Immediate post-war, the main way of travelling into Lancashire for matches was by train, which was always interesting!
The carriages didn’t have corridors or any form of toilet in them so once you were in that was it for the duration. Inevitably, on the longer journeys that led to some obvious discomfort.
Two incidents stand out, the first was on the way to a big game at Wigan. One of our party, a member of the family who for years afterwards was never allowed to live it down, had got into the spirit a bit too literally beforehand and was caught short mid-way to Central Park. As soon as he realised that we had crossed into Red Rose country he excused himself, lowered the window and let nature take its course.
On the second occasion, we were heading for Cumbria - Whitehaven, I think - and were allocated a third class carriage. I was the youngest and smallest in there and because there were so many of us and space was limited, I was elected to spend the entire time tucked into the luggage rack.
Apparently it was a trick borrowed from students who used to try and catch the conductors out when they travelled round Europe.
Neil Jeffries
Memory added on October 5, 2012
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