Memories of HP.

Quote: DaiseyHillLeyther "
The time we played Widnes in the snow, i can see Gary Stradings now with Derek Pyke walking up and down the touch line with a brush in hand. circa 1981. I have a photo somewhere of the match and snow. Wasn't there an Aussie ref who saw no problem cos the playing surface wasn't dangerous (ie 'soft')? If I find it I'll scan and post it.

MY personal abiding memories are of going with mi dad when I was about 7 or 8. It'd be Sunday, and mi mam kicked us both out cos he'd been drinking (amazin'! - never crashed, but often pizzed as!). He'd be that drunk, and when he was he became a bit bolshy and refused to pay to get us in, sometimes waitin til just after HT, to get in free. There was one time they didn't open the big gates, and he lifted me onto the wall, down the road behind whats now BnQ, then put his shoulder against the turnstyle door until it 'gave way'... Tight sod, he was!! An I DO find it hard forgiving him for not taking me to Wembley in 71... Oh, that therapy is NOT workin!! However, he DID have a favourite, and I'd certainly agree with him there, as Peter Ropati has got to have the biggest heart of any player of the 80's - he gave 100% EVERY week, and was invaluable wherever he was played.

One of another of MY memories is of Lancs against Yorkshire, in the fog. Was it 22-21? Late 80's? Who to?

Des Drummond taping the ball to himself against Halifax (i think) in his own 20 and taping it in the wrong place and after beating the whole team, some of them twice bringing it back for a scrum. Circa 1980.

Whitehaven scrum half Arnie Walker being sent off and seeing that John Woods had lined up the goal kick ready went to kick the ball over the stand, over for JW just beating him to the ball to keep it safe. circa 1981

Beating Keighley 92-2, thought we were going to get the magic 100. circa 1985.

Playing Australia as defending champions and getting hammered 44-4 (ish) 1982

Beating St.Helens with Denis Ramsdale's last game in charge. Phil Johnson kicking a goal off the main stand touch line. circa 1993.

Playing against Wi&^n as they started full time and getting beat 35-0 (ish) I think it was Ian Schubert's first game. circa 1987.

Salford in the Challenge Cup in the mud on BBC. Circa 2002.

Being robbed of a point against Hull in Super League because of a wrong decision by Steve Gason. Again against London & Wakefield. Circa 2005.

Hammering Leeds, last match of the season under the great Peter Smethurst. circa 1986.

Andy Goodway running scared of Tony Cottrell the whole match against Wi%^n. circa 1988.

The ill fated matches with David Stephenson & Peter Brown & Gary Van Bellan & Milton Huddart (except Hull away in the CC).

Beating Widnes on a Wednesday night the year they were unstoppable. 1988

Parading the Championship trophy around the ground, last match of the 1981-82 season.

Losing to Castleford in the challenge cup when i though we would have gone all the way. 1981-82

Same year as above drawing 1-1 with Warrington in the play off (then getting beat at Wig&* in the replay) 1981-81

Watching a GB - France under 19's and GB scoring after about 8 seconds. Circa 1980

Again Woody in action against France for the GB under 24's. circa. 1981.

Hope this brings back some happy times for others.'"