I remember that Phil Coussins try mainly thinking 'hes the double of buzz lightyear'

Bobbie Goulding getting sent off v Wakefield and 2003 and kissing the badge has he walked off. Never been done since I think.

Beating Wigan in 2001 with about 10 first teamers missing

Karl Harrison on crutches after a charity football game

And who could forget a pre-season friendly revealing Mike Hancock's beard.

Being an oldie compared to some on here my memories date back to

Watching a Floodlight Trophy game in the driving snow, mid week game possibly a Tuesday, don't remember much more than wearing 2 pairs of socks and still being cold.

Watching Salford V the Aussie Tourists they played the game ahead of the Ashes as a warm up because we were so good.

More recent
The drop goal against Wigan when Matty Johns failed with a couple attempts and the admission by a Wigan fan writing the game report that he left before the end!


The worst?

Game V Leeds when Chris Sanderson died, that game still haunts me, I have never felt that unnerving quiet on any occasion since.

Just been at home thinking off more great Willows memories, I remember also after beating Wigan in the CC playing rugby with Cliff Eccles in the little foyer room just up the stairs before you come into the variety centre. We were playing with a plastic coke bottle. With Cliff pretending to be the sticks I took a conversion only for for the bottle to hit him square in the mush and bust his lip. They were the days!!!



Being Mascot against Widnes at home in 1994 I think.

But the one thing that really stands out above all is the spine tingling feeling and the rush of excitement/adrenaline when you wake up on "game day". The whole day from meeting your family and friends and watching Salford is a just feeling like no other. Especially when as a kid we used to play on Sunday waking up, going to play myself in the morning then a mad dash to the Inn of Good Hope for dinner time then onto the Willows. I just don't think it will feel same at the new stadium hopefully that will come with time.

Just thought of the most mind blowing experience.

The minutes silence for Eric the Reddy V's Wigan, when it's someone close to you it is more moving.

The fact that within seconds of the kick off Wigan scored made me chuckle as Eric would have turned the radiuo of there and then.

this is hard to narrow down but lanchishire cup final v wigan tex evans taking the pi$$ out of henderson gill after scoring salford team doing the cougar crawl when we beat keighly
neil baker double chip and catch to score
darren brown chasing someone the lenth of the field to tackle
littler lenth of the field try v hudds
i could be here all day

Quote ="Chico" Or what about the Leeds match in 1999 that John Foran and Steve O'Neill took charge of after Greg's sacking. A great effort despite narrow loss, but as memorable for the ball hitting Steve O'Neill right on his noggin, sending his headset flying.'" One of my favourite games that. 38-6 down with 20 mins left, Leeds fans lording it up in the shed, before Salford pulled it back to 30-38. Was it a midweek game? Crowd was 3455, with the majority from Leeds. www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... &YEAR=1999 Even Makin scored. Other random memories: Gooning at the club end at an 18s game with a various forum members a couple of years back as Salford seemed to have pipped Bradford to a playoff spot by scoring in the 79th minute to go 12-10 up. Bradford scored from the restart and won 16-12. The first year we were in superleague where for the only time I can remember it was fashionable to watch Salford. 20 of us from school taking over the 68 bus from Walkden and the left side of the shed every home game.

Quote ="Chico" Or what about the Leeds match in 1999 that John Foran and Steve O'Neill took charge of after Greg's sacking. A great effort despite narrow loss, but as memorable for the ball hitting Steve O'Neill right on his noggin, sending his headset flying.'" One of my favourite games that. 38-6 down with 20 mins left, Leeds fans lording it up in the shed, before Salford pulled it back to 30-38. Was it a midweek game? Crowd was 3455, with the majority from Leeds. www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... &YEAR=1999 Even Makin scored. Other random memories: Gooning at the club end at an 18s game with a various forum members a couple of years back as Salford seemed to have pipped Bradford to a playoff spot by scoring in the 79th minute to go 12-10 up. Bradford scored from the restart and won 16-12. The first year we were in superleague where for the only time I can remember it was fashionable to watch Salford. 20 of us from school taking over the 68 bus from Walkden and the left side of the shed every home game.

Aaron Moule's try after about 15 seconds straight from the kick off against Hull in '06.

The Easter weekend win against Warrington a couple of years ago when Luke Adamson scored a try late in the game after we faked to go for a drop goal, only for Westwood to score with about a minute left and Hicks missed the easy conversion which would have got them the draw.

GB BARLA v Australian Aborigines - an 80 minute brawl. Brilliant

An Adelaide Rams (I think, could have been the cowboys?) player having his finger relocated at the side of the pitch, being sick with the pain and then running back on to resume playing. I'd taken a few mates with me for their first game. The looks on their faces were priceless were worth a thousand words

Me and about 5 others keeping a Red army chant going for about 20 minutes in the middle of a few hundred Saints fans in the section between the shed and the north stand when the Shed was closed for a challenge cup game

Having the biggest banana at a game in the late 80s (what was that all about??)

Canon and Ball, Duncan Norvelle and The Real Thing at a Variety Centre Variety night for Salford fans

Remember the subsequently released inflatable tridents?

Not at The Willows but one of my all-time favourite memories. First major final I saw Salford in.

Some unforgettable moments for me:

Watching Chris Hesketh and Keith Fielding parading the Championship Trophy around prior to our last game of the season in 75/76 - I think (the picture featured in the youtube clip that was loaded up last week);

Going to Salford v Saints around the same time and the Willows was so packed that they'd run out of programmes to sell;

Getting severely told off by my Dad for making an insensitive remark when leaving the ground after the Chris Sanderson game had been abandoned (in my defence I was only 9 or 10 years old at the time I think);

The debut of Jonathan Davies for Widnes where Ronnie Smith gave him a 'welcome to Rugby League' hit or three;

The Wigan CC match;

The Saints match in 2005, quite possibly the most intense game of Rugby League I've ever witnessed where the only difference was a piece of individual brilliance by Jamie Lyon; and

many, many more..........Goodbye Old Girl, I'll miss you.

that big win over warrington on good friday, all the liverpool lot called bad friday

I am suprised no one has mentioned that commentary!!

He's running, he's running, for Budha's break, I'm surprised he had any breath left.

we where talking about that is there a clip anywhere i think it was shown on soccer am

i tend to forget scores and years but its already been said last game of the season v wakey there was a scrap at the end bobby goulding walked off but threw the ball at the wingers head and then started it again - i had the picture of the fight for ages on my bedroom wall

that wigan cup game - we couldn't fit in the north stand and ended up on the fire escapes stairs at the willows end.

sitting in the north stand as a little girl begging to go in the shed final getting in to the shed in my early teens

taking part of one of my coaching badges at the willows

any of Paul forbers runs

standing behind andy greg just to see him ranting

Walking into the shed past the changing rooms, the smell of winter green, cigarettes, sweat and snow in the air.
Don’t think anywhere will ever recreate that for me.

Hearing a few dislocated fingers being popped back in and thinking now [ithis[/i is a game I can get into.

Paul Forber bouncing up and down the try line with his broken ankle all iced up cheering us on to steal a match (can’t remember who it was have a feeling it was Warrington).

Andy Greg telling Ganson exactly what he thought of him and hearing it in the stands.

Andy Greg turning purple, every match he coached.

Beating Wigan in the snow and in the cup.

Hugging a very tearful Mark Lee when we were relegated.

Getting flashed by Paul Highton every time he stretched his legs against the hoardings (baggy shorts...shudder).

Shed support being clapped by opposition teams.

Keeping 'Red Army' going for nearly all of the second half, it escapes me who it was against, and turning it round to a win.

General good humour and wit from the Shed when we were in full voice whether winning or losing (not shouting offside/forward).

Just remembered another..remember "Gary Gary Gary Gary"...........ad infinitum He took it well enough as i recall.

My Daughter being the Mascot againgst Leeds
The Cheeky Girls
Meeting new friends in the shed
A very hostile shed on the 80s & 90s
Ending Wigans run in the Challange cup
the Salford Crawl V Keighley
Seeing Andy Gregory in a Salford Shirt
The parachutist who took a liking to the North Stand
Tex Evans storming down the wing
Many onfield puch ups ( usually started by Malc)
The Aussie games in the World club Challange
Me kicking like The Legend Chris Charles after one of the last games of the season. ( even after a belly full of beer)

mmmm to many for me to mention but i will have ago.
earliest prob wanting to go but my dad saying i was to young.
My first game against Australia under the floodlights loosing 40 odd to 3 with Fielding scoring for salford and brands packaging sponsoring the game .
The anticipation and feeling i got in my tummy walking up to the ground down meadowgate road the closer i got the faster i walked!
My first proper game against Swinton John Player Trophy i arrived at the willows about 12pm for a 2.30 3.00 kick off. We got beat 6 to 0.
Meeting my friends at the old supporters shop with John the kit man letting us run it on tuesdays and thursdays.
Doris and Bill.
The smell of wintergreen.
Tie ups!!!
Running on the pitch at full time.
The game against Cardiff when Ronnie Campbell was attacked with sweets etc as he left the field!
Waiting for R Campbell in the car park after the game to swear at him( i got told to go home)
The cup game against wigan.
Martin playing against London and St Helens
The junior supporters Warren included performing a Christmas play on the stage at the willows """Good John wilky last looked out on the pitch at salford when poor swinton scored a try we had 94uuuuur!""""
Dancing to Rod Stewart if u want my body at the same doo!
My favorite players Paul O'Neil, David Stephenson Colin Whitfield Steve Rule (s ok) Harold and Russell Henney paul fletcher paul groves steve cross sammy turnbull
Noel Edmunds/ keith chegwin with Swap shop!!!!
Centenary game 16 all against widnes.
Neil Baker double chip against Leeds ( i think) awesome!
Climbing over from the cricket pitch straight into the arms of a policeman who sent me back where I had come from!!
Paying 70p to get in.
The old tea room.
KR fans kicking the turnstiles in to gain entry to the ground (early 80s)
Bradford fans when Bull mania was in full force!
Meeting my hubby.
Taking my kids for the first time.
Watching my kids play on the pitch half time / after the game. or in the club.
Crying in the vault after the defeat to sheffield in the cup semi.
Ann and Pete behind the bar.
Gladys in the vault.
Me having the biggest gob.
King Kev Tamati speaking to us after every game with his pint of water and asking us who he should play.
""All sit down""
Sorry to bore you all but the willows has been such a big part of my life but it is time to move on.
Seeing Gary Jack the golden boot ;winner in a salford shirt.

Good night and God Bless I will miss you old girl.
xxxxx

ave its mum.

Having hot OXO in the big red tea hut when i was a kid,

then they built the north stand there , what a waste of a good cinder bank.


clearing snow from the pitch wwhen i was young and getting a free ice lolly??????

and a ticket to the match, think we were playing blackpool but not sure.

watching the great team of the 60s. watkins etc

having a season ticket at the age of 5,

watching Garry Jack play for us.

plus one none Salford . collecting the autographs of the manchester untied players as they came to watch the reds.

I will miss the old ground,

good luck with the new one SALFORD.

Anyone remember a few years back, could of been about 5 season's ago not to sure, but we was playing at the Willows a televised game and a streaker ran on the pitch, not sure who we was playing or what season it was though.

More like 10+ years ago now it was Gateshead Thunder me Michigan Red a host of others and King of the Shed were in Rhodes watching it (YES KOTS MISSED A GAME) he was a Geordie (living in Salford) called "Geordie Steve" strangely enough. He was drunk and someone dared him to do it so he did, and spent the rest of the night in pendleton nick. His then mate Geordie John still lives in Salford to this day with a former Willows employee ....

Not actaully read this thread peoperly yet, but noticed that point and yes, it was a belting fight. In fact, if memory serves, if you look the game up on the Micron Video website it's listed as "GB BARLA v Australian Aboiginies - FIGHT"

Ahhh the good old days when we used to take charity cases on holiday with us

, I distinctly remember trying to get you or your kid to follow suit through Faliraki but you were to chicken LOL.
Come to think of it KOTS still owes me for dossing in my room for a week the cheaky sod.

A few quick willows memories (not specifc moments) from me:

The blue 3-wheeler that used to be parked in front of the main stand.
The shed winding up the bearded Toulouse forward.
Clearing the pitch of snow before a cup tie v Fev in 1996.
Me and my dad being dropped off by my mum at the old mining museum for each home game - and going in to look at the stuffed rats while we waited to be picked up.
Scattering my Dad's ashes on the pitch.
The Alliance Lancashire Shield final v Saints - winning with a last minte try by an ANO who went ob to sign for us (Martin Birkett).
PIPO having a run in with John Kear's PA whils selling the Scarlet Turkey outside the ground.
Throwing coins into blankets for half time collections.

strange one from me (and memories came back of it last night watching Swinton from the shed!) was Keighley at home in the last winter season. we lost, but it was a fantasic atmosphere on an exceptionally cold night