View Full Version : Windy Hill Memories
In 1980 i was 10 years old. My old man and me use to go to every home game and i'd perch up on top of the advertising signs near the old wind sock.I'd sit up there allday and hang on tight if the wind blew to hard.Garry Foulds number 10 was on my back and Timmy was the star of the club.I Remember the Bomber crowd yelling "Reid,Reid,Reid........" every time Alan he got the ball?
I remember getting to the ground early and being amongst the essendon cheer squad at the members end watching Paul Salmon play in the Under 19's.The day Jacko went toe to toe with Ronnie Andrews and the entire essendon crowd and finally someone jumping the fence and having ago at him.I remember that peanut selling bloke will his giant sack of peanuts who use to work the boundry.Ahhhh.....memories. anyone else over the age of 25 who can still remember the old days at Windy Hill?
Daytripper
16 May 2006, 16:34
Lasting memory is the West Coast game where we lost by 8 points with just 16 men.
The crowd gave the boys a standing ovation as they left the ground. I remember walking home with my brother and we were both in tears.
The 'Kevin Walsh Stand' on the HFF outer side, scoreboard end where a group of about 10 blokes used to stand and drink cans all afternoon. Needless to say Walshy copped a bit from them !
The shockingly filthy toilets on that side of the ground.
Getting to the ground at 10am and waiting for the gates to be opened at 11am so you could get a good seat at the big games.
Reserves games
The tiny turnstile entrance we had to get through.
Junior Supporters Club tickets that were never stamped so you ended up using them all season.
The Peanuts man
The atmosphere (craps all over games at Telstra Dome and the MCG)
Having a kick on the ground after the game
Longy413
16 May 2006, 16:37
Lasting memory is the West Coast game where we lost by 8 points with just 16 men.
The crowd gave the boys a standing ovation as they left the ground. I remember walking home with my brother and we were both in tears.
Probably my greatest/proudest EFC memory outside the Premierships.
Probably my greatest/proudest EFC memory outside the Premierships.
Have the game on VHS, a game if won would have gone down in essendon folk law.
Somerville's screamer. Longy's courage. Maddens run around the mark and goal still gives me chills every time i see it. Every player at our club should be made to watch this game, show what club pride and never die spirit is all about.
Mine would be the match against the Demons when the siren had sounded as we were awarded a free kick and fans had already invaded the area.....many stood on the mark and the goal line. Cant exactly remember the scores, but they were tight.
Also, the boundary sign counting down the weeks remaining till TD was due to return in 91.
That match against West Coast if I recall, we went into it unbeaten with West Coast on a cold, miserable afternoon. Somerville had many shots on goal...even tripping as he attempted a kick off the ground in the goal square, only to have it rushed for a behind!
Longy413
16 May 2006, 16:47
Have the game on VHS, a game if won would have gone down in essendon folk law.
One I probably should add to my collection. Probably would have been our greatest H&A win under Sheedy if we got up.
Every player at our club should be made to watch this game, show what club pride and never die spirit is all about.
Probably a very good idea. Could be good timing this week.
Daytripper
16 May 2006, 16:53
Probably a very good idea. Could be good timing this week.
Its a bloody good idea.
Someone write to the club.
Lets not forget Wally and Flood double teaming Lockett to keep him goalless after he had consistently obliterated the oppostion 3 weeks running...although that was at Princes Park if I recall
Being only 24 now and only living in Melboure the last few years I have very vague memories of Windy Hill. At least my family made sure we came to Melbourne at least once a year for the footy.
I can remember two games my dad took me too, one against West Coast, which if i remember correctly, was a top of the table clash, and the other, a loss to Fitzroy.
I am quite envious of the fans here who have seen them play live for 20+ years.
Daytripper
16 May 2006, 17:03
Lets not forget Wally and Flood double teaming Lockett to keep him goalless after he had consistently obliterated the oppostion 3 weeks running...although that was at Princes Park if I recall
Moorabin.
Nil goals for the Nhill boys.
windyhill
16 May 2006, 23:10
I`ve got a million, here`s one. The day S.Madden broke D.Reynolds games record I went around and stood under the Great Man`s Grandstand. The Boys ran out and formed a guard of honour for Simon, Dicky was waiting for him on the other side of the banner, it was a nice touch.
Anyway, as Sir Richard was going back to his seat I cheekily asked him to sign A $50 buck note, he duly obliged, kept walking and pocketed the fiddy !!
Well, what do you do ? Do you tackle a Club God ? No, you let them go. Did I cop it off the supporters !! Classical stuff King Richard. He popped back a good 15 minutes later giggling his head off." There`s your 50 son ,had you going didn`t I"
Loved the ground, loved all the other grounds as well. Young supporters are missing something special by us just playing at The G and The Dome, the suburban grounds had soul, the G does obviously, but it looks like any bowl from around the world now, especially since the Members stand has vanished.
Windyhill ? I could write a book.
red+black
16 May 2006, 23:31
Mine would be the match against the Demons when the siren had sounded as we were awarded a free kick and fans had already invaded the area.....many stood on the mark and the goal line. Cant exactly remember the scores, but they were tight.
This is what I was going to post. What made it worse was the guy with the ball used to be my favorite Essendon player, Steven Clark. He received a free kick, then the siren went, everyone ran on the ground, some on the mark, some on the goal line, and everyone else in between. He needed a goal to draw. His torp didn't make it. I wondered why he didn't wait for officials to clear the ground.
The joke going around at the time was to tell all your mates that you were the person that stopped his kick going through!
I just googled his name and am shocked to read that he died in November of pancreatic cancer, aged 44. :eek: I didn't know.
http://www.essendonfc.com.au/images/05/stevenclark.jpg
I miss Steven Clark. I miss Windy Hill. I miss the VFL. :(
blumfieldisback
17 May 2006, 00:13
windy hill are u kidding me? we would be dead if we were still there, the best move ever was us going to the MCG, the worst is going to the dome because we are so susceptable to soft tissue injuries. what suprises me is that we are the only home team there to change to concept of our team to suit the ground. anyway not the point of this thread.
but although its not a windy hill moment its certainly will stand as my favourite essendon moment when the underaged 93 baby bombers played adelaide in the preliminary final, the sheer excitement of winning after being 42 points down at half time will stand in memory for ever. That whole 93 season was just a bunch of kids who had never surrender attitudes. the game against geelong when ablett kicked 14 And the fish kicked 10, the west coast game when salmon kicked the winning goal after spraying several others. that season should be shown to the players to show that if you play with exuberance and excitment the crowd will get into the match and help you lift.
My old man used to take me and we'd stand under the scoreboard. God there were some low-life's under that scoreboard, lol... I'm talking the lowest 1% of society. They were almost not-human.
djharps
17 May 2006, 02:25
I'm talking the lowest 1% of society. They were almost not-human.
F U C K ING LOL!! i thought that was only collingwood supporters... wow do i remember some collingwood supporters whom feel out of the ugly tree and hit every branch!!... who could forget the smell of vb and peter jackson saliva falling on ur face as a 10yr old... getting squashed as a youngster as ur in a essendon v colllingwood game where there are far to many ppl in the area... the ppl yelling ball in ur ear and u cant hear properly... being 10 and yelling ball with the crowds yet not old enough for a developed larox and lossing ur voice every week!.... meat pies that are pipping hot along the edges yet cold in the middle... with that sweet 4 n twenty sauce taste.. the guy behind u spilling his beer on u... going "sorry mate, oh son ur a mighty bomber supporter go the dons".. then he waves ur flag.. and ur so scared by the big burley bloke that all u can do is smile and scream.... being so young u dont no exactly what is going on.. but u just mimik what the crowd does... and yelling at opposition players.. u dont no there names so u just refer to them as there numbers.... looking at the footy record with meat pie all over it..... sweaty neck from the itchy club scarf.... kicking the footy around and getting mud all over you.... watching drunked brawls at the end of the game... and scared that you will get punched at only the age of 10!..... big fat female supporters whom always seem to have less teeth that the fingers on there hands.... teenage girls covered in team badges...supporters standing there convincing ur dad why we are the better team and the presence of cops and how ppl hated them around....... then a few bloody things happened that changed the game.... the dome, light beer, more cops and interstated teams winning.. the dynamics of victorian footy changed... for better or for worse who nos...... footy if more family orientated... but i can say as an adult being subjected to that when i was younger has not turned me into some alien.. infact they are memories that i look back on most so that the result of individual games.... ahhhhh :D
Smokin_Joe
17 May 2006, 03:33
Im only 21 so i can hardly remember goin to Windy Hill, but i do remember going to watch the mighty dons play footscray in the early 90s at WH. I had just moved from Keilor to Tulla and I loved how the ground was so close and easy to get to, it made it feel like my local suburban ground. Years later i played EDFL finals matches there and it made me walk taller and felt like my second home ground.
I still love goin there. IMO 22,000 bomber fans at Windy Hill cheer louder than 50,000 at the MCG.
Longy413
17 May 2006, 10:43
Years later i played EDFL finals matches there and it made me walk taller and felt like my second home ground.
How good was that as a young fella?
Running out through the race, the Reynolds Stand was always packed, just for a moment you felt like you were in the big time.
That game against the Eagles in 91 was Wanganeens debut i think, if it wasnt it was only his 2nd or 3rd game.
A friends dad travelled to Melbourne for that game but he was an Eagles supporter. He reckons he was too scared to cheer the Eagles. When the Eagles goaled his support was limited to rattling the change in his trouser pocket.
Daytripper
17 May 2006, 12:15
He reckons he was too scared to cheer the Eagles. When the Eagles goaled his support was limited to rattling the change in his trouser pocket.
A very wise move under the circumstances.
I can't remember a Windy Hill crowd being that emotional before.
Lance Uppercut
17 May 2006, 12:27
Mine would be the match against the Demons when the siren had sounded as we were awarded a free kick and fans had already invaded the area.....many stood on the mark and the goal line. Cant exactly remember the scores, but they were tight.
Yeh I was there, and it's one of my favourite Windy Hill memories too, what an ending to the game!
Lance Uppercut
17 May 2006, 12:28
When the Eagles goaled his support was limited to rattling the change in his trouser pocket.
hahahaha awesome!
I can't remember a Windy Hill crowd being that emotional before.
The crowd that day was feral. It was great as a 15 year old. You really felt like you belonged to a family when you went to Windy Hill. That was the day Lewis?? got manhandled by a supporter when he was near the fence. Great game and one of the gutiest Essendon efforts ever.
My 1st memory of Windy Hill was when I went there as a anklebiter when Jacko was playing for St Kilda. I was scared of him and thought he was going to jump the fence and bash me. Got no idea why but at the time I was scared.
I have a heap to thank my Dad for. He used to take me there at least once a season. (It's a long way from Cranbourne) until I could start going on my own and Dad ended up coming every week with me. The memories of getting off the train at Essendon station. Going to the 7/11 for a pie and slurpie and then standing in the outer. Loved it.
Longy413
17 May 2006, 13:01
We used to catch the tram down from Keilor Rd and get off at the 'Brickies.'
I remember walking over that old bridge that crossed the trainline and brings you out where the Social Club carpark is now, thinking it was going to fall over. Especially after the game when it felt like there were 700 people on it at the same time. It's still there and it still looks like it's going to fall over.
Anyone else try the deep fried Mars Bars at the fish and chip shop?
Although that might have been post-footy at Windy Hill days.
Having never been in Melbourne apart from the airport, I have never been to Windy Hill but it seemed like it really suited Sheeds. It looks dark and dinghy and as though there would be a lot of secret corridors with people like K Walsh lurking around and at the end of it all - the dungeon, Sheedys office. That last year or so was fantastic with games like the Melbourne and WCoast one and also with antics like the smoke being blown across the ground and the windsock being tied down. I love Sheeds!
Smokin_Joe
17 May 2006, 16:43
How good was that as a young fella?
Running out through the race, the Reynolds Stand was always packed, just for a moment you felt like you were in the big time.
It was fantastic, Dean Hartigan was our coach and he loved going back there and we also beat Douta Stars and Aberfeldie on both occasions :p
Longy413
17 May 2006, 16:45
Any win against Doutta's is a good win. Even better in a final.
Remember playing the last EVER little league game there. The changerooms were rubbish, tiny. We got the usual free pie and coke after though. Me old man (not a don) wasn't to keen on going there which is a shame.
red+black
17 May 2006, 19:53
Anyone know when the tram was still in operation?
:thumbsu: :thumbsu: :thumbsu: to all the memories mentioned already, I will add a few extra. Those roast beef & colslaw rolls we used to buy in the social club, damn they were good. After the games having drinks & dancing with the players at the "after game Disco" upstairs in the social club. The "pleasant sunday mornings" after home games, with the wheel, $10 to get in & all food & grog included, mind you they made a packet from that bloody wheel.
Remember the games where the wind was that strong they use to aim past the point posts and let the wind swing it in for goal.And how the balls always sailed over the scoreboard end fence never to be seen again. They use to go thru 10 footys a match and the qtrs would run to 32-33 mins cause they spent so much time waiting for the bloody ball to be returned!
The May18 Brawl.
I was about two rows back from the fence between the stands and the scoreboard. Missed the start, just heard the roar and looked over and saw it all happen. 24 376 people there that day and i was one of them.
My first game of footy ever was at Windy Hill. Ess V Haw 10/6/67 I went with my older two brothers, both essendon supporters. I can't remember anything about the game only that it was a thrashing. I now know that you guys won 142 - 51.
My parents owned the milk bar on the other side of the railway line from the ground for a few years. I would sell drinks and lollies at the bottom of the footbridge before you crossed over.
I remember the last time we played you at Windy Hill (1991)- shocking conditions. We won 60 - 43 we kicked 3 points in the last quarter and you guys kicked one !!!!
I was at that 91' Ess v Rich game! went with a group of mates who r mad richmond supporters.They were that happy about the win.We were up near the old wind sock up on the hill and after the game i had to stand there till about 5.30 pm waiting for them to stop singing the tiger song over and over again. About 20 drunk tigers all hangin on to each other injoying a rare win at Windy Hill!!! They still remind me of it till this day!!!!
I was at that 91' Ess v Rich game! went with a group of mates who r mad richmond supporters.They were that happy about the win.We were up near the old wind sock up on the hill and after the game i had to stand there till about 5.30 pm waiting for them to stop singing the tiger song over and over again. About 20 drunk tigers all hangin on to each other injoying a rare win at Windy Hill!!! They still remind me of it till this day!!!!
I know it has probably happened a lot over the years but no goals in a quarter by either team has to be fairly rare.
windyhill
19 May 2006, 18:43
I was at that 91' Ess v Rich game! went with a group of mates who r mad richmond supporters.They were that happy about the win.We were up near the old wind sock up on the hill and after the game i had to stand there till about 5.30 pm waiting for them to stop singing the tiger song over and over again. About 20 drunk tigers all hangin on to each other injoying a rare win at Windy Hill!!! They still remind me of it till this day!!!!
Andy Underwood played for Richmond that day. One of their best as well.
Longy413
8 Jun 2006, 15:59
A few photo's of Windy Hill in its former glory were on the Age (RealFooty) website today -
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/ffximage/2006/06/08/wbFOOTYwindyhill_gallery__470x308.jpg
Aerial view of Essendon Football Ground on 12th March, 1975. The acceelerated demise of VFL/AFL suburban venues occurred in part because of the disgraces and tragedies of distant soccer stadiums in Europe, where fires and riots claimed many lives in the 1980s.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/ffximage/2006/06/08/wbFOOTYwindy4_gallery__382x400.jpg
I'll bet you that one day they'll put a roof on a stadium - ha ha.' Windy Hill - Essendon Football Club's President, Alan Hird turns the first sod on a new stand in 1972.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/ffximage/2006/06/08/wbFOOTYwindy2_gallery__288x400.jpg
Windy Hill in 1991. There's no bucket seat or etiquette attendants, but you've got standing room and the results from the reserves games on the scoreboard - what else is needed?
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/ffximage/2006/06/08/wbFOOTYwind3_gallery__470x362.jpg
1970s occupational health and safety at its finest. This view of Windy Hill was replicated at many grounds, where simple mounds topped with advertising offered standing room views and climbing opportunities for enterprising young fans.
only saw 1 game ever at windy hill, and was far too young to remember it. I'm annoyed we only get 1 VFL game per year these days, such a great ground for watching footy at.
having only seen the 1 AFL game there my favorite moment is from the VFL when Tony Lockett played against our reserves and Gary Moorcroft kicked a goal off the ground from 35m out to put us inftont just secconds before the siren, big crowd for a VFL game as plugga was on his comeback