Pratten Park- memories

[Old_Maggie]

As I am new to this forum, I have a lot of great memories of watching wests- magpies playing at Pratten Park.
watched them play there from 1949 until they finished there in the 80's

One game, from '57 that still to this day clearly stands out is when wests played easts.

Harry Wells, was in centre for wests. he did not looked interested in the first half. easts lead by at least 5 points at half time. after having his face rubbed in dirt just on half time, by Ken Rowlands, the centre for easts, Harry Wells, came out in second half, scored a try and set up another all in first 5 minutes of second half.
the match then became a one way wests magpies procession.
Rowlands was hopelessly out played in second half and never ever rubbed Harry Wells face in dirt again. :laughing:
it was great to watch.

 

[Old_Maggie]

the best ever player I saw at Pratten Park, without a doubt was Keith Holman, :master:
who was the leading try scorer for Australia until beaten by Ken Irvine.

 

[innsaneink]

I lived in Ashfield as a kid, they played at Lidcombe from when I began following them but occasionally they visited PP….I remember seeing them win the Amco Cup at Leichhardt in 77 only to get hammered by Saints at Pratten the following weekend...was good to be able to walk to a game for a change
Recently saw Wests & BRET in 2008 - centenary year - from memory they lost that game too....

 

[Leroy_The_Tigers_Fan]

Never got to get to Pratten Park as I was involved in Group 10 footy in the 70's & 80's but as an older Balmain supporter who has embraced the Magpie heritage I would recommend people to look up the Kelly's Kids website.
Memories from the 60's to the present with a heap of pics as to how Pratten Park looks today, I was unaware that there was a transitition between Lidcombe Oval and Orana Park (Campbelltown) when Wests played at Pratten Park in the mid 80's, I always assumed they went from Lidcombe to Campbelltown but no, around 1985 they were back at Pratten Park, something that with the Criteria B/S and corporate catering you couldn't do today, a great pity, but I digress.

 

[PYMBLEPETE]

I saw the Magpies play only twice that I can recall at Pratten (I basically started going to matches when Wests were based at Lidcombe). I dont recall much about the place, but I do remember being keen to go to a match there because of its part in Magpies history. Glad that you can still recall that game Old Maggie from such a long time ago!

 

[PrattenParkMagpie]

Lived behind Pratten Park for about 4 years (74 to 78), 3 houses away from the southern entrance (scoreboard end), walked through it almost daily walking to school on weekdays and played footy on the hill on most weekends, got chased off the oval by the groundskeeper numerous times over those 4 years.

The side was out of the running for a semis spot in 1977 and were concentrating on the Amco Cup so the last couple of performances were very poor but was still great going “next door” to watch Wests play there in late 77.

 

[magpie_mania]

as i am new to this forum, i have a lot of great memories of watching wests- magpies playing at pratten park.
Watched them play there from 1949 until they finished there in the 80's

one game, from '57 that still to this day clearly stands out is when wests played easts.

Harry wells, was in centre for wests. He did not looked interested in the first half. Easts lead by at least 5 points at half time. After having his face rubbed in dirt just on half time, by ken rowlands, the centre for easts, harry wells, came out in second half, scored a try and set up another all in first 5 minutes of second half.
The match then became a one way wests magpies procession.
Rowlands was hopelessly out played in second half and never ever rubbed harry wells face in dirt again. :laughing:
it was great to watch.

great post old maggie love to read some more from past games.

 

[innsaneink]

Lived behind Pratten Park for about 4 years (74 to 78), 3 houses away from the southern entrance (scoreboard end), walked through it almost daily walking to school on weekdays and played footy on the hill on most weekends, got chased off the oval by the groundskeeper numerous times over those 4 years.

The side was out of the running for a semis spot in 1977 and were concentrating on the Amco Cup so the last couple of performances were very poor but was still great going “next door” to watch Wests play there in late 77.

What school did you go to PPM?

 

[redemption]

I lived in Ashfield as a kid, they played at Lidcombe from when I began following them but occasionally they visited PP….I remember seeing them win the Amco Cup at Leichhardt in 77 only to get hammered by Saints at Pratten the following weekend...was good to be able to walk to a game for a change
Recently saw Wests & BRET in 2008 - centenary year - from memory they lost that game too....

But the Maggies got us at Birchgrove that year - let's call it a draw!

 

[redemption]

the best ever player I saw at Pratten Park, without a doubt was Keith Holman, :master:
who was the leading try scorer for Australia until beaten by Ken Irvine.

Even as an old Balmain supporter I would have to say Holman's stats & reputation suggest he was a better halfback than most of those that followed after him for Australia - let alone Western Suburbs!

I would love to see some more decent archival footage of "Yappy" as all of the blokes I've known from that era inform me that he was phenomenal!!

 

[cunno]

Lived behind Pratten Park for about 4 years (74 to 78), 3 houses away from the southern entrance (scoreboard end), walked through it almost daily walking to school on weekdays and played footy on the hill on most weekends, got chased off the oval by the groundskeeper numerous times over those 4 years.

The side was out of the running for a semis spot in 1977 and were concentrating on the Amco Cup so the last couple of performances were very poor but was still great going “next door” to watch Wests play there in late 77.

It must have been great to live so close to the ground where the team you supported played. Never had that luxury. What did you think about the move to Lidcombe then Campbelltown PP?

 

[PrattenParkMagpie]

Lived behind Pratten Park for about 4 years (74 to 78), 3 houses away from the southern entrance (scoreboard end), walked through it almost daily walking to school on weekdays and played footy on the hill on most weekends, got chased off the oval by the groundskeeper numerous times over those 4 years.

The side was out of the running for a semis spot in 1977 and were concentrating on the Amco Cup so the last couple of performances were very poor but was still great going “next door” to watch Wests play there in late 77.

What school did you go to PPM?

Went to Ashfield Boys High with you Ink, same years as you also, left at the end of the first term 1978 in year 9\. (I was Wests_75_Tigers on the previous forum)

 

[PrattenParkMagpie]

Lived behind Pratten Park for about 4 years (74 to 78), 3 houses away from the southern entrance (scoreboard end), walked through it almost daily walking to school on weekdays and played footy on the hill on most weekends, got chased off the oval by the groundskeeper numerous times over those 4 years.

The side was out of the running for a semis spot in 1977 and were concentrating on the Amco Cup so the last couple of performances were very poor but was still great going “next door” to watch Wests play there in late 77.

It must have been great to live so close to the ground where the team you supported played. Never had that luxury. What did you think about the move to Lidcombe then Campbelltown PP?

They were already playing at Lidcombe Oval then, Pratten Park in 77 was just a short term return to the old home ground, and even though they got hammered in two of the three games they played there it was a great experience. By the time they moved to Orana Park I was living nearer to Penrith Park so wasn’t really a concern, it was something the club had to do.

Though there was nothing better than a Sunday arvo on the Lidcombe Oval hill with a hot Jansons Pie to keep you warm (not a better pie anywhere) watching 3 grades of the mighty Magpies play…

Prior to living behind Pratten Park I lived where the current Wests Ashfield Leagues Club now stands

 

[innsaneink]

Lived behind Pratten Park for about 4 years (74 to 78), 3 houses away from the southern entrance (scoreboard end), walked through it almost daily walking to school on weekdays and played footy on the hill on most weekends, got chased off the oval by the groundskeeper numerous times over those 4 years.

The side was out of the running for a semis spot in 1977 and were concentrating on the Amco Cup so the last couple of performances were very poor but was still great going “next door” to watch Wests play there in late 77.

What school did you go to PPM?

Went to Ashfield Boys High with you Ink, same years as you also, left at the end of the first term 1978 in year 9\. (I was Wests_75_Tigers on the previous forum)

Haha cool mate.
Did u live in elizabeth ave, or in those flats near the tyre place?

 

[PrattenParkMagpie]

Haha cool mate.
Did u live in elizabeth ave, or in those flats near the tyre place?

The flats on the corner of Elizabeth Ave and Liverpool Rd across from the old Leagues Club, was there from 1973 before moving to Park Ave behind Pratten Park during 1974

 

[alien]

I never got to watch a game at Lidcombe Oval. I was turning 7 years old the year when Wests starting playing at Leumeah (1987) and that's when I starting going to the footy everyweek. I went to the first game Wests played there which was against Parramatta (which we won) and have been going ever since. I was normally on the hill where the eastern stand is now with all the drunks, lol, or on those wooden grandstands where the north hill is now. I went to Pratten Park when Wests played BRET in 2008 I think it was. We lost and it rained so I went for cover in that covered stand. BRET cheated btw. I should have brought binoculars with me because you are a ffair distance from the field there, just like the SCG.

 

[alien]

It would be good if the Wests Magpies NSW Cup side played 1 game at Lidcombe Oval every year, even if it's just a trial…