Finding Fritz

[Noel Mugavin]

Nice to see a bar recognising Garry McIntosh, still have fond memories belting the living daylights out of the Irish in the mid eighties



Made our way to the scoreboard



View from inside



Had a play around with the boards and pulleys and buttons, a bit of fun



Moved to the back of the main stand, extremely well done melding the old with the new





Dizzy



Don't know that Lehmann was ever this slim



Continued through the back of the stand



Fair side this one, even contained the player with one of the greatest nicknames ever

 

[VPS]

No that is not a good likeness of Lehman at any stage of his career

 

[Noel Mugavin]

To the Sheffield Shield Room, and our guide fumbling through his keys



Very sad, one of my favourites as a kid



More fumbling with the keys, took the opportunity to take a few snaps around the area



Eventually the guide gave up, and as the group moved I managed to get a shot of the missing shield through the glass doors. I'm a bit of a cricket tragic, but until now had not been aware that the Shield was held at Adelaide rather than at the winning state's headquarters. Just as well for the Croweaters I guess, not much success over the journey. Of course as a West Australian we don't take into the account the last 20 years.



More boards up on the stand showing historic events that have occurred on the oval



Returned to our starting point and that was that, hour and a half for the tour. The Adelaide Oval really is a beautiful stadium, I really need to get over to see a game of footy or a test match at some stage.

South Australian Sporting Hall of Fame tucked away in a pretty quiet corner, positioning is bit of a shame to be honest



Headed over Memorial Drive and on to the newish pedestrian bridge. Really taken by the country town feel/look along this side of the river



View to the west, not as pleasant



Love how the oval sits among the trees looking back from the bridge



Crossed the river and passed the railway station, poked my head in for a look and was quite surprised, in a good way, by the understated grandeur of the hall

 

[Pushka]

To the Sheffield Shield Room, and our guide fumbling through his keys

View attachment 122090

More boards up on the stand showing historic events that have occurred on the oval

View attachment 122091

Well I can still see MrP in that photo

Are you sure it isn’t a replica? I never knew that either and I’ve actually held it for a while. Well, touched it anyway.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Roy Rene


Continued on on to Rundle Mall



One of the better shop fronts



Tried to get a decent picture of the pigs, but the lady on the edge of the photo just wouldn't move, and I eventually ran out of patience



Found my way to Ali Baba Kebab house on Hindley Street. Quite taken by this painting on the wall



Lunch



Leisurely stroll back to the apartments to jump in the car again





Next destination was Richmond Oval, so headed out on Bradman Drive and did a bit of navigation by heading towards the light towers.
A couple of dead end streets, but eventually got there.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Really like their mascot



More concrete terracing


Another top class playing surface


Very impressive past players bar and deck






Liked the ground a lot, real football club feel to it nestled in behind the factories along with the stand, social club and past players bar.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

From the industrial west, it was then over to the leafy inner south. First via Unley Park and Victoria Avenue, and Wow! No pictures, I'll just keep dreaming.
Took me a little while but I eventually found my destination.


Unley Oval. Beautiful surface, nice backdrop of the Adelaide Hills, but really strange set up without clubrooms on site and no fence. Have read that temporary fencing is put up for games, but does seem a bit Mickey Mouse for me, particularly for a club in such an affluent area.







Thankfully no concrete terracing, but another difference to the WAFL grounds are that there are no cricket clubs sharing the facilities and of course therefore no cricket pitches on any of our ovals. Wasn't always the case, however the cricket clubs were moved on well before my time of watching football in the west.

 

[jase05]

From the industrial west, it was then over to the leafy inner south. First via Unley Park and Victoria Avenue, and Wow! No pictures, I'll just keep dreaming.
Took me a little while but I eventually found my destination.
View attachment 126641

Unley Oval. Beautiful surface, nice backdrop of the Adelaide Hills, but really strange set up without clubrooms on site and no fence. Have read that temporary fencing is put up for games, but does seem a bit Mickey Mouse for me, particularly for a club in such an affluent area.

View attachment 126642

View attachment 126643

View attachment 126644

Thankfully no concrete terracing, but another difference to the WAFL grounds are that there are no cricket clubs sharing the facilities and of course therefore no cricket pitches on any of our ovals. Wasn't always the case, however the cricket clubs were moved on well before my time of watching football in the west.

View attachment 126645

Football stopped being played at Unley during the mid 80’s and the council “gave” the land back to rate payers as a park. In the mid 90’s Sturt started playing a couple of games a year there before returning there full time several years later. The rate payers kicked up a huge stink as it was used a dog park and so part of the conditions of allowing Sturt back was that no permanent fences were allowed to be erected. Even now when Sturt train there during the week you will often see residents stroll across the oval with their dogs and without a care in the world. Norwood is my lifetime club and still has a magnificent old grandstand if you are keen to check out other grounds

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Over to The Parade I went.






Unfortunately all the entries were locked up, probably due to the Adelaide women's team playing their home games there.
Could only get a couple of shots through the wire fences and gates. So in all, screw you Norwood.





There was someone keeping watch from one of the apartments across from the ground

 

[Noel Mugavin]

After getting stuck in a bit of traffic due to roadworks and having a bit of a spell back at the apartments, time to head out to grab something to eat. Up O'Connell Street I went, and spoiled for choice.



Walked for quite a while and was my usual indecisive self, and eventually headed back towards Adelaide Oval and Light's Vision for a few photos. Daylight saving working well for me.







Walked down to the riverfront, some type of festival going on there, had a bit of a walk around, again couldn't decide what I felt like eating



Re-traced my steps and back up O'Connell St, eventually settled on a beef ragu.
Back to Montefiore Hill and then the riverfront for some not to successful efforts at some night shots

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Up early the next morning for a drive through the Barossa.
1st stop though Central district Football Club in Elizabeth



Huge oval and for the most part grassy banks for the spectators





Continued on to Lyndoch, too early for anything to be open so carried on to Tanunda







Bit of a wander around, then on to Nurioopta, then to Angaston

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Quite pleasant driving through the countryside, lots of vintage cars out as well as a few motor cycle groups.
Eventually ended up at a very busy and very touristy Hahndorf





Out of the car for a bit of a wander and a bit of lunch.
Mustard sauce was amazing

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Moved on to Mt Lofty





A rather active koala along the way









Getting out to the edge of the branches



Up the top and the view from the top





View of the valley at the rear of Lofty

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Still had plenty of time so headed south down to Noarlunga and Hickenbotham Oval











Quite exposed and wind swept on the top of the hill, but again a large and smooth playing surface.

Meandered along the coast and through Glenelg, returned the hire car and sat in the Qantas lounge for a couple of hours before my flight, ate way too many custard profiteroles.

Salmon and pork again on the menu for the flight, again stuck with the cheese and crackers.

An enjoyable couple of days and would have no hesitation heading back to explore some other areas of South Australia