Matt Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yard Dog Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 ''Athletic Ground'' - is that what Hornets' ground was called ? Can't remember it being called that...but I was only very young when I went (to watch Saddleworth play Hornets in a Silk Cut Cup game I think around 1990 ?. It was where the Morrisons in now, wasn't it ? Nice pics of Watersheddings - but really it was a dump. Watched a few Standard Cup finals there in late 80's early 90s - always Rangers Vs Annes, every year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted April 10, 2009 Author Share Posted April 10, 2009 It was called the Athletic(s) Ground. I played on it quite a few times for the schoolboys, and yes - Morrisons is there now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy_Fent Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 What was the capacity of Watersheddings before it closed? I never went but I heard it was a very cold place to go in the middle of winter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yard Dog Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 What was the capacity of Watersheddings before it closed? I never went but I heard it was a very cold place to go in the middle of winter This link says 11,000 (!)....can't remember it being that big, mind you can get a lot bodies onto a standing terrace. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_rugby...dia_by_capacity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yard Dog Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 (edited) Just found this little piece on the old ground by the Independent (check out the paragraph I've copied and pasted from the article below : http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-l...gs-1284138.html That is the sort of equivocal reaction that the old stadium produces, illustrated most vividly by a remark attributed to Fred Trueman: "Rugby league without the Watersheddings would be like a horror film without Boris Karloff. Edited April 13, 2009 by Yard Dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oafcprozac Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 ''Athletic Ground'' - is that what Hornets' ground was called ? Can't remember it being called that...but I was only very young when I went (to watch Saddleworth play Hornets in a Silk Cut Cup game I think around 1990 ?. It was where the Morrisons in now, wasn't it ? Nice pics of Watersheddings - but really it was a dump. Watched a few Standard Cup finals there in late 80's early 90s - always Rangers Vs Annes, every year. It was a dump but it was 'our' dump. Now both the Rugby and Football clubs are forced to play in 3 sided vandalised :censored:-hole! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oafc0000 Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 A dump compared to what exactly ?? It was perfect for its requirements and I really miss the place... I most admit here in Warrington we have an awesome rugby stadium Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted April 16, 2009 Author Share Posted April 16, 2009 I most admit here in Warrington we have an awesome rugby stadium Aye, and nowt going on in it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oafc0000 Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Aye, and nowt going on in it! Its madness how crap we are! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OAFCMIKE Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Its madness how crap we are! I grew up on the Herbert Street wall at 'sheddings. Was almost in tears when they knocked it down. As a school kid saw us beat Wigan in that never-to-be-forgotten Challenge Cup match, and run the invincible Aussies close. There's cracking footage of both those games on youtube. Capacity when I used to go was just over 10,000. I think the record crowd was about 28,000 versus Huddersfield in the 50s. In my dad's era (mid 50s) they had arguably the best rugby league team in the world. They just never made it to Wembley. The old-timers would tell you it was a hoodoo. They were up with minutes to go in one semi final at Swinton when a fog came down and the game had to be abandoned. They promptly lost the replay. I've seen them in three semis, and in one against Warrington they were robbed, scoring what would have been a game levelling try with a kick to come on the hooter. The ref disallowed it for an offside that only he saw. If they'd have won they'd have been at Wembley the day before Latics in 1990. As he walked off to a barrage of abuse the ref said calmly: "You've already got one team at Wembley haven't you?" Whitfield I think his name was. Used to stand at the back of the Sheddings End until they closed it. Was a cracking atmosphere in there. There'd be the odd bit of trouble (mainly with Featherstone fans) but it was mostly good banter. And the oxtail soup they used to serve in a tiny shed at the front was the greatest taste sensation in the world. Great days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yard Dog Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 A dump compared to what exactly ?? It was perfect for its requirements and I really miss the place... I most admit here in Warrington we have an awesome rugby stadium Aye, a new stadium WITH STANDING. How top is that ! FA pay attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yard Dog Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 I grew up on the Herbert Street wall at 'sheddings. Was almost in tears when they knocked it down. As a school kid saw us beat Wigan in that never-to-be-forgotten Challenge Cup match, and run the invincible Aussies close. There's cracking footage of both those games on youtube. Capacity when I used to go was just over 10,000. I think the record crowd was about 28,000 versus Huddersfield in the 50s. In my dad's era (mid 50s) they had arguably the best rugby league team in the world. They just never made it to Wembley. The old-timers would tell you it was a hoodoo. They were up with minutes to go in one semi final at Swinton when a fog came down and the game had to be abandoned. They promptly lost the replay. I've seen them in three semis, and in one against Warrington they were robbed, scoring what would have been a game levelling try with a kick to come on the hooter. The ref disallowed it for an offside that only he saw. If they'd have won they'd have been at Wembley the day before Latics in 1990. As he walked off to a barrage of abuse the ref said calmly: "You've already got one team at Wembley haven't you?" Whitfield I think his name was. Used to stand at the back of the Sheddings End until they closed it. Was a cracking atmosphere in there. There'd be the odd bit of trouble (mainly with Featherstone fans) but it was mostly good banter. And the oxtail soup they used to serve in a tiny shed at the front was the greatest taste sensation in the world. Great days. Imagine the amount of Oldhamers there would have been in London that weekend....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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