Wigan Album

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

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.

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 !!!

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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 !!

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 !

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?

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.

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

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.

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

@Blue boy.

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

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

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?

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.