Inter works competition.

[Peter]

Can anyone remember this competition? I have a Winners Medal on my watch chain, in gold, which only comes out at weddings etc on the watch my grandfather got from ICI for 25 years service. The medal is dated 1929.

[Penkvik]

Can anyone remember this competition? I have a Winners Medal on my watch chain, in gold, which only comes out at weddings etc on the watch my grandfather got from ICI for 25 years service. The medal is dated 1929.

I remember Widnes corporation having a team, Joe Preston used to play for them I think,he was a blacksmith if my memory serves my right.
There used to be some hard players in the competition,didn't the Everite have team and probably Albrights,the Vine etc.

[Peter]

I remember Widnes corporation having a team, Joe Preston used to play for them I think,he was a blacksmith if my memory serves my right.
There used to be some hard players in the competition,didn't the Everite have team and probably Albrights,the Vine etc.

ICI [Mond Division] used to have one. I don't know what involvement my grandfather had, but must have had some to get the medal.

[the baron]

i was at the final at naughton park, was 72,or 73. the Brittania pub from west bank won. cant remember the other team. long time ago hope memory is up to it

[craigies6pack]

Peter,

The works comp has now been superceded by the Widnes Cup. It changed maybe 30-35 years ago. Many works used to participate. It changed to the Widnes cup after BARLA was formed and investigations found that teams who entered didn't have adequate or indeed any insurance. All teams that wish to play, now have to register with BARLA for said insurance purposes.

It would be an interesting question 'Who were the last winners of the works competition before it became the Widnes Cup'?

I shall try to find out!!

[scooby]

i was at the final at naughton park, was 72,or 73. the Brittania pub from west bank won. cant remember the other team. long time ago hope memory is up to it

Correct, my brother-in-law played in that game for the "Brit" along with Peter Glynn later to sign for Saints and go on to GB honours. But in the years before that it was a true "works comp" with all the teams being from the local factories.

[scooby]

i was at the final at naughton park, was 72,or 73. the Brittania pub from west bank won. cant remember the other team. long time ago hope memory is up to it

I think it was another pub team, The Queens in Moor Lane.

[Peter]

Peter,

The works comp has now been superceded by the Widnes Cup. It changed maybe 30-35 years ago. Many works used to participate. It changed to the Widnes cup after BARLA was formed and investigations found that teams who entered didn't have adequate or indeed any insurance. All teams that wish to play, now have to register with BARLA for said insurance purposes.
It would be an interesting question 'Who were the last winners of the works competition before it became the Widnes Cup'?
I shall try to find out!!

That is a very useful reply.  Some of the works used to "import" players now and then. The favourite nom des guerre were Armstrong and Fairbrother. It is rumoured that a team of Armstrongs played a team of Fairbrothers one week, and the following week met again, except that the Armstrongs were now Fairbrothers and vice versa. 

[old kav]

i played in the Works Comp for the Power Station in the early 70`s . a side that contained MICK SULLIVAN , EX GB winger who played loose forward. JACKIE GRIMES was prop, and the late great DENNIS DEVANEY . was on the other wing, we were beaten by HUNT+PARKER, a team of mainly BIRCHFIELD/LAPORTE`S R.U.  SULLIVAN,DEVANEY AND MYSELF were sent off in a rough undisciplined match refereed by the late MICK NAUGHTON...WITH A CROWD APPROACHING  800 played at gossages rec..