old pics

[Spelly]

Spelly,the last time I was on that ground was the Challenge cup semi against Cas' in '64(another draw)! What has it been replaced by,housing,ind'estate or shops?

Houses are there now, but when driving up (or down) Station Road, I put my blinkers on! 

Is there a Buckley Boulevard? No! Is there a Stopford Street? No! Is there a Gowers Grove? No! 

My mate lives on a new(ish) estate that's on the site of the old margarine works in Irlam, and all the streets, are named in connection with the building. Patting Place, Churning Terrace, to name but two. So why could not the same have been done, at where I fell in love with this beautiful game? Criminal! 

Am I still bitter at the way our / my ground was taken from us / me in such a clandestine way? You bet I am mes ami, you bet I am! 

But I'm still...........................

Swinton till I die!

Spelly.

[cumbriachemic]

Spelly Its hard to tell where the pit was at Agecroft now, I got transfered there in 82 but didn't go went eleswhere instead. I also had a shock when I looked for Bold at the saints Game

[ken.d]

Yes, great pictures! But they have reminded me of a question I always had when I saw the sign over the entrance.

What was the "+" for which was between the "Widnes" and the "RFC"? Was it a plus sign or a cross, or was it simply decorative?

Always got me as strange!

It is a cross, Celtic had one; CELTIC+ FC ,  Everton had one; EVERTON+ FC. and a few other clubs before the new grounds were built. It symbolised a catholic club.
Liverpool F.C. was an Orangemans club originally...how times have changed. 

[chemicsforever]

Always wondered what that mean't on that sign...and me dad was a proddie dog as well  ken.....

[Spelly]

Spelly Its hard to tell where the pit was at Agecroft now, I got transfered there in 82 but didn't go went eleswhere instead. I also had a shock when I looked for Bold at the saints Game

True mate!

My dad worked at Agecroft for years.

The site now, is occupied by an industrial estate.

Our (proposed) new ground is a little further along on the opposite side of the road, just before a big hill known as Rainsough Brew.

Spelly.

Swinton till I die!

[Peter]

True mate!
My dad worked at Agecroft for years.
The site now, is occupied by an industrial estate.
Our (proposed) new ground is a little further along on the opposite side of the road, just before a big hill known as Rainsough Brew.
Spelly.
Swinton till I die!

The Steelworks I worked at, John Summers, latterly Shotton [although it was in Hawarden] had 13,338 employees at its peak. It now has less than 1,000 and is mostly an industrial estate, as are many of the pits round here -- in Derbyshire and Staffordshire that is.

[cumbriachemic]

Spelly I was from Hapton Valley; a Burnley ******d and an apprentice mechanic. Went down for a visit and had a good drink in the pendlebury  miners. We were on freemans then but after a few visits from our place they made us pay, must have reckoned we were thirsty wallers. My mate went and stayed till it shut then went to Point of Ayre. I went down the small private mines instead of Agecroft. Where did your dad go?

[cumbriachemic]

Just reminded me of when we played Cas in the C cup I think it was the year after Cas was at Wembly with HKR. It was a satdy match on telly and Toney Myler went a full length of field try. First half (it was freezing) we was in the open end next to Wheldale colliery and these silly young Widnes fans were shouting at the Cas lot your just a load of out of work miners. I felt like flatening the little scroats. If anybody still has the vid I bet there were 30 of us at most behind them posts. probably about 20 and thats when we were in with a shout of winning the damn thing. Alex Murphy reckoned whoever wone that match would win the final...Come to think of it I think it was the season we went out to Fax in the semis at hedingly.