Attendances in the 50s&60s

[Mr Widnes]

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.

Probably the same one, Tommy Davies might now my old man as well, I'll ask him - his lad Danny played for the Wids (and his daughter is a right Bobby Dazzler)!

He lives now on Farnworth Road - past Everglades on the way to wire.

[Rafe Wrench]

I liked that comment in the recent book about Dennis O'Neill - to the effect that in the wake of the England World Cup victory in 1966, football become pre-eminent while rugby attendances "fell through the roof"!! What a lovely image - didn't a football hooligan actually do that on the telly in the 70's?

[prehensile]

What a lovely image - didn't a football hooligan actually do that on the telly in the 70's?

Norwich vs Man Utd IIRC.  It was a Man Utd 'fan' who fell through the roof.

[NAT]

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'.

  Widnes of the 50's were most definately a team of local triers because the club was unwilling or unable to pay for the real tallent that was in the area at the time . On the other hand most of the other big local clubs had a few Widnes lads playing for them , the story of Widnes through the years doesnt doesnt change that much does it .

[NAT]

  As an after thought its worth looking at some of those widnes lads who played outside of the town just think what a squad widnes could have had .

         Alan prescott - Fax ,Saints , Lancs , England and GB
         Vinty Karalius - Saints , Widnes ,Lancs , England and GB (ok he came in the end but it was at the very end of his career )
          Nat Silcock (young Nat to those who knew him localy) Wigan , Saints , Wire , South Newcastle (ozz) , Sydney Eastern Suburbs ( now Roosters ) , Lancs , England and GB

   Now looking at those three alone could you imagine the pack Widnes could have had through the 50's and I'm sure if I looked harder there would be more Widnes quality out there .         
     

[Penkvik]

  As an after thought its worth looking at some of those widnes lads who played outside of the town just think what a squad widnes could have had .

         Alan prescott - Fax ,Saints , Lancs , England and GB
         Vinty Karalius - Saints , Widnes ,Lancs , England and GB (ok he came in the end but it was at the very end of his career )
          Nat Silcock (young Nat to those who knew him localy) Wigan , Saints , Wire , South Newcastle (ozz) , Sydney Eastern Suburbs ( now Roosters ) , Lancs , England and GB

   Now looking at those three alone could you imagine the pack Widnes could have had through the 50's and I'm sure if I looked harder there would be more Widnes quality out there .         
     

I think Jackie Broome would be another NAT,playing for Wigan in the 50s before coming to Widnes. He is a Widnes lad I think.

My dad took me to Wembley to see Saints v Huddersfield in 1953 or thereabouts and I'm pretty sure Prescott was playing,if I remember correctly Huddersfield won with a young fullback name of Ramsden receiving the Lance Todd.

[Rickp]

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.

Not to sure but if Walker at No 6 is Jim Walker, he's my ex Father in Law.
I always thiught he p;ayed scrum half though.
He always told me was Ray Owens understudy.
He retired in the late 60's with knee trouble after his testimonial.

[chemicsforever]

Yes, i think it was Jim Walker.

[Peter]

  Widnes of the 50's were most definately a team of local triers because the club was unwilling or unable to pay for the real tallent that was in the area at the time . On the other hand most of the other big local clubs had a few Widnes lads playing for them , the story of Widnes through the years doesnt doesnt change that much does it .

Too right, Nat.  There could have been a full international team of Widnes born players playing for other clubs, while the Chemics were in the doldrums. Instead of addressing the issue of income the club had to pay its way by transferring players.

[Peter]

Ally Naughton, Johnny Naughton, Danny Naughton, Jack Broome, Vinty Karalius, Doug Laughton, Nat Silcock [Jnr] Bob Roberts, and there will be others that some remember.

[rs]

Spooky that because I dug out some old testimonial items for Ste Fox for his Ged Lowe article and I have a programme for Jim Walkers testimonial - made me wonder as I didn't know much about him. See he played 58 games and scored 10 tries over a 12 year career 57-69.

[Rickp]

Spooky that because I dug out some old testimonial items for Ste Fox for his Ged Lowe article and I have a programme for Jim Walkers testimonial - made me wonder as I didn't know much about him. See he played 58 games and scored 10 tries over a 12 year career 57-69.

Could you photocopy it for I'll pay for it.
I'm still in touch with him it would make a nice surprise at Christmas.