Wigan Album

Am I right in thinking, that although close to Springfield Park, this was the separate speedway stadium that places like the Stadium chippy are named after??

Went past this quite a lot when walking to town, but never went in, the Wigan Harriers were based here and very often could be seen running along the roads of an evening in their vests and shorts, the film The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner always reminded me of them. I'm sure that Greyhounds would be raced here too before it became a venue for school sports. Though it was on Woodhouse Lane we'd call it Springfield Stadium.

Ive run around the track many a time when I was training with Wigan Unionist RU team, and I remember watching stock car racing here

Yes it was the home of WIGAN PANTHERS Speedway,in 1952 and also Greyhound racing. The Stock Car racing was around later1955..

Used to go there with the school (All Saint's) in the early 60s.

You could stand on the Shevington end 'hill' at Springfield Park and watch the Latics, and, whatever was taking place at the Woodhouse Lane Stadium at the same time. I shared a fence with the Stadium, it separated my side garden and their running track.

Used to run here, in the Wigan inter schools competition in the early 70s

I can hear the knock of that tannoy switching on . A howl like an electronic mating call . A squawky announcement with too much reverb in an intermittent Norman Collier voice ,
' And the winner in Lane 2 , Alf Tupper , Tough of the Track
Than - K Queue '

Alf Tupper was 18 years of age when he first appeared in Rover in 1949 and he continued his adventures in Victor in the early 1960s. He lived with his Aunt Meg in Anchor Alley, Greystone. The house had one room upstairs and one room downstairs; Alf's bed was a mattress on the kitchen floor. He was employed as a welder working in Ike Smith's welding shop which was located under a railway arch. His wages were £1 5s (£1.25p) per week of which he paid his Aunt £1.2s.6d (£1.12½p) for rent. This meant he had 2/6d (12½p) for himself. Following a bust up with his Aunt Meg, he moved into Ike Smith's welding shop, sleeping on a mattress by his workbench. Alf joined the Greystone Harriers paying a subscription fee of half a guinea; he was only a member of the Harriers for three weeks and was instructed to return his membership card by Bob Richards the Honorary Secretary, following an on track fight with Vic Mason in the 440 yards at the Greystone Harriers Sports meeting. Alf's staple diet was fish and chips wrapped in newspaper.
I still have a lot of old VICTOR Comics... I Couldn't wait for the following weeks issue.. Which I read from front to back.. in one night..
I bet I read more in one week, than most kids today read in a lifetime..

Ron. Didn't Alf move on up to be a self employed seller of coal briquettes., With a horse and cart ?
PS WGS also used this place for athletic events.

I seem to remember Alf being late for a 100 yard dash. Entering the stadium after the race had started he still managed to win by a whisker whilst eating a pork pie. Did he wear a black leotard or am I confusing him with someone else.

Heartbeat the black leotard was Wilson who was about 120 years old who lived in a a cave on the moors eating only just and berries. He was a terrific runner even though he always ran barefoot.

Thanks Carolaen, your right, It was only after I’d posted I remembered Wilson wore a black leotard, lived a hermit’s life, and unlikely to scoff pork pies.

Gents , there is an interesting article on line , ' Alf Tupper and the class struggle in British Athletes ' by J.Hill .

I was a Wigan Harrier and used to walk down Beech Hill Lane to the stadium almost every day after school to train. I was a runner and discus thrower. I also remember my dad taking me to watch the greyhounds running round the track when I was a little girl.