Have to say I used to love derby day at Central Park - even though we were usually on the end of a hiding! The atmosphere in the kop on those occasions was something to behold - None better I think than in the '93 8-8 game.

We also had a few humdinging Semi Finals there and won our one and only JP trophy at CP in '88 so the memories - thankfully - weren't always of defeats!

The North Stand on derby day is good, But it's not the Kop and never will be.

1985 when Brett Kenny kicked for the corner and the ball was collected by Phil Ford (who was at least 5 yards offside when he caught it) in one of our last league games of the season (v Hull KR). I nearly burst a blood vessel with cheering that try.

We all thought we would win the league that year (for the first time in decades) but it wasnt to be.

The burger van fire during the 40-2 defeat v Queensland.

Finding a padlock in the ground and locking it over the bridge of a fellow fans spectacles (before a Saints game) thus preventing him from being able to see any of the action until the second half when he returned to the ground having had the lock hack-sawed away.

Writing a letter under the guise of Abe Frohman from Chicago (in 1993) and asking the programme editor to omit my real name for fear of retribution, only to see a programme with my letter in it credited to "Chicago".

The letter was in response to the constant moaning from the fans sat in the Pop Stand, and a Mr IG Roberts of Westhoughton who seemed to take ultimate pleasure in bemoaning "the new moronic chanting army".

As a youngster sat on the ringside and Boston sliding in to score in the corner and seeing my mam jump on his back.

Again from my ringside seat, a scrum and McTigue was packing down for Wigan just in front of me.. All I heard was whoosh. The pack broke up and there was one of the opposition pack laying flat out and Mac running to get into position.

On the Duggie side a cup game v Leeds and Wigan losing 11 - 9 with two minutes to go.
Mick Sullivan scored in the coner and Griffiths kicked the goal from the touchline to give Wigan a 14 - 11 win.

1965 on the Kop.
Wigan v Saints in the cup. McTigues brilliant slight of hand to send Roy Evans 40 yards under the post at the Kop end.

I could go on and on and on. (many think I do

)

The last ever try at central park......

went with my dad to the game against bradford to officially open the floodlights, ther was somewhere in the region of 36,000 people on the ground for a friendly. another great day out was the annuak pre-season sevens competition. bu the best memory for me was the championship decider against widnes when we lost, which was a lock out and it was an evening game to boot!

One of my favourite memories as well. A spontaneous pitch invasion by several dozen Kopites & one of those occasions when people hug complete strangers (The Bradford game at the JJB a few years back with the Renouf/Radlinski try was a similar experience).

Oh how we like to look down on today's South Standers but forget that many of us used to take great delight in launching ale all over the Popular Side press pack.

You can now join the throng that is JTB & myself who both wear that very cap!

To the regiment !!

I was there

Well you may also recall the following abuse aimed at various players and referees during that period:

"Are you still frequenting gay bars Eastwood" long before it was commonly accepted that Paul Eastwood "drove the other bus".

"Campbell, I hope your kids get Green hair and walk backwards" - aimed at Ronnie Campbell after another inept refereeing performance.