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Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
As a younger Doggie supporter who hasn't experienced a match there as yet I wanted to get woofers insights on what a typical matchday there was for the fans at that time. Was it a case of a short stroll down the street to the WO or was it a longer journey with the car from the other side of the city? Did you go to the pubs before and after games etc etc. things like that.
Love to hear some stories.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Very different now compared to when I used to watch us play games there.
Early on for me it was with the parents or grand parents standing for more than 6 quarters of football.
In my teens, traveling down from the country by train and once again standing for the vast majority of 2 games on the day. Long trip home probably getting there by 7.15pm to 7.30pm. Jam doughnuts were a culinary highlight before getting on to the train.
Later on when I was living in Melbourne I was in the ground the moment the gates opened and raced up the stairs to secure a seat in the Can Bar. To this day the best seats I have had at a game of footy sitting right near the 3WRB team "Footballs Best in the West" listening to the Big H, Tommy Lahif and Raquel Stevens.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Train from ripponlea , they had to hand write the train ticket
Change at flinders st a hub of different footy supporters wearing their colours
I remember people getting on the train with live chickens they had bought at the market
Get off at west footscray walking across the bridge full of excitement
Usually a long trip home
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
When I was a kid we'd have salad rolls for lunch and I'd walk up to the ground with my mates. It was was the first place I was allowed to go by myself. We didn't always go straight there.
The Can Bar was the most brilliant place to watch footy from ever, period. I reckon anyway. You could almost bang on the window of the coach's box. Poor Alan Jeans having to sit there.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Well Easty, this is your big chance to finally visit WO on Sunday.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Moved this thread to the Bulldogs Unleashed board. Thought it is better suited here.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Bump. Thought I'd bring this thread up. It's a good off season type Bulldog thread.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Late 70's first memory of dad and I driving from Mulgrave near Waverley Park in our blue fairlane marquis LTD with the velour trim driving to my nanna's house(RIP) in Adelaide St Saturday mornings.
Sometimes we would have fish and chips for lunch from around the corner from her house,caked with skipping girl brown vinegar DELICIOUS!.Other days we would meet my Nan and her bestie Uncle Bert at the ground at the scoreboard end just to the left of the goals with prime front row seats as the two of them would be there when the gates opened to watch all 3 matches.
They would always have on hand for dad and I a couple of rounds of cornbeef and pickle sangers and a full thermos of hot tomato soup(I can taste and smell it all as if it was yesterday).
Mum would always stay at home as she didn't want to see her to MEN upset after another unforseable heavy loss,hoping the long drive back home to Mulgrave would erase most of the disappoint from another loss but it never truly did.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Being brought up in Glen Waverley it was always a long trip out on the train, changing at Flinders St station...but it was often a much longer trip home after another loss. Having never lived in the western suburbs, it was somewhat strange that I always felt at home at the Western Oval and I look back on those times with great affection even though the facilities were well under par.
When I got my licence it was a much easier trip and I always managed to find a park in the side streets of Footscray between the ground and Gordon St. Loved getting there a bit early to watch the reserves do their thing and see who the young blokes were pushing for senior selection.
When I married and we started our family I introduced my young son to the experience at a fairly young age. I used to bring some foldaway steps with me that enabled him to climb up and see the game. They used to let you bring in almost anything those days. Happy times.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Thanks for sharing. Some great insights into the long and short trips for woofers around in the VFL days to the spiritual home. Did you usually have a drink before and after the games at the pub nearby. After win I'm sure many of you would have :)
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
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Originally Posted by
Eastdog
Thanks for sharing. Some great insights into the long and short trips for woofers around in the VFL days to the spiritual home. Did you usually have a drink before and after the games at the pub nearby. After win I'm sure many of you would have :)
The Rising Sun Hotel and The Buck were great spots to catch up with some mates before and after a game, especially after a win.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
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Originally Posted by
KT31
The Rising Sun Hotel and The Buck were great spots to catch up with some mates before and after a game, especially after a win.
And the Albert.
All gone now. :(
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
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Originally Posted by
Twodogs
And the Albert.
All gone now. :(
I think you mentioned there now sites for apartments which seems to be the trend nowadays not just in the inner city areas but in the suburbs as well as the population increases.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
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Originally Posted by
Eastdog
I think you mentioned there now sites for apartments which seems to be the trend nowadays not just in the inner city areas but in the suburbs as well as the population increases.
Yep. All the pubs mentioned are now apartments. Horrible looking dog boxes they are.
I noticed the other day that the front bar of The Buck is still intact, maybe they are planning on opening it as a micro pub?
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
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Originally Posted by
Twodogs
And the Albert.
All gone now. :(
and the can bar :D
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
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Originally Posted by
bornadog
and the can bar :D
What a great place. The number one footy viewing spot of all time.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
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Originally Posted by
Twodogs
What a great place. The number one footy viewing spot of all time.
I'm not old enough to know the can bar, where was it?
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
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Originally Posted by
Greystache
I'm not old enough to know the can bar, where was it?
http://www.weekendnotes.com/im/009/02/whitten-oval1.jpg
Top Deck John Gent Stand. You can see a great big section between the media boxes.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
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Originally Posted by
bornadog
Top Deck John Gent Stand. You can see a great big section between the media boxes.
Thanks. Was it just an open standing area?
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Greystache
Thanks. Was it just an open standing area?
Yes and it was pretty much rubbish up there but who cared.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Greystache
Thanks. Was it just an open standing area?
Two rows of seats and standing room behind that. I used to get there early and rush up the stairs and grab a seat near a former U19's coach who had a seat reserved for him. The best time was when Harry and Tommy would call the football on 3WRB. I could see them calling the game while I was listening to them.
Sausage sizzle, pie warmer, beer and soft drink was all you could buy up there.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
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Originally Posted by
Greystache
Thanks. Was it just an open standing area?
Yep. It was a large concrete bunker with a concrete floor, some shoddy rooms for corporate guests, media and the coaching staff on one side and accommodation for the timekeepers on the other. Access was via an internal, enclosed stairway. It was kind of cool, this tunnel through the standvthen you came to a corridor that led behind the Corporate and coaching suites and through a door into this large space that seemed to hover over the ground.
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Originally Posted by
bornadog
Yes and it was pretty much rubbish up there but who cared.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GVGjr
Two rows of seats and standing room behind that. I used to get there early and rush up the stairs and grab a seat near a former U19's coach who had a seat reserved for him. The best time was when Harry and Tommy would call the football on 3WRB. I could see them calling the game while I was listening to them.
Sausage sizzle, pie warmer, beer and soft drink was all you could buy up there.
With a bar at the back that sold proper beer in cans. My favourite feature was the proximity of the home team's coaching box. Poor Alan Joyce almost had to walk through the drunks at the breaks to get out of there.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Great stuff. The Can bar from the sound of it would of been a great place to be being a Bulldog supporter. I'm sure also many of you would of gone into the ground back there and mingle with the players post match something which unfortunately doesn't happen today. After our VFL GF win going onto the ground at Etihad was a great experience for me going to the footy.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Walked across Barkly St - always went home at half time for a cuppa or stiff drink depending on the score. Stood behind Barkly St goals downwind of a can bar or sat in Whitten Stand with my Dad if it was raining.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
How lucky were you!!
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Originally Posted by
Im Not Bitter
Walked across Barkly St - always went home at half time for a cuppa or stiff drink depending on the score. Stood behind Barkly St goals downwind of a can bar or sat in Whitten Stand with my Dad if it was raining.
Drove from either Flemington, /Geelong or Northern Victoria - depending on where we were residing at the time.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
We have a good range of Doggies fans who just went down the road to get to WO and others who drove or took the train there from further away back in the day. Great stories.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
As a kid I walked up Willy Road with my dad from our home just off Francis Street. It was a great walk back when we won.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
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Originally Posted by
Bulldog4life
As a kid I walked up Willy Road with my dad from our home just off Francis Street. It was a great walk back when we won.
Which street B4L?
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
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Originally Posted by
Twodogs
Which street B4L?
Bena street Td
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bulldog4life
Bena street Td
I grew up in Wales St in my first four years opposite the park. My dad was an immigrant but fell in love with the game and of course chose Footscray because we lived there. We moved further west for a couple of years but came back to live on Barkley st to look after my uncles fish & Chips shop for two years while he travelled overseas. I clearly remember walking to the ground from there for home games. My father never ventured to away games those days as it was difficult with the hours in the shop.
When we left Barkley st to go back to our own home we travelled to the ground by train from Sunshine station. This continued till I was old enough to buy a car or a mate had a car and then we drove.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bornadog
I grew up in Wales St in my first four years opposite the park. My dad was an immigrant but fell in love with the game and of course chose Footscray because we lived there. We moved further west for a couple of years but came back to live on Barkley st to look after my uncles fish & Chips shop for two years while he travelled overseas. I clearly remember walking to the ground from there for home games. My father never ventured to away games those days as it was difficult with the hours in the shop.
When we left Barkley st to go back to our own home we travelled to the ground by train from Sunshine station. This continued till I was old enough to buy a car or a mate had a car and then we drove.
Can't get any better than that BAD a feed of fish 'n chips after a game.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bornadog
I grew up in Wales St in my first four years opposite the park. My dad was an immigrant but fell in love with the game and of course chose Footscray because we lived there. We moved further west for a couple of years but came back to live on Barkley st to look after my uncles fish & Chips shop for two years while he travelled overseas. I clearly remember walking to the ground from there for home games. My father never ventured to away games those days as it was difficult with the hours in the shop.
When we left Barkley st to go back to our own home we travelled to the ground by train from Sunshine station. This continued till I was old enough to buy a car or a mate had a car and then we drove.
Which Fish and Chip shop was it BAD? Was it the one closest to the ground or the one further up amongst all the shops?
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Twodogs
Which Fish and Chip shop was it BAD? Was it the one closest to the ground or the one further up amongst all the shops?
Doesn't exist any more. It was between Argle st and Blanford st. I went to the Argle st Footscray West Primary school for prep and year 1.
We are talking about the 1960's here :D, I was pretty young then so hard to remember everything. My Dad use to take us behind the Barkly st goals.
I just remembered something, there use to be a tram all the way down to there but got ripped up at some stage, but we usually walked to the ground.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
I remember the fish and Chip shop near St Johns primary and across the road from Charlie Sutton's old pub ( later owned by Dale Lewis) . Attended often and missed part of the third quarter ( sometimes a good thing)
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bornadog
Doesn't exist any more. It was between Argle st and Blanford st. I went to the Argle st Footscray West Primary school for prep and year 1.
We are talking about the 1960's here :D, I was pretty young then so hard to remember everything. My Dad use to take us behind the Barkly st goals.
I just remembered something, there use to be a tram all the way down to there but got ripped up at some stage, but we usually walked to the ground.
Yep, I remember it. Halftime dim sims!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Remi Moses
I remember the fish and Chip shop near St Johns primary and across the road from Charlie Sutton's old pub ( later owned by Dale Lewis) . Attended often and missed part of the third quarter ( sometimes a good thing)
That would be in Essex st. That was the one we sprinted for if BAD's shop was too full already.;)
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Twodogs
Yep, I remember it. Halftime dim sims!
That would be in Essex st. That was the one we sprinted for if BAD's shop was too full already.;)
Essex st is alot close to the ground than where we were.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bornadog
Essex st is alot close to the ground than where we were.
The spot I'm talking about had a milk bar and a hairdresser as well.
Milk Bar? Remember those?
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Remi Moses
The spot I'm talking about had a milk bar and a hairdresser as well.
Milk Bar? Remember those?
That's the one.it was pretty close to the ground But had worse dimmy's
.
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Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eastdog
Bump
More bumps today Eastie than a mogul run.:)