Forty years on, McLean Park still gives me goosebumps
I remember when McLean Park was all terraces and cold pies, and you still got goosebumps all the same. But nothing quite touched that Ranfurly Shield night in 2006. Old fella next to me had been going since the 70s and he reckoned he'd never heard the noise like it when the Bay stormed it. I've sat through plenty of Bledisloe nights at Eden Park in my time, and honestly, that night in Napier rivalled any of them for pure joy.
Then half the town ended up down on Marine Parade, strangers hugging strangers, somebody's nana waving a Magpies flag off a balcony. You don't forget evenings like that. The young lot never saw that kind of night, and I feel a bit sorry for them really. Ah well, we'll see what the next forty years bring 😉
4 posts
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✓Was on the terrace that night with my old man, nearly lost my voice when they lifted it 🔥🤩 reckon half of Marine Parade didn't get home till sunup. Goosebumps just typing this, best night of Magpies footy I've ever seen, hands down 💪🙌You don't abandon your own.
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that 2006 night, i was up the back of the stand with me missus and the cold pies were still terrible but nobody cared 😄 what sticks with me is the old boys crying when the shield got lifted, grown men mind you. i'd been coming to mclean park since the amateur days and honestly the ground just hums different when the bay's on. half of marine parade still paying for it the next morning i reckon 😉Seen it all, lads.
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