Quote: NurseRhino "That was one god awful match! How times have changed!'" Found a photo of that terrible day: www.flickr.com/photos/norbet/6326983556/ Looks like 1892!

Quote: NurseRhino "That was one god awful match! How times have changed!'" Found a photo of that terrible day: www.flickr.com/photos/norbet/6326983556/ Looks like 1892!

That brings back happy memories of being stood directly next to biggest lunatic I've ever seen at a rugby match. He was a widnes fan but, I wouldn't necessarily blame them for that. Every time they scored, which to be fair was quite a regular occurance in that particular game, he would jump around wildly trying to hit anyone in a leeds shirt he could get near to and flicking half smoked cigarettes in our faces.

A lovely man whose social skills were matched only by the standard of his amateur tattoos, of which he had many.

Anyway, I'll macth that particularly joyous occassion and raise everyone a Central Park drubbing where Offiah scored ten tries or a Premiership final with a cart horse named Simon Haughton galloping under our sticks from sixty yards out. Such a joy to be a Loiner in those days!

Yep, there for that one too - I think it was later in the same glorious season?

I seem to recall there was a canal or a river or some other filthy Mancunian watercourse outside the Central Park ground. I think it was on that terrible day I was walking next to it with my then girlfriend and her Mum. The word went around that the kick off had been delayed due to the Boat Race coverage on BBC. GF's Mum looks at the canal and announces: "That's ridiculous. And anyway, I can't see any boats!" Lessens the pain a bit.

With Craig Innes playing at 6?

Seem to remember the only player to come out with credit that day was Esene Faimalo.

Wasnt it an aussie by the surname of Clift or something like that ???? Malcom Clift IIRC

Correct.

Not correct. Clift was briefly coach between Bamford and Fox.

Minor detail.

Now, move along, Nothing to see here.

started in 1980 and 1st challenge cup disaster was the 1982 crossbar semi.

The last crop of home grown players were fading out. good moments from John Holmes, Kevin Dick , David Ward, Dyl ,Smith and Atki, Dave Heron but not enough and we seem to have waited a generation for such a crop to appear again.

In between how many failed at being the next john holmes or wardy.

David Creasser was prob the best but suffered with his shoulder.

Overseas players seem to have stayed longer this decade too. So many in the 80s were here for the off season. One year think 85 had nearly full team of queenslanders that left b4 the last month of the season. Think only webby stuck around for any length of time in the 80s though was he too hammered to get home.

We have had our fair share of poor over seas signings recently (O'neil, cross)
But we have had some good signings (Donald,Ali,Webb,buderus,kylie)

Didn't Mike O'Neill play on the wing in that game?

Bailey's next move?

How have I missed this thread ? It's like a who's who of Southstander posters through the years, and their memories both good and bad. I like these threads as the remind me of how bad things were from the period of starting to watch Leeds (1982), and how greatful I am that the group of players we have now as lavished us with such amazing victories in Grand Finals.

I'm the same as some others on here, the 84 JP Trophy, 88 Yorkshire Cup, and 99 CC Cup was as good as it got. I was at Central Park on that foggy day we got hammered by Widnes. Stuart Spruce was sat in front of me on the old wooden seats at Central Park and I accidently kicked him up the backside........I was only a young lad and I thought he was going to kill me !!!.....Was at Elland Road for the 24-24 HKR match, and the 0-17 replay, that was following on from the 10-10 draw with Widnes, and the 5-0 replay victory ! Ahhhh the memories, ET's chip v Widnes gobbled up by Rick Thackray (I think)..........Rex Terp, what a full back......Carl Gibson's step..........Roy Powell nearly swallowing his tongue v Widnes, Eric Grothe, all those Aussies, Peter Tunks, winning away at Cas in the play offs thanks to Schoeys last minute try............there must be a million and one memories for us all to write about, and no matter how good or bad they were they will always be in my heart as part of Leeds RLFC, and now Leeds Rhinos, however, there is no getting away from the fact that the last 9 seasons have been the most amazing fabulous times I have ever seen. Victories I would have never imagined, I don't think I've been into a Grand Final ever where I was confident we would win, however, shame on me for doubting the guys in the trenches..............simply the best team SL has ever seen..........in my humble opinion.

Think I might toast the lads with a little whisky after that !!!