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Video Clip - A short video documenting some of the greatest times witnessed by the much missed Central Park, the former home of Wigan RLFC Features some great film of Billy Boston in action, plus some of Andy Gregory, plus others To view just click the Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZZsrxOkjwQ .

From 1983 Premiership semi-final. Andy Gregory takes a big elbow but Les Gorley sorts things out for him
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBY3oHgvyHs

Stats available for Gregory's year in Australia-

Warrington v Wigan, 1 January, 1988

NEW YEAR'S DAY PUNCH-UP

WILDERSPOOL has staged many bad tempered matches but nothing compares to the New Year's Day 'derby' against Wigan in 1988.

While the game itself had a dramatic finale, it was the opening 20 minutes which captured all the headlines.

Wilderspool's biggest 'gate' of the season and highest league attendance for 15 years - 10,056 - ended up watching an 11-a-side game.

Southport referee Kevin Allatt sent four players off as the game boiled over. Another player was sent to the sin bin.

Afterwards, Warrington coach Tony Barrow described the episode as 'World War Three.'

The start was delayed eight minutes to allow the crowd to get in but on the pitch there was trouble from the first minute as Warrington's Les Boyd and Wigan's Adrian Shelford clashed.

There were other clashes before the game errupted on eight minutes, when Boyd and Andy Gregory tangled. Players from both sides piled in and Allatt ended up sending off Warrington's Tony Humphries with Wigan's Shelford.

Boyd was ordered to the sin bin. Even that did not end the hostility for on 20 minutes Wigan second rower Andy Goodway, currently the Great Britain coach, felled Paul Cullen and was sent marching to the tunnel.

As Goodway walked to the tunnel Cullen chased after him and launched himself at the Wigan player. A new brawl erupted and Cullen and Goodway had to be separated before the Warrington centre was also dismissed.

Cullen's moment of madness cost him a two match ban and probably cost Warrington victory, although Tony Barrow claimed at the time that Goodway had stamped on Cullen as he trooped towards the exit.

Thankfully, that was the end of the scenes but the game had already been tarnished. Wigan then opened the scoring when Ellery Hanley broke clear from the half way line.

Warrington responded with Australian Boyd leading the fightback. His power running set up touch downs for Billy McGinty and Brian Johnson. A drop goal from John Woods just before half-time gave Warrington a 13-4 advantage.

Then Gregory added his influence. His kick brought a try for Steve Hampson and then he was involved in the play that put Hanley over for his second try that gave Wigan a 14-13 lead.

Woods put over a penalty for off side but Gregory's drop goal two minutes from the end gave them a share of the spoils.

Warrington were in second place in the Stones Bitter Championship at the time - chasing Widnes for the title.

Result: Warrington 15 Wigan 15

Team: Brian Johnson; Des Drummond, Paul Cullen, Joe Ropati, David Lyon; John Woods, Martin Crompton; Les Boyd, Kevin Tamati, Tony Humphries, Bob Jackson, Ronnie Duane, Billy McGinty.
Subs: Mark Roberts, Gary Sanderson.
Tries: McGinty, Johnson.
Goals: Woods 3.
Drop goal: Woods.

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You have a picture showing Andy Greg and Kurt Sorensen scrapping with gentleman Mick Adams looking on!!

Ironically all 3 played for the Widnes club in the UK!! Are we the hardest club? we also had Vinty Karalius, Jim Mills and Kevin Tamati... whilst our Hulme brothers were labelled by gary freeman as the dirtiest men he'd ever played against. And he should know!!More recently Penrith Rock Steve Carter played for us too.

Hail to the Chemics.. the Worlds hardest team.

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I'll never forget watching Greg run from dummy half in the Sydney Sevens final in '92.

It was monsoon weather and the pitch was like a shallow pond.

Wigan were beating Brisbane but the Broncos were having a purple patch and were just starting to get back into it. Wigan had just fielded a kick and needed to hold the ball for a good set.

Gregory had just come back on with a bloody bandage around his head and he drove the ball up from dummy half like a prop. He handed off the marker and ran straight into Lazarus.

Mis-match of the century but unbelievably Lazarus went on his backside and Greg ran over him and carted the ball up a bit further before he was tackled.

Priceless.

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thank you andy

i have never worship a player as much as you

thank you for all the memories

come on wire

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Andy Gregory story. (Note: Quigs had to slightly censor this story, B's for C's if you get my drift)

I met Gregory just after he came out to play for the lllawarra Steelers. (he and Steve Hampson?) I met him in down town Wollongong at a Vietnamese bakery at about 6am in the morning. I had been on the piss the night before. This was in the lead up week to the 1989?Panasonic Final Illawarra were playing in against Brisbane. Brisbane were chock a block with Internationals and had yet to win a title.

The Steelers had been through some very lean times. I myself had been to 18 home games at Wollongong Showground over the previous 3 years and they had lost most and drew a few. I thought I was some form of kiss of death. They had found some form in this mid week comp and scraped into the final stages of the comp by playing out a draw with Norths. They followed this up with the highest scoring win in the clubs history when they flogged Cronulla 44-0 to go into the final against a Lewis led Brisbane. The Steeltown was electric with anticipation, trepidation, interstate rivalry, and just pure league loving intensity. The game couldn't come soon enough.

So with this in mind, I found myself early on the Saturday before the final walking up to Andy to wish him well in the big one. The moment obviously got the better of me as after politely introducing myself I launched into a tirade of violent suggestions for Andy. All of it centred on Andy getting the better of Allan Langer. "Andy" I said "get hold of that little B from the outset and give it to him. Give him everything. If his fingers get anywhere ya gob, chomp on 'em. If the ref's not lookin', kick that little B right in the head. Tread on him. Say stuff about his missus. Do not let up on this little B. Nobody has been relentless with him since he has hit the top grade and I think he is suspect. Andy, you can stick it right up this B and show him what a tough halfback plays like. F'n stick it right up the B."

Now, keep in mind that Andy was just out to pick a loaf of bread at dawn and some pissed idiot was chewing his ear off. Breathing stale beer fumes all over him. Keep in mind that I had on several occassions referred to Allan Langer as a "Little C" and Andy himself is around 5 and a half foot tall. But I'll never forget how Andy handled himself and me in this situation. He looked me right in the eye and never moved his gaze. To me, his eyes had the look of someone who had done time in gaol. He let me rant and rave and just said at the end of it "O aye lud"

Then he bought a tank loaf and 6 rolls

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I played pro in england in the mid 80s for Salford making my full debut against my home town club Warrington, who were known as the Zoo in that era. At fullback was a brian johnson who was also making his debut for Warrington - but with alot more experience than i.

The Warrington front roy that day would have put fear into any international team. it read Boyd, Tomati, and Jackson(Bob)who I later went on to play with at Warrington.

I recall Alan rathbone being at loose forward on that day also. A little geneous called Andy Gregory was at no 7. Thankfully for us that day Boydy went off early with adead leg - aresult of a mistimed tackle from Roby Mullerwho caught Les on the thigh with his head of all things.

This game of ours isnt all about braun as we know as the star of the day was at 6. on his day this guy was the best in the world and so he proved as he ran in 4 tries that day on 6th Oct 1986. Phil Blake was mercurial that day. In my eyes he was the master of the chip and chase.

Later on in my "career", Brian Johnson went on to be my coach at Warrington. Brian's feelings on the chip and chase were, "Only try it if you knew it was gonna come off!!" We tried a few!

I played with some great Aussie guys over her in England, Mark Wakefield - is he still in Marwillumbah? Brian Battese- one hell of a worker!! the late Geoff Selby - a brilliant future lay ahead for this talented young guy tragically killed in a car accident in 1989. Neil Baker played with Neil in that Warrington game. Watched in awe as he drew a Leeds defence - chipped and regathered on the full and then drew the fullback and cipped and caught on the full and went under the posts. genious!

Greg Mackey- still holds the record for most consecutive matches for Warrington. kept me from making a full debut for Warrington. What he did was tackle well above his weight. A clever player, learned alot from him.

Well it was nice to share some of my favourite moments in my modest career. I have an aweful lot of precious moments from the best game in the world.

Thanks to all those who helped me make em.

Steve Griffiths
ex Salford and Warrington RL

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the best scrum half there was, and to add to his
hard man status, andy recently made the headlines for fighting off a 12
stone rottweiler. now thats hard.

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Went to a dinner last month that had Andy Gregory as a guest speaker. He was asked to describe JIm Mills (who he had played with early in his career). He said that he was 'Tempermental - 50% temper, 50% mental'.

He talked about a game when he was on the bench. Mike Nicholas (spelling) hit Jim Mills with a high tackle early in the game, leaving him on the floor. The ref (Billy Thompson) called Nicholas out. As he did, Mills shouted "Leave him on Billy". Nicholas gets to the ref, who gives him a caution. He says "Am i not going off then?". The ref replied "Not yet, but very likely in the foreseeable future". He left on a stretcher soon after.

If you get chance to listen to Gregory, he's a good after dinner speaker.

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I saw Andy Gregory many times and every time there was a memort to cherish. He took on the work of a prop forward, charging ,battering and making ground to help clear the line.

When it came to taking knocks he took their share of those as well, but he was good at distributing both ball and bruises, the last time I saw him was an evening game at Leigh, he made the backs look like raw amateurs and the forwards like lightweights.

We played pretty well that night but Andy played better, Leigh ought to make director of coaching as he has forgotten more about our game than many other coaches ill ever learn.

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