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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

Central Park

27 Comments

Central Park
Central Park
Photo: ArthurP
Views: 4,554
Item #: 30972
Photo taken sometime in the early 1990s before the Whitbread Stand was constructed.

Comment by: Dave Lewis on 27th February 2019 at 21:19

Looks like a very good crowd on there,unlike the poor crowds today.

Comment by: Alan H on 27th February 2019 at 21:25

More like late 60’s or early 70’s. Kop stand had not been extended on this photo. Pity we don’t get crowds like this anymore.

Comment by: Wiggin Lad on 28th February 2019 at 06:33

Big crowd alright, perhaps a cup match or maybe a visit from the Aussies or Kiwi's, even back in the sixties club games didn't attracted this amount of fans !!!

Comment by: Ian. on 28th February 2019 at 08:06

It must be after 1972 as thats when the Douglas stand was built. I would have a guess at late 80's early 1990's as l think Wigan changed their shorts to red around that time.

Comment by: Tom on 28th February 2019 at 11:30

Spion cop far end named after a battle in Boer war Lancashire fusiliers served there.

Comment by: Jim on 28th February 2019 at 11:38

Correct Ian. Wigan first wore red shorts in 1989.
I worked on Central Park, and would say this photo was all around late 80s/early 90s.

Comment by: good old days on 28th February 2019 at 13:26

far left shaun Edwards small chap right hand side of the subs andy greg

Comment by: good old days on 28th February 2019 at 13:26

far left shaun Edwards small chap right hand side of the subs andy greg

Comment by: Philip Cunliffe on 28th February 2019 at 15:21

A question for Alan H. Not saying that you are wrong but I cannot remember the Kop end ever being extended.

Comment by: Spenian on 28th February 2019 at 15:41

Douglas stand was painted red and white late 80's early 90's and Wigan RLFC were dragged over the coals for it by Wigan Council saying it would distract drivers on Riverway !!

Comment by: Philip Cunliffe on 28th February 2019 at 17:04

There are 2 players underneath left hand post. To the left of them Kevin Iro ?

Comment by: Jim on 28th February 2019 at 17:32

Philip Cunliffe you are right. The Spion Kop end was never altered.

Comment by: Norman Cunliffe on 28th February 2019 at 17:35

Sorry to disagree Alan H.but I don't think the Kop Stand has ever been extended. In the photograph, the Kop stand cover has 7 stanchions holding it up. I have a photo taken during the last ever match at Central Park against Saints and the cover has 7 stanchions.

Comment by: Ian on 28th February 2019 at 17:53

Just looking at this photo I can smell the fantastic atmosphere of a Sunday afternoon game at the late, great Central Park. The ground had character, atmosphere, good crowd acoustics, very handy location and a club where you could have a decent priced pint after the game!
Poles apart from where they are playing now.

Comment by: Alan H on 28th February 2019 at 18:30

Phillip Cunliffe. Having had a closer look at this picture I can see that the stand comes down to the front of the stand. However, I have been watching Wigan since1045 and I can assure you that in that year after WW2, the Kop end was not all concrete terracing and the score board was on that end as well.

Comment by: Philip Cunliffe on 28th February 2019 at 20:44

Perhaps you meant to write that the Kop stand had been extended. I started watching mid 60 s and there had been no changes. I fully accept your description of the earlier. Kop end. Wigan started to play in red shorts when Maurice Lindsay was there. I read , don't know how true it is, that the shorter shorts were an attempt to get more women watching.....late 80s early 90s.

Comment by: John on 28th February 2019 at 23:53

As I remember it, the Kop was first covered in the early to mid 1950's but only the back half of the terrace. Four or five years later it was extended forwards towards the pitch and the roof was then an "upside down-W" shape covering all but the very front. It stayed like that till the ground was sadly demolished.

Comment by: Blue boy on 1st March 2019 at 05:59

Ian in reply to your comments, thank Dave Whelan for stepping in to give your club a home at the DW stadium. Otherwise you would have been egg chasing at Bolton If Jack Robinson had his way !

Comment by: Jarvo on 1st March 2019 at 08:24

Looking at the photograph I would say this is an early autumn evening around 7.30pm. I do remember the game against Manley and that I attended a concert by Jethro Tull in Manchester on the same evening; and I remember it being a balmy night. Could this be the big game on 7th October, 1987?

Comment by: Terry on 1st March 2019 at 11:29

Jarvo. This photo was taken in daylight. Kick off time for tha Manly game on 7th Oct 1987 was 7.45pm . It would have been dark at 7pm on that date. Sunset was 6.35pm.
Apart from anything else the Wigan team have red shorts on. They wore white shorts when they played Manly. Loads of photos of the game on google images.

Comment by: John on 1st March 2019 at 12:29

Sounds logical Jarvo, except Wigan wore white shorts in the Manly match and on this photo they're red.

Comment by: Ian on 1st March 2019 at 12:33

Blue boy.
Are you suggesting that it was all Whelan's money that paid for the stadium out of his own pocket? Did he buy (and does he own) the land?
Did the council not contribute or help in any way? Were there no sports grants available? I'm just curious, thats all.

Comment by: good old days on 1st March 2019 at 14:37

if mr.cunlife is correct kevin iro never played jarvo in 1987

Comment by: Central Parker. on 2nd March 2019 at 19:22

@Blue boy.

"Otherwise you would have been egg chasing at Bolton"
Surely you meant "Trophy" chasing? They have wone a few!!

Comment by: Carl on 3rd March 2019 at 13:11

I would guess looking at the size of the crowd and the fact that this is light that its the 1990 Wigan v Australia.

Comment by: Ticsmon on 3rd March 2019 at 16:19

But would you have been egg cup chasing at Bolton? I understand Robinson had a plan but did Bolton know about or agree it?

It’s unlikely it was all Whelan’s money. Grants were used because it was to be a multi sports stadium (but not with RL). Do you have to own the land to own a building?

Comment by: john griffin on 2nd August 2019 at 19:22

Just before demolition I,my brother Ron and Harry Carey did a tour of Central Park.At the time I had a video camera and filmed the visit.

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