet and of course Good Friday 2010



Funnily enough I was pleased that Saints beat Cas the other week and a fitting tribute that one of the modern greats scored the last try.

Will miss that feeling of walking up the side of the Eddy End into the ground on derby day, stomach churning with nerves, the defeaning roar of both fans giving each other hell at least an hour before kick off, it just made you walk that little bit faster into the ground to get amongst it. Unique.

Enjoy the game and savour the moment

I'd rather visit the old grounds than the new ones, more atmosphere and more history.

But hey, everything has to change, and we all have some very good (and some bad) memories of Knowsley Road.

It'll be gone soon, but even as a Bradford fan, it won't be forgotten!

I have many happy memories visiting Knowsley Rd as a Halifax fan, although in my Halifax colts days we got changed in the current dressing rooms and got on the coach to play in a park somewhere & back to the ground to shower & refreshments after.
My fave moment though was in my old fella's last season as a grade ! ref (93 or 94 ) good friday Saints V Wigan, when we got to the ground 90 mins prior to kick off the gates were locked to the paying speccies, a game where Sonny Nickle twa££ed Offiah & it caused a bit of a stir.
I got sentimental & travelled over to the pre-season friendly this season V Halifax and took my two lads for their first ever visit & my last !

I hope the new place is warmer, dam cold tonight

All the best with it, always liked me trips over there which always start in the 7 stars

I'll admit it. I cried. I must admit the closeness of the game until the hour mark distracted me somewhat, but once it was settled it all came flooding back.

Walking back to the car last night was eerie,you wouldn't think we'd just got to the Grand Final.There was hardly a sound.People were either gathered in small groups or walking slowly away,turning every now and again to take another look back and everyone was talking in low respectful tones.
It's going to take me a long,long time to come to terms with the fact that it's all over for Knowlsey Road.

Hope you all enjoyed the evening. I'm disappointed we didn't win but have no complaints and proud of my boys. It was a pleasure to be part of history at Knowsley road for the last time. Good luck next week whoever you play as i'll probably be sitting with you lot cheering you on, wearing my Giants shirt of course.

Poignant picture from after the game, posted by journalist Stuart Pyke on Twitter.

I think it will hit me more when the fixtures are released for next year and I am traipsing off to Widnes.

Watching your game on Sky lastnight it took me back to the last game at the old Craven Park,very emotional times. My mam still has one of the old wooden seats from the stand in her garden. Don't know what it'll be like with Knowsley Road but before they demolished Craven Park we were allowed to go in and get 'souvenirs'. Can imagine how you were all feeling at the end

I held it together last night, i wasn't as sad as i thought i'd be but will miss the old place very much.

Saints are charging fans for souvenirs; there is no being allowed to go in and get them!