Its only concrete and steel....but its heart breaking to see. So much a part of me, my family and my past. I thank you for posting

11th September 2011..................The day the music died!

[iThanks for the photos 'FollySteveMc'

I go past the ground 2/3 times a week these days now I'm back living in Salford after living in Bolton for the past 30 years.

OK I know we have to move forward but I will never ever forget our old ground after all I first went to a game at the Willows way back in the early sixties..

Thanks again JR.[/i

Heartbreaking pictures but should definitely be documented. Please try to dig up the atmosphere and bring it too Barton !

That has brought a tear to my eye. Rip the old lady!

Surreal stuff.

I can't help feeling uneasy looking at the Willows now. It's like a visual representation of what's happening internally at our Club. The slow demolition of something we loved until there's nothing left.

Although, maybe I'm just being a little meloncholly after seeing the pictures.

Anyone know if we can have a souvenir of the old place. A seat , a sign or even a couple of bricks.
Surely the club would let us, but then again !!!!

That brings back some memories.

Billy Boston scored the best try I have ever seen there. He took the ball from a 25 drop out deep in his own half, beat two or three men down the touchline and cut inside to run through almost the entire Salford pack then sidestepped the fullback to score under the posts.

The Salford players and crowd applauded him as he walked back.

I was there when David Watkins made his début. My now wife and I drove from Wigan to see him. He was very quiet than broke away from a Salford scrum win, beat the fullback with consummate ease to score under the sticks.

Great memories.

another part of my life disappearing
my old homes, Harmsworth St and Langton St gone
Education , Kara St Nursery, Langworthy Rd School, Clarendon Park High all gone
Work, Mothers Pride bakery gone
entertainment, Carlton Pictures, Langworthy Hotel, The Willows gone

Similar thoughts crossed my mind. However it's harder to demolish memories so at least we'll be left with those.



Aye - the pub I grew up in was knocked down a few years ago too - be nothing I recognise left next time I come home. Apart from some of the feckless wonders who booze around Eccles no doubt.

I can't help but think you're absolutely bang on there. Sadly.

It's only plastic Salfordians who remember it as Mother's Pride bakery. The hardcore remember it as Moores'.

Should look nice with houses on.!

thats why I put Mothers Pride, remember Moores with the spotted wrapper

I've re-posted the link to the photos, as I've added to them tonight. If you think you can negotiate to get the main Willows sign or the Willows pub sign over the tavern, then you'd better get down ther first thing tomorrow. By the looks of things they'll both be rubble by mid morning.

[urlhttps://picasaweb.google.com/101837071398616952244/TheFinalDaysOfTheWillowsAugust2012?authkey=Gv1sRgCNDSh4Tlt_KH3AE#[/url

Used to like my trips to the Willows. TBH I preferred my trips there last year to my two trips to Barton this year.

That's no way to talk about Martin and Daz.

Believe me, me and Daz are normal compared to some of the not rights around Eccles. It’s a Horrible place, ¾ of the population either have a limp, are alcohol dependant, are just f**cked in the head or don't speak a word of the queens.

if we are lacking in money surely they should of done some sort of auction on like signs , seats, TURF!, etc maddness , horrible to see history destroyed and not given the chance to save anything, think you could just ask them could i have a seat they probs would give you one .

I haven't lived in Salford for 11 years now and don't get to go back as often as I would like so I would rather see these photos now than pass some empty plot or in-progress housing estate build the next time I am up there.

Keep up the good work

I've always wondered if it was just my imagination or whether Eccles really does have one of the highest disability rates in Britain. Like a modern day leper colony.

Is there a way i can save the pictures to my computer?

Hi, You can download individual photos from picasaweb and save them

I've been down today the north stand is going. The photographer from the club was there not sure of his name but he has been involved for years. Such a sad feeling so many memory's at that place