Re: Old Pics : Tue Feb 08, 2011 7:04 pm  

1985 Challenge Cup Winners Homecoming.


(I'm in that lot somewhere)

Re: Old Pics : Tue Feb 08, 2011 7:11 pm  

Widnes v Wigan (Mid 80's)

Re: Old Pics : Tue Feb 08, 2011 7:13 pm  

Love the one of the Wigans fans with all the flags! People should dig them out! Hopefully the south stand can look like that soon!

Re: Old Pics : Tue Feb 08, 2011 7:15 pm  

Not a pink shirt in sight!

How smart do those traditional kits look.

Re: Old Pics : Tue Feb 08, 2011 7:25 pm  

MattyB wrote:

Bramley v Wigan - Challenge Cup Rd 1.

Sunday 12th Feb 1984


Drew 10-10........Wigan were VERY lucky to scrape a draw, however battered them 34-4 in the replay.

Lovely little stand, yes I was one of the 3,968 there that day. Will have to try and dig out some actual photo's of the game.

I was there too Matty. My first ever away game to another RL ground (not counted the JPS final in 83)

Re: Old Pics : Tue Feb 08, 2011 7:30 pm  

Bilko wrote:

Probably common in those days. The Late 70s/Early 80s crowds were dire pretty much everywhere. The sport was seemingly dying, that was until they increased the points for a try from three to four and it all seemed to lift from there. Perhaps Wigan being good again helped that? I'm too young to answer that one.

The crowd increases were led by the Hull clubs signing Leluai, Ah Koi, OHara, Kemble, Miller, Broadhurst, Prohm etc and Wigan eventually kicked it on from there.

Re: Old Pics : Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:17 pm  

Odemwingie wrote:

Personally I would love to know the story of RL popularity! It has dipped and turned and done backflips so many times!

We used to see massive crowds on a regular basis and the international game used to be massive even in the sky era! I just can't get my head around it all.... I can't help but feel RL could have been huge if managed correctly but instead we will always be a minority sport but I do think the sport can maximise potential if all clubs can get in modern stadia.

They had some cracking ideas in the South of France in the '30s but something happened.

The international game seems to have sunk under the Sky banner IMO. Sky seem so focused on the SL and the international games seem well planned to clash with something else. Why the World Cup can't be given freely to somebody like ITV or the BBC I don't understand, free sport would get the game on TV (it worked for RU) and so in peoples minds. Winning a series would be nice too! While I understand that revenue is important, with Sky chasing yearly profits and the RFL seeming to tow the line (wasn't the last Sky franchise offered, rejected and then accepted at a lower figure when the RFL couldn't get the money from the BBC?) as there's little other option.

However, on the minority sport thing. What actually defines a "minority" sport? It seems that Football isn't but just about every other sport in the UK is. Cricket - I don't hear it described as a minority but have only met one or two that actually play. Athletics, many sports but many minority sports under an umbrella. RU, same deal, wikipedia actually lists it as minority.

Anyway... cracking pics. Brings back some memories. I remember work experience painting the Douglas Stand (not the top bit) thank god and then helping out with the under pitch heating. Driving tractors and the like, meeting players and just being "part" of Central Park for a few weeks was absolutely fantastic. I remember Joe Lydon wrote a letter back to the club from the flight to Aus for the tour, on the back of a sick bag!

Re: Old Pics : Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:20 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

That York game was played in March and look at the state of the pitch.

And there's a "D" from football.

Re: Old Pics : Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:31 pm  

Wigan 1987 Team - Champions

Apologies regarding the spelling of some players, wasn't my dad's strong point I'm afraid.
In addition, he missed out Westy and Ray Mordt.

Re: Old Pics : Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:34 pm  

MattyB wrote:

Wigan 1987 Team - Champions

Apologies regarding the spelling of some players, wasn't my dad's strong point I'm afraid.
In addition, he missed out Westy and Ray Mordt.

That's Brian Dunn at the back talking to the two kids, or is it Graeme West?