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Wembley Week : Sun Aug 19, 2018 9:31 pm  

So it will be a slow week for Trinity news so I thought it would be interesting to hear everyone's Wembley memories.... Especially those associated with Wakefield.

When was your first and what was your favourite memory.
..... and if you saw Wakefield there, tell us about it.

For me my first was in 74...... and I was on telly, at 6 years old.
I can't say I remember that much.

I went in 79. Great memories of Red White and Blue everywhere.
Lots of interviews leading up to the day so I knew all about the teams.
Funnily enough I remember the kids match most as I was the same age and new people involved.

I also remember shouting that we needed to get the ball to Fletch as I'd seen him in the semi and knew he was the guy. I was 11.
Alas no win.

I have been to every Wembley since.
1985 was the best.
The great Wigan run was interesting and boring at the same time.
Best memory outside Wakefield was Mike Gregory chasing down Edwards with a magnificent tackle..... Only to see the wild pass inside go to hands and he didn't save the try.

Re: Wembley Week : Mon Aug 20, 2018 8:26 am  

Went to the 79 final, we started the weekend out in Sheffield on the Friday evening, watched the Jam at Sheffield uni, met Paul Weller and got his autograph after the gig. We then got the midnight train down to London on free train tickets courtesy of either PG Tips or Typhoon tea, we collected tokens for months for the free tickets. Got to Forest hill around half five in the morning, sat in a cafe with every dead head going till my mate got up. Had an hours kip then out on the lash, central London seemed awash with Trinity supporters. The game wasn't particularly good but at least I was there. A few more hours round London then the (I think) mail train back to Wakefield, the train itself was like something from an Agatha Christie film, one of those with a walk way all the way down the train with sliding doors into each cabin. Got back into Wakey around 5am, my good old dad came to pick us up, I then slept till Monday morning. A great weekend especially being a 17yr old in London for the first time, it wasn't the sterile London that we're treated to these days, it was a much sleazier place back then.

Re: Wembley Week : Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:29 am  

My first trip to Wembley was nothing to do with Trinity - I was only a kid when we were in contention, and we didn't have the means. So I went to the '95 WC Final against Australia, with a mate in his crappy old Ford Fiesta - we lost 16-8 I believe, and my abiding memory is walking down Wembley Way and being completely overawed by the whole thing; but trying to be cool, because I was a 25 year old man about town and didn't want to look like a typical Northern Monkey. I recall that the National Lottery machine was picked on the pitch at half time, back when they did that kind of thing, and there was a Sunday Sport topless streaker on the pitch at the start of the second half. And of course the game - which is a bit foggy - but I do recall that we had a great start; and that Offiah didn't put his bloody foot in touch.

I didn't realise at the time the turmoil behind the scenes with the Aussies - lots of players excluded because of the SL War in Australia, and the legal cases that followed - but I do recall seeing some absolute legends of the game in action; it was a brilliant day, even though we lost.

I've never been back - saving that for a trip with my eldest, if Trinity ever make it again before I check out.

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Re: Wembley Week : Mon Aug 20, 2018 11:01 am  

I was there in 95 too. I was down the front which was a horrible view of the game but the streaker did a cartwheel right in front of me and I got a photo.
........ Which my wife found years later and wasn't impressed.

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Re: Wembley Week : Mon Aug 20, 2018 11:03 am  

You need to write a book Jinjer. Your stories are always just a step above.

Re: Wembley Week : Mon Aug 20, 2018 11:41 am  

PopTart wrote:

You need to write a book Jinjer. Your stories are always just a step above.

He always wins doesn't he - every tale is louche, has an encounter with an iconic band and of course, loads of booze; puts my streaker in the shade.

Re: Wembley Week : Mon Aug 20, 2018 12:38 pm  

I've always loved watching Trinity and live bands, combine them both and copious amounts of alcohol and you do tend to get some interesting encounters.

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Re: Wembley Week : Mon Aug 20, 2018 1:15 pm  

Don't know why I didn't remember this first time but I was in the changing rooms in 1980 and walked on the pitch after the game (before being turfed off).
My dad was well connected and we managed to get ourselves in to meet some players. Clearly they didn't care who they spoke to as they'd just won the cup and even though I was only 12 I remember Clive Sullivan letting me touch the cup he was clinging dearly to and Roger Millward was a great guy who came over to speak to us.
Ironically, 5 of the Hull KR side and 2 of the Hull side played for Wakefield at some stage of their career.

Re: Wembley Week : Mon Aug 20, 2018 2:26 pm  

My first Wembley was the 1968 Watersplash Final. We travelled from an aunts house in Essex in the pouring rain. When we arrived at the stadium the rain was pouring down the stadium steps like a waterfall. There were staff on the pitch with squeegee mops and buckets trying to remove some of the surface water. The John Atkinson obstruction try has stuck long in my memory. My rage still lingers today. Then the missed goal kick by Don Fox. I cannot even think how that affected Don in the weeks and years to come. The years have not dimmed my memories of that cup final.

Re: Wembley Week : Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:42 pm  

My first Wembley was in May 1960 when Trin beat Hull on a red hot sunny day. I recall seeing the marching guardsmen fainting in the heat. Record Wembley score and record individual points scorer accolade for Big Neil. Highlight was seeing the supercillious sports commentator, David Coledman , being jeered at by ecstatic Trinity fans.