Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days

[Bornadog]

Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days

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.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days

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.

[Twodogs]

Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days

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?

[Bornadog]

Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days

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 , 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.

[Remi Moses]

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)

[Twodogs]

Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days

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 , 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!

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.

[Bornadog]

Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days

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.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days

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?

[Twodogs]

Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days.

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
.

[KT31]

Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days

Bump

More bumps today Eastie than a mogul run.

[1eyedog]

Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days

Dad packed us kids into the back of his little 4wd and we made the trip up from Geelong every second weekend. Sometimes we caught a train to Waverley when we played there, that was a long trip home! Dad's 4wd had no cushions in the back, just two army like steel benches that faced each other. It was always my uncle in the passenger seat and me and three cousins in the back, all red, white and blue flying our scarves proudly out the window.

We always stood at the south west end on top of the basalt slope and we always brought a milk crate each to stand on with folded up cardboard inside it so we could slide down the slope at half time.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days

Question. Because the Albert, The Buckingham and I cant even remember what it was called on the otherside of the walkbridge at West Footscray station are now all apartments where does one go for a refreshing ale pre and post match? Harts is the only place I can think of or Mona Castle?

[1eyedog]

Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days

Question. Because the Albert, The Buckingham and I cant even remember what it was called on the otherside of the walkbridge at West Footscray station are now all apartments where does one go for a refreshing ale pre and post match? Harts is the only place I can think of or Mona Castle?

The Plough does good fish and chips as well as pizza but that's all I've eaten there. They've got a fairly diverse menu (Rabbit Lasange) and a big range of craft beers if that's your thing. It's about half a km to the ground, or a 5 minute walk.

[Webby]

Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days

Question. Because the Albert, The Buckingham and I cant even remember what it was called on the otherside of the walkbridge at West Footscray station are now all apartments where does one go for a refreshing ale pre and post match? Harts is the only place I can think of or Mona Castle?

Harts (aka the Vic) is the best bet, now. Very good food - much better than 2-3 years ago. The pub over the foot bridge at West Footscray Station was the Rising Sun. It's now apartments.

The Plough is good, but pricey. The Mona Castle is a decent 15min walk, but worth it. If you really want to see "alternative" Footscray, the Dancing Dog is okay, but also a 15min walk.

There's a new bar on Barkly Street just next to the old Barkly Hotel (which is now a Lentil Restaurant) which is okay, but the name escapes me.

My tip is either the Plough for upmarket, "new Footscray" or the Vic Harts for good value, older school, earthier Footscray. I like them both.

[KT31]

Re: Getting to the Whitten Oval on matchdays in the VFL days and Early AFL days

There's a new bar on Barkly Street just next to the old Barkly Hotel (which is now a Lentil Restaurant) which is okay, but the name escapes me..

Seriously, the Neil's of this world have a lot to answer for.The old diggers who used to drink there would be turning in their graves.