Attendances in the 50s&60s

[Glynn]

have said all along to these ppl who expect massive crowds at widnes it has never been there apart from a few odd games, i cant go back as far as the 50s but from 70/80/90s/modern we havnt had that many crowds over 9000 im sure someone will know better but i think widnes v aus and widnes v wigan in 88/89 are only two i can think of at this moment.

[scooby]

  Just as an added piont on this its worth remembering that there was no M62 in the 50's so you couldnt expect to see quite the same level of traveling support from the yorkshire clubs .

But in those days we only played Lancashire clubs and 3/4 Yorkshire clubs as it was basically a Lancs and Yorks league system with a top 4 play off system to decide the Champions.

[Peter]

But in those days we only played Lancashire clubs and 3/4 Yorkshire clubs as it was basically a Lancs and Yorks league system with a top 4 play off system to decide the Champions.

I don't think you ar quite right on that one. In the 40's and 50's I watched Hull FC home and away, [took all day to get there and back] Halifax, Workington, Dewsbury, Wakefield, Feathersone, and I think, Leeds.

[prehensile]

I don't think you ar quite right on that one. In the 40's and 50's I watched Hull FC home and away, [took all day to get there and back] Halifax, Workington, Dewsbury, Wakefield, Feathersone, and I think, Leeds.

Scooby is right I think - for most of the time between the end of WWI and the 1960s there were approx 30 teams. 

All teams played everyone else in their county plus 3/4 from the other county making 18/19 x 2 (home and away) = 36 or 38 games most seasons.

BUT - because there were usually 16 Yorkshire clubs and only 14 in Lancs/Cumbria, one Yorkshire club used to play in the Lancashire league each season (a different one each season), so Lancs clubs generally had 4/5 trans-pennine trips rather than 3/4.  I seem to remember one club (Leeds ?) moaning about having to play in the Lancs league too often in the 50s because of the effect on their travelling costs and attendances.

[Sandgroper]

When I started to watch, about 1950, we used to follow Wire as well rather than travel.  Those were the days of the great Bev and crowds were such that they used to close the gates at Wilderspool around 2.00pm so you had to get there early!  Widnes were a team of local 'triers' in those days - no 'stars'.

[Peter]

When I was a kid,if you asked for a football as a present,it would be an oval shape. Sunday afternoon in Victoria Park in Widnes used to be full of teenagers playing tick and pass, I wonder what goes on these days.

I wonder if they still play tick and pass these days? It was THE game when I was a boy.

[Peter]

When I started to watch, about 1950, we used to follow Wire as well rather than travel.  Those were the days of the great Bev and crowds were such that they used to close the gates at Wilderspool around 2.00pm so you had to get there early!  Widnes were a team of local 'triers' in those days - no 'stars'.

Fred Higgins was about then and Danny and Johny Naughton, I believe. Bob Roberts was a good robust second row forward who went to Saints later in his career

[Sandgroper]

I think Derek Heyes played for us at that time as well (late 50's maybe).  He was doing his National Service and played when he could get away. Remember, I think it was Blan, thumping Heyes after he had played the ball.  He wasn't very big and Blan was a bit surprised when he took a good half a dozen thumps in return - Heyes was in the Paras/Marines or something pretty hard and didn't take anything lying down!!

[Rickp]

have said all along to these ppl who expect massive crowds at widnes it has never been there apart from a few odd games, i cant go back as far as the 50s but from 70/80/90s/modern we havnt had that many crowds over 9000 im sure someone will know better but i think widnes v aus and widnes v wigan in 88/89 are only two i can think of at this moment.

When Jonothan Davies signed for us I think we had 5 games left at home when he made is debut against Salford there was over 11,000.
Same again when we played Bradford. I should imagine we would have played either Saints or Warrington at home on the Easter weekend I can't rember which of the two it was, but I should imagine the was in excess of 12,000.
The year after we won the championship for the second successive season. I think we were averaging 8,000 but that went up because the last game saw a croud of 17,800 against Wigan in the last game of the season.
I found a programme Widnes v Leigh dated March 1993 and our average Att: for that was on decline at about 4,800 for general games. But we had 13,000 against Leeds for Dougie Laughtons' return to Naughton Park after he left us for them.
So I think with the support we're getting now if we do get in SL and we hold our own. We probably would get somewhere around 6,000 for ordinary fixtures. probally between 9 & 10,000 when bigger clubs come to visit.

[Peter]

  Just as an added piont on this its worth remembering that there was no M62 in the 50's so you couldnt expect to see quite the same level of traveling support from the yorkshire clubs .

And not many people had cars in the fifties, either. Going to Hull was a 12 hour job.

[Mr Widnes]

I think Derek Heyes played for us at that time as well (late 50's maybe).  He was doing his National Service and played when he could get away. Remember, I think it was Blan, thumping Heyes after he had played the ball.  He wasn't very big and Blan was a bit surprised when he took a good half a dozen thumps in return - Heyes was in the Paras/Marines or something pretty hard and didn't take anything lying down!!

Do you know Derek Hayes?

If it's the same one I am sure he worked with my dad, there can't be many about. He must be early 70's?

[chemicsforever]

Derek Heyes had a bungalow for many years on Hough Green Road opposite All Saints School, he would in his early 70's Vic, a nice guy and a very good player aswell, he knew my father (Tommy Davies) through RL and through work for many years.

[chemicsforever]

Talking of the old crowds..i've been in the Davies archive and pulled out a few old newspapers by the by-gone era.....

Widnes A 10pts
St.Helens A 5pts (a certain Jimmy Measures in the second row for Saints)

Lancashire County Shield Final at Naughton Park
Saturday October 24th 1959

Widnes line up

1.  Andrews
2.  Owen
3.  Taylor
4.  Bright
5.  Gordan
6.  Walker
7.  Davies (P)
8.  Hurstfield
9.  Connolly
10.Tomlinson
11. Davies (T)
12. Chamberlain
13. Hughes

Tries for Widnes
 
Owen & Bright

Goals for Widnes
Davies (T) (2)

Attendance 2,360 Reciepts (£114)

Match report this game from the Weekly News still in great condition... just a pity the mice had a nibble at the Weekly News from 64 after the cup triumph, but its still in pretty good nick.

[Penkvik]

Talking of the old crowds..i've been in the Davies archive and pulled out a few old newspapers by the by-gone era.....

Widnes A 10pts
St.Helens A 5pts (a certain Jimmy Measures in the second row for Saints)

Lancashire County Shield Final at Naughton Park
Saturday October 24th 1959

Widnes line up

1.  Andrews
2.  Owen
3.  Taylor
4.  Bright
5.  Gordan
6.  Walker
7.  Davies (P)
8.  Hurstfield
9.  Connolly
10.Tomlinson
11. Davies (T)
12. Chamberlain
13. Hughes

Tries for Widnes
 
Owen & Bright

Goals for Widnes
Davies (T) (2)

Attendance 2,360 Reciepts (£114)

Match report this game from the Weekly News still in great condition... just a pity the mice had a nibble at the Weekly News from 64 after the cup triumph, but its still in pretty good nick.

The No 2 would be Harry Owen, Ray's older brother I think,I'm sure Peter or Sunny will know. the Owen family lived in Sinclair Ave opposite the North stand if my memory serves me correctly. Didn't their dad play for Widnes too? Think he may have been the original "Ginger Owen".

[chemicsforever]

Spot On Penkvik, it was Harry Owen, plus im sure there father did play for Widnes.

The No 2 would be Harry Owen, Ray's older brother I think,I'm sure Peter or Sunny will know. the Owen family lived in Sinclair Ave opposite the North stand if my memory serves me correctly. Didn't their dad play for Widnes too? Think he may have been the original "Ginger Owen".