As a long lost Wiganer and new to this Forum my earliest recollection of Central Park is it costing me 3d. (threepence) in old money to watch a game in the "hen pen" behind the sticks at the players entrance end. Oh, happy days.

Clinch went back to Halifax then ended his career at Salford.
Goldspink also went to Halifax then went home to Oz to coach after they released him after 2002.
Danny Moore played 16 times for London in 2000 and twice for North Queensland in 2001 before retiring.

My first game at Central Park was when MartinOffiah scored his ten tries against Leeds. What an amazing atmosphere and I loved the fact that at half time many fans swopped ends to watch the seond half.

The ground staff were always friendly and one day I was by one of the stewards that I was not allowed in by the gate because the players entrance was further down the ground. Well being 6ft 5" at 13 years old, I would have loved to have played on the famous pitch.

Being a Saints fan I have three that stick in my mind:

1. Lancs Cup Final in the 84/85 season
2. Boxing Day 87/88 season
3. Good Friday 92/93 season

As you can see I may be a bit biased but being honest I used to love going to Central Park.
The atmosphere in the kop end was fantastic but the one memory which will always stay with me was a bad one.
It was the Good Friday game in the 92/93 season when we drew 8-8 and when the great Kevin Ward's career ended sadly.

Gus never touched that drop kick...

Was that the Joe Lydon one at the kop end,if it is then yes he did.

I hated Central Park.

It over shadowed my little, crap Football club.

I don't like the DW either. The Rugby team is the only club that has brought it success.

I assume this has been 'edited' as well.

AND Central Park closure over shadowed our biggest trophy we've ever won...

The 1999 Auto Windscreen Cup.



IM SO ANNOYED, IM GOING SPRAYPAINTING A SIGN!

Quality!

haha

Make sure its 'Johnstones' paint !!!!!

I would recommend Dulux myself

Which paint does John Kear recommend......?!!

Memories : My grandad buying us a 1/4 of sweets before the match from the shop before it became the souvenir shop.

The ball sailing into the river Duggie - I used to know the bloke who stood at the bottom of the old players tunnel and would set off to go and get it when it went in.

The old scoreboard (white with Black writing) in the window behind the sticks and the naff electronic one that replaced it.

The toilets - enough said.

Games - Manly
Austraila 86 - we gave them a real scare in that second half. Also didn't we beat the Kiwi's in the pouring rain in 85?

As an aside, my favourite away ground for atmosphere was Wilderspool in that away end behind the sticks. (Stains a close second)

Worst ground for atmosphere New Craven Park – although I’ve only been a couple of times and both were night matches – both freezing in the old winter rugby days.

Coldest – Watersheddings was brassic.

had a good chuckle over that

So so so so many memories of Central Park.

The funniest has to be sulking in the first half if we hadn't scored more points that minuites had gone on the scoreboard - I did it every week.

Homecomings - We purposley never stayed over when going to Wembley so not to miss the home comings............... remember the yeah Offiah got that smashed on the bus he fell and knocked himself out missing the whole 'stage event' and having to sleep it off on the bus!!! ha ha great great days

Do you remember the little men (looked like weetabix men) dancing when we scored. And when the "score flash" flashed, you could hear all the crowed saying "score flash". If saints where getting beat the cheer would be as loud as when we scored a try.
Didn't that scoreboard get sold to Widnes or Leigh??

The Tank on the score board Attack Attack


A Blow up Sheep being passed around the Popular stand


The River caves

One of my favourite memories was of my dad sending me running round to the pop stand terrace from our seats at the back of the pop stand to see what score it was when we'd lost track as we couldn't see the scoreboard from our seats. Great days.

Now you say it I do. Half of the lights used to be missing of it half the time too.

When there was a red card it showed an electronic image of a player trudging off with a bowed head and IIRC it said 'Early Bath'

Getting our butts kicked by Widnes in the Regal Trophy final. Davies destroyed us before half time. We were lucky to beat Salford in the semi to be fair.

I can always remember the last match at CP I was stood right in the middle of the popular stand and opening try where Robinson made a break and Betts finished the move under the posts and the screaming noise nearly blew my ear drums out