As a lad I watched the Wire from the old wooden Main Stand at Wilderspool, when Jackie Hamblett was Groundsman, Kit Man and every-other job man! In the team then were "Dead-shot Bootle," Brian Glover, Willie Aspinall and a very young Parry Gordon.
As I grew up I had the fortune to play at Wilderspool in the C, B and A teams, alongside the likes of Dave Sutton, Mike Peers and Nobby Turley, and I was also lucky enough, the year Alex Murphy took over as team coach, to play in a pre-season game, alongside Parry. He was a very modest, but unbelievably tough, speedy and skilled player, who always punched above his weight - my all-time sporting hero!
I recall many things about the old ground - the tunnel regularly flooding in the winter, the popular side being replaced by the leisure centre, the kop being reduced in size and covered, my first A team game against Wigan and, after I had left town, the fire that destroyed the main stand.
As such, despite now living on the East coast, there was no way I was going to miss the memorable final game at the ground, and now, when I see photos of the junior teams still playing their games at Wilderspool, I wonder if they are aware of the tradition and memories that the old place holds for so many?!
Lee Stephens
Warrington Wolves v Hull FC Superleague memories game 17th May 2013
The Alzheimer's Society recently launched a national initiative called Dementia Friends which is giving people an understanding of dementia and the small things people can do that make a difference to people living with dementia. Alzheimer's Society want to create a network of a million Dementia Friends across England by 2015 - for more information visit dementiafriends.org.uk
Memory added on May 10, 2013
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