Better late than never, some of you may like to know about last Saturday at Henson Park.
With myself, Alan (father in law), Mungo Amanda, Bismarck O’Measles and his Poms, Chris and Lee, and Danny from work, we had a nice mob for the day out. Meeting at the Henson Park Hotel (and apologies Amanda for my phone lacking a charged battery), we had a few beers, steered a newly arrived chap to the country on the straight and narrow and marvelled at the short walk from the pub to the gate to the Henson Park hill. We decided to sit on the seats below and just to the right of the grandstand as the hill seemed a little soggy from the recent wet weather.
With KBs in hand (surely the last place in Sydney where you can buy some), we settled in for the game. Alas, it was soon evident that Newtown were in for a long day. North Sydney were just strolling through the flimsy Jets defense. Hafltime it was 30 nil and all over. Newtown did score in the second half but the final score was 46 – 6.
The beer of legend
But it was a grand day and Henson Park is a joy to watch footy at. While modern stadiums are comfortable and often have convenient amenities, going to Henson Park is indeed a step back in time. What I liked was the kids running around the ground prior to, at half-time and after the game. They had a grand time including jumping on the soft and bouncy advertising signs. A far cry from the sullen security detail and oppressive corporate presence that confronts fans at NRL games these days.
The best comment went to Alan who, after there was a PA announcement asking the kids to leave the ground for the second half, told ‘em “Stay down this end. They’ll be safe. Newtown won’t be coming down here.”
If the NRL is serious about gaining back some of what the game has lost, they should have a look at these type of games and see what has the crowd, especially the kids, engaged.
I can heartily recommend a Saturday arvo at Henson Park. Greatly enhanced if you have the luxury of the company of the fine fellow footy watchers as I did.
2 responses so far ↓
Bismark O'Measles // Jun 13, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Ah yes, a fine day.
For those who missed it, I was due to be picked-up on the stroke of 5:00 outside the pub (whence we had gravitated after the game) by the good-lady missus.
About 10 minutes into my third beer, I called her and said “Where are you? I’ve been waiting outside for at least fifteen minutes…” The response came : “No you haven’t. I can see you through the door and you haven’t moved a muscle since you got there!”.
Oh Dear.
Including this, it was a fine day. Thanks for organising it Shaun, we should do it more often.
BOM
Shaun // Jun 14, 2009 at 12:38 am
Dear Bismark,
I have been a mate of yours for over a decade now. That is less time that you have been married but even I know that you can’t outsmart your missus.
Btw, lucky I had a beanie tonight. Though a blue and gold one would be nice.