Local players

[Sunny]

Yes, it sounds like the same person.
Doesn't time fly - it only seems like a couple of years ago that we played together.
It was about 1956 that I was selected as reserve second row/loose foreward for the town under 18s; this was noticed by one of the teachers at WDGs (I played RU for them on Sat mornings followed by RL for St. Ambrose Sat afternoon) who dragged me in front of the Head (WAB) and I was given a choice there and then, either stop playing RL or I'd be dropped from all sport at school and find it difficult as far as my exams were concerned.
So, in those days of no co-operation between rugby codes, I was more or less forced to stop playing RL.
Sad, really.

[NAT]

 

Yes, it sounds like the same person.
Doesn't time fly - it only seems like a couple of years ago that we played together.
It was about 1956 that I was selected as reserve second row/loose foreward for the town under 18s; this was noticed by one of the teachers at WDGs (I played RU for them on Sat mornings followed by RL for St. Ambrose Sat afternoon) who dragged me in front of the Head (WAB) and I was given a choice there and then, either stop playing RL or I'd be dropped from all sport at school and find it difficult as far as my exams were concerned.
So, in those days of no co-operation between rugby codes, I was more or less forced to stop playing RL.
Sad, really.

   Strange my dad got the same option from the grammar school in the 40's when they found out he was playing for west bank . He chose to continue playing RL , there loss was the RL's gain . 

[Penkvik]

Penkvik, you mention Brian Winstanley as a back rower. I'm sure there was a Brian Winstanley who played loose head prop for the St. Ambrose under 18s team I played in - approx mid 1950s. He would be a couple of years older than me as he left before I did.
Think he played for Lancashire under 18s, maybe even the English team.
Could it be the same lad?

Sunny, I've just been having a look through a pictorial history of Widnes R.L.F.C. I don't know whether you have a copy,but there's
         a picture of Brian playing against Barrow just coming away from a scrum 3rd from the left,there are some great pictures.I'm not
         sure whether there's a copy in the museum.

[Sunny]

Thanks for the tip, Penkvik; I don't have a copy of the 'photo and will have a look in the museum as you suggest.

[geoffw]

Brian Winstanley's nephew I think it was went to the Wade Deacon in 1960's when I was there. Pretty awful stuff that about being told to pack it in. it relaxed a bit in 1960's I think but do not know for certain. I remember a teacher from Wigan at the Wade. A Mr Miller a history teacher. He took us for History and rugger and he used to wind us up by saying Widnes were the second best team to Wigan. He was a good bloke though.It was when we were near top of league in early 60's and lost out to Swinton  for the championship twice as I recall.

[Peter]

I was at lake Windermere last summer and saw Vinny and had a great talk with him and his Mrs I shook that giant hand its like a spade ! he still lives in the Isle of Man, truly a great guy!!

About 1959 I watched a County Match at Workington. I was on holiday in Keswick at the time. Vinty was Lancs Captain and lost a boot and he played the last ten minutes without it, just elasctic bandages round his sock! 

[maries boys]

JOE GRIMA WAT A LEGEND SMOKIN

[geoffw]

Loads of others,Harry Millington from farm Cuerdley way I think, Eric Hughes (centre& stand off not the hooker) town centre, Mick George halebank. The vast majority of theteam was local until late 1970s, as were most teams. Only recently has it gone cosmopolitan.

[Peter]

Loads of others,Harry Millington from farm Cuerdley way I think, Eric Hughes (centre& stand off not the hooker) town centre, Mick George halebank. The vast majority of theteam was local until late 1970s, as were most teams. Only recently has it gone cosmopolitan.

Harry Millington had the farm at the top of Gorsey Lane in Moss Bank. His brother John had the farm on the right of Gorsey Lane on the way down to the cinderbanks. They had a sister, Maud, who was a friend  of my mothers. Eric and Arthur Hughes lived, I am sure, in Oxford Street. When I first started watching Widnes, there was only one player who did not live in the town, Dagnall, who played on the right wing, and came from Penketh.   

[Sunny]

I worked for some years during the school summer holidays in the mid 50s as a labourer for Randles, the local builders.
(Dennis?) Tobin, played No 13 on and off for the 1st team, also worked there as a foreman.
Nice bloke to work with, as was Mr Randle...
Because I was at WDGS with Johnny Randle, he worked there during the Summer as well, his Mum used to make us both bacon sarnies to have with the morning brew. The rest of "the lads" used to mutter.... but not so she could hear!!

[BEANO]

Owen Craigie lived at McDonalds.

Jules O'Neill lived at the Albion - Before the Crown.