Favourite leichhardt Oval moment

[redemption]

Wayne Pearce's last home game, his last lap was a great moment. My parents dont follow league at all, but Mum knew it was a big deal for me to see Junior play his last game, he was my hero (still my favourite all time player) so she took me to the ground all the way from Penrith to Leichhardt to watch it, will never forget it.

Absolutely Goose…that was a heart breaking loss but what an experience to be there for Juniors last lap of the oval. Covered in streamers and crying...top stuff. I was 15 that day and was there with my uncle and some of his mates and got blind!

2nd would be a school boys game a couple of years later when we played a side full of huge poley's who were all doing the throat slit actions trying to intimidate us before kick off. We pantsed them 50-4 and they were not pleased. Many brawls that arvo! Played many games on that ground and didnt lose one of them.

3rd could be any thing else but I settled with Farahs get square on Watts. You could feel the energy around the ground that it was going to happen and when it did the crowd made more noise than you would ever expect in such a small stadium. We were all standing on our chairs and screaming. Then Rob came back on and scored...one mad day at the footy.

In regards to Junior's last home game - Sterlo got a 9 from RLW that game and ripped us apart! Two legends and one came out on top!

As for your schoolboys record - you must have played in a great team stryker as it is mainly semis and finals played at Leichhardt - and as such if undefeated you and your team must have accumulated some silverware over the years!!!

Which school/junior team are you referring to if I may ask?

 

[Spartan117]

Believe it or not I have only ever been once to LO. I actually went by myself.

In 2005 I saw our WTigers thump souths.

I sat with a few very knowledgeable Tigers fans in the seats close to the fence down on front and off to the left of the main grand stand.

What a day…

 

[Suzie-Q]

Mine is from the early '80's when I was a Penrith fan. I was about 12 or 13 and Tim was playing hooker for the Panthers that day. I was being ridiculous, screaming out, and he actually unpacked the scrum, pointed at me, and put his finger over his lips "Shhhh!" … Very embarrassed, I sat down and cheered quietly ....

GOLD!! A SHUSH from the great man himself! :roll

:roll Yes … another wise bit of advice from someone I truly admire and respect. I was also told after a game at Penrith one year that under no circumstances was I EVER to try and jump the fence again. That I could NOT actually punch Les Boyd's lights out, and that he, Tim, was quite capable of defending himself in a game of footy :blush:

Suzie, does this mean that you are a fan of Sheensy who follows him between clubs - or that you have since seen the light and supplanted Panthers with Tigers??

I am a Sheens fan, definitely, but have only supported 2 clubs - the panthers until super league, then no-one until 2002 when Robbie Beckett was playing for the Tigers. Tim coming to coach here just made me feel like I'd definitely made the right decision! I probably should have been a Wests fan always - both my parents were (the only thing they have in common with each other, other than my brother and me!), my Grandad too, my uncle's cousin was Yappy Holman … But I could have been a Balmain fan too since my other grandfather returned from WWI to his family's new home in Macaulay St, Leichhardt (thank God they moved from Redfern!!!!!). Seems the merger was made for me!

Another strong LO memory was watching Skando and Hodgo's last WT game there. Many tears flowed that day.

 

[Glennb]

Round 13 in 1991 would have to be my favourite moment.

Balmain beat Manly 24-8, but the real highlight was the stink between Ian Roberts and Garry Jack. What a day!

Garry had his arse handed to him that day and ended up in hospital…..highlight?

 

[Glennb]

One of th eearlier posts prompted a memory for me…...I remember the last game of the season, we had to beat Penrith to make the semi's (88 or 89?). Whoever won the gam ewas in the semis. I was sitting in the concourse in front of the Latchem Robinson stand and behind us was a group of penrith fans that looked like bikies...bandana's, tatts etc and about 15 of them. Immediately to my left were two guys, a pretty big pacific islander looking guy and his very skinny ausiie looking mate, both Tigers fans. Penrith had the game at their mercy and it looked like they were going through to the semis. The Penrith bikie guys were in fine voice and obnoxious. The Tigers pacific islander guy was GIVING it to them all game but the Penrith bikies were pretty cool with it because they looked like winning. As the Tigers clawed back and ended up winning, the islanders barbs seemed to dig much deeper and soon the Penrith Bikies made it clear they were NOT amused...and then I heard to coolest line I have heard at a footy game.

The big islander Tigers fan turned to his very skinny aussie mate and aid..."I hope these bikies have a sense of humour...because all I have....is you".

Most of us wet ourselves laughing and I'm pretty sure thats what saved his life.

 

[Citizen_Tiger]

Round 13 in 1991 would have to be my favourite moment.

Balmain beat Manly 24-8, but the real highlight was the stink between Ian Roberts and Garry Jack. What a day!

That was one of the most disgraceful assaults Ive seen on a footy field. Gary Jack had in excess of 100 stitches as I remember. He didnt deserve it and his team mates were conspicuous by their inaction. Roberts should have been belted.

In no particular order:-

Kevin Yow Yeh breaking Bill Hamiltons collarbone and dislocating his shoulder in a try saving tackle

Attending a Keith Barnes goalkicking clinic in the school holidays

Amco Cup Final 1976

Being at Keith Barnes last game in 68'

The Lockwood / Pringle combination

Playing there with Leichhardt Juniors (then known as Leichhardt Coaching Class)

Watching Barnes win any number of games and seeing arguably some of the longest goalkicks in the history of the game

 

[innsaneink]

I thought maybe some of the old Maggies would remember Hodgo and Buddha ripping us a new one in 1998 or 99!

As for whoever mentioned Rowdy's injury - that was at Cambo!

**While not a highlight I will mention the Danny Williams king-hit of Buckets O'Neill in 2004.\
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It was a horrible wet night with a tiny crowd - but when that happened the few thousand of us there erupted to a crescendo that would do Wembley proud!! And that anger remained for the rest of the game (even when Johnny Wilson took a 90 metre intercept to win the game)!!!\
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The venom & passion was palpable!!**

Another fave is v Manly in 1988 (again in P1$$ing rain) when we won 8-4 against the reigning Premiers with both Junior Pearce & Dave Brooks returning from the bench (Junior from injury & Brooksy from Hull FC)!

Was a memorable night, positively and negatively.
I recall the forwards rolling up field not long after the incident in a way no one was going to stop them, in a way Id never seen Wests Tigers forwards go forward before, it was wave after wave.
Old rif raf invited us into his corp box that night, quite a night I'll never forget.

 

[happy_tiger]

Mine is from the early '80's when I was a Penrith fan. I was about 12 or 13 and Tim was playing hooker for the Panthers that day. I was being ridiculous, screaming out, and he actually unpacked the scrum, pointed at me, and put his finger over his lips "Shhhh!" … Very embarrassed, I sat down and cheered quietly ....

Hey Suzie I have a question and I don't know if its possible to answer (or if anyone else knows Tim personally) But I wonder if Sheensy remembers it ??

Something like that if I had done on the football I would remember :laughing:

So if we ever see Tim on the sideline being caught on camera turning to someone in the crowd and shushing them we will know who it is and who to blame :wink:

 

[LukeH]

Mine was a bit of a dodgy one. The infamous night Danny Williams smashed an unsuspecting Mark O'Neill. It was a cold, wet miserable night, and once Williams belted O'Neill the 5000 ish tigers fans exploded into such a rage that I've never experienced at a game before. It sounded like 50000 people were there. I took my mum there that night and she went berserk!!! hahahaha

 

[Suzie-Q]

Mine is from the early '80's when I was a Penrith fan. I was about 12 or 13 and Tim was playing hooker for the Panthers that day. I was being ridiculous, screaming out, and he actually unpacked the scrum, pointed at me, and put his finger over his lips "Shhhh!" … Very embarrassed, I sat down and cheered quietly ....

Hey Suzie I have a question and I don't know if its possible to answer (or if anyone else knows Tim personally) But I wonder if Sheensy remembers it ??

Something like that if I had done on the football I would remember :laughing:

So if we ever see Tim on the sideline being caught on camera turning to someone in the crowd and shushing them we will know who it is and who to blame :wink:

No, I behave myself now … mostly ... I don't know if he'd remember it or not, but my mum and brother ... and like to remind me fairly often :blush:

 

[Suzie-Q]

Mine was a bit of a dodgy one. The infamous night Danny Williams smashed an unsuspecting Mark O'Neill. It was a cold, wet miserable night, and once Williams belted O'Neill the 5000 ish tigers fans exploded into such a rage that I've never experienced at a game before. It sounded like 50000 people were there. I took my mum there that night and she went berserk!!! hahahaha

We couldn't go that night - had other commitments, and I was listening in the car. The crowd was so loud, they almost drowned out the commentators. Must have been insane to have been there.

 

[monkey]

Walking back down the massive hill next la montage across and under the bridge back to the car on Hawthorne parade after a great tigers win . Even better in the wet watching everyone slip and slide down it after a few hundred beers . Only ground u could buy a carton for 40 bucks inside the ground before all these stupid alcohol laws came in
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[Yossarian]

Mine was a bit of a dodgy one. The infamous night Danny Williams smashed an unsuspecting Mark O'Neill. It was a cold, wet miserable night, and once Williams belted O'Neill the 5000 ish tigers fans exploded into such a rage that I've never experienced at a game before. It sounded like 50000 people were there. I took my mum there that night and she went berserk!!! hahahaha

We couldn't go that night - had other commitments, and I was listening in the car. The crowd was so loud, they almost drowned out the commentators. Must have been insane to have been there.

Yep things turned pretty ugly. It was an absolute bludger of a night from memory. I left early from my house because my housemate wanted to watch a yawnion test and was rewarded with a bearded Craig Field playing for Newtown in the reserve grade. Then the punch. The Storm had actually run in for a try in the gap where M O'N would have been defending but even though it in theory had gone to the video ref, nobody was celebrating. Then with every replay the crowd got uglier and uglier. When he got his marching orders I've never seen a more hostile crowd when he walked off. That is one night I won't forget.

 

[monkey]

Funniest moment was blocker roach givin Eddie ward the pat on the head when sent off . Saddest moment Wayne Pearce doin his lap of honour after last home game
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[Yossarian]

Funniest moment was blocker roach givin Eddie ward the pat on the head when sent off . Saddest moment Wayne Pearce doin his lap of honour after last home game
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Blocker patting Eddie Ward was Brookvale wasn't it?

 

[Joel Helmes]

Funniest moment was blocker roach givin Eddie ward the pat on the head when sent off . Saddest moment Wayne Pearce doin his lap of honour after last home game
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Blocker patting Eddie Ward was Brookvale wasn't it?

It certainly was.

 

[Juro]

Walking back down the massive hill next la montage across and under the bridge back to the car on Hawthorne parade after a great tigers win . Even better in the wet watching everyone slip and slide down it after a few hundred beers . Only ground u could buy a carton for 40 bucks inside the ground before all these stupid alcohol laws came in
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Posted using RoarFEED

That hill is one of my main memories of my first trip to Leichhardt Oval. I didn't know the best place to park, so parked in a side street down near the rowing club. All was fine going up the hill, but trying to get down in the dark and the rain was a little interesting…

As others have mentioned, the final home game for the Balmain Tigers in 1999 was a memorable night. It was the first game I ever took my girlfriend (now wife) to. Standing at the bottom of the hill, freezing water pouring down, drenched to the bone. Parra score early and I think we are in for a long night, but then the boys turn it around and the atmosphere is amazing. Dropped my girlfriend off at her place afterwards and she asks me when the next game is. No wonder I married her!

I remember a game in the 1990s where a girl got a little too excited and jumped the fence in celebration, ripping off her top. No, she wasn't with me...

 

[Joel Helmes]

Walking back down the massive hill next la montage across and under the bridge back to the car on Hawthorne parade after a great tigers win . Even better in the wet watching everyone slip and slide down it after a few hundred beers . Only ground u could buy a carton for 40 bucks inside the ground before all these stupid alcohol laws came in
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Posted using RoarFEED

That hill is one of my main memories of my first trip to Leichhardt Oval. I didn't know the best place to park, so parked in a side street down near the rowing club. All was fine going up the hill, but trying to get down in the dark and the rain was a little interesting…

As others have mentioned, the final home game for the Balmain Tigers in 1999 was a memorable night. It was the first game I ever took my girlfriend (now wife) to. Standing at the bottom of the hill, freezing water pouring down, drenched to the bone. Parra score early and I think we are in for a long night, but then the boys turn it around and the atmosphere is amazing. Dropped my girlfriend off at her place afterwards and she asks me when the next game is. No wonder I married her!

I remember a game in the 1990s where a girl got a little too excited and jumped the fence in celebration, ripping off her top. No, she wasn't with me...

Speaking of nudity at Leichhardt, I can only remember one streaker, a woman at (I think) was what we thought was Balmain's last game there in 1994 against the Panthers?

Can anyone else remember any streakers at Leichhardt? :slight_smile:

 

[Yossarian]

I think you're spot on Helmesy. My memory is that the streaker (it was a woman) managed to run basically the entire field, leap over the fence at the Keith Barnes Stand end, get dressed and watch the game. We saw her leaving after full time. Says a lot about security at the time!

 

[Joel Helmes]

I think you're spot on Helmesy. My memory is that the streaker (it was a woman) managed to run basically the entire field, leap over the fence at the Keith Barnes Stand end, get dressed and watch the game. We saw her leaving after full time. Says a lot about security at the time!

True, I think from memory the "incident' happened prior to the game so it didn't affect the play.

:roll