Warrington R.L.F.C ..
The First History Page of Warrington on the net
The Wire Pullers
First published 19th October 2001
A history
Last Updated
26/12/02
1876. The club was founded as Warrington Zingari R.U.club by 21 members,they played on a field near Howley Wharf close to where Warrington power station used to be situated.
1878 The ground was moved to a field off Sankey St close to where the old Guardian offices were (site now occupied by Martin Dawes).The present Warrington club was founded in 1879 by several members of the Padgate and Zingari clubs getting together and forming a new team to be called Warrington R.U.club.
The Committee of the newly formed
Rugby Union Club of Warrington managed to get the use of a field fronting Sankey
Street, near the Borough Treasurers office. The headquarters of the club were
at the White Hart Hotel in Sankey Street. Both sets of players had to change
in the pub and walk the 80 or so yards to the pitch before each match.
The first match was away game against the Walton side played at Rice Field in
Liverpool on the 18th October 1879. Walton won by three goals to nil, the game
in those days was decided via goals and tries and not points, though goals were
adjudged to have twice the value of a try. The first home game at Sankey Street
for the club was against Oughtrington, with Warrington gaining their first victory
by three goals to one. In their first season Warrington played 11 games, won
7, lost 2 and drew 2.
1880 When the Warrington Guardian bought the site the club was moved again to a field on Wilderspool Causeway south of St James's church.
In 1881 the club amalgamated with Padgate Excelsior and moved again to a field off Slutchers Lane close to where the British Aluminium Company was situated at Arpley Meadows.
Come 1882 yet another ground was rented again off Sankey Steet but behind the site of the old Springfield St Post Office. The players changed at the White Hart public house (which is still there as the White Hart) this was also the clubs headquarters.The team wore a black strip.
1883 the club relocated yet again back to Wilderspool Causeway but a little further south,where Fletcher street is now.
1884 The club amalgamated with the Warrington Wanderers who were established in 1876
1886 The club won the Border Town Trophy the first cup won by the team
On 4th December saw Warrington change their colours from black to primrose and blue narrow stripes, with turned down collars. Warrington beat Wigan 5-0 at home in their first appearance in their new colours. It was believed that the change was to impress the wealthy Greenall family, owners of the Greenall Whitley Brewery. Lady Greenall was president of the primrose League, dedicated to promoting women's rights, while the entire family were true blue Tories. Hence Primrose and blue. If that indeed was the reason for the change it certainly paid off as Greenalls became major sponsors for the next 115 years.
1889 The first county game was played at Warrington.
1890 The club formed an "A" team plus a second team.
1891 The club made a tour of the Isle of Man.
1895 was a momentous year for the game in the North of England,Warrington along with 20 other northern clubs got together on the 29th August at the George Hotel in Huddersfield to form the Northern Rugby Union.That year Warrington played its first game under the new umbrella organisation defeating Hunslet 5-4.
1895-96 the Northern Union Challenge Cup was started , by seasons end Warrington had paid out £ 96/10s (£96-50pence) in broken time payments.
1896 the widening of Wilderspool Causeway required the club to moved back some boundary fencing at a cost of £242 a new stand the installation of turnstiles and embankment cost a further £527.
1897 first Challenge Cup Final was played at Leeds, Batley defeated St Helens 10-3 in front of 13,492 .Mr J.E. Warren of Warrington was elected President of the Northern Union.Warrington were ordered to put up 200 notices around the town to warn spectators about unruly behaviour at games ( nothings new is it ,but I suppose the 1897 definition of such behaviour might differ slightly from the present day).
1898 a lease for 10 years was agreed with the Greenall Whitley brewing Company for land on the east side of the existing pitch,the pitch was previously used by Latchford Rovers R.U.club.The move was necessary because the existing pitch was needed to build houses on what is now Fletcher Street.At the time it was thought the club might have to leave the area completely but this obviously was avoided.Thus a further sum of £251 was spent on removing fencing along Fletcher Street fencing and establishing what is now the Wilderspool Stadium.
1898 Swinton were the first visitors to the new ground a crowd of 7,000 saw a 3-3 draw.Jackie Fish was signed this year 18 years old born in Runcorn and played for Lostock Rugby Union,he played his first game in October.
1900. March 24 Wire's legendary winger Jack Fish becomes the first Warrington player to score five tries in a game as Wire thrash Goole 44-0 in the second round of the Challenge Cup.Fish also kicked seven goals for a match total of 29 points.
1901. Warrington enter the first Challenge Cup.
1902. Warrington win the S.W.Lancashire and Border Cup,first trophy as a Northern Union side.
1903-4. Jackie Fish receives £5 to sign on for the season plus £1 match money,George Dickinson received £4 to sign on plus 17s 6d (87p)a win and 12s 6d (62p) lose or draw.
1905 Warrington win their first Challenge Cup 6-0 vs Hull K.R. A Warrington Borough Council tram was decorated to celebrate the event. Picture.
1906-7 Warrington propose 13 a side seconded by Leigh this was approved and introduced.To try and improve the play the Committee advocated a change to the laws of the game. In situations where the ball was kicked straight into touch, it should be taken back to where it was last played and a scrum be formed. At the same time it was decided to speed up and open out the game the numbers of players was reduced from 15 to 13, along with a new method of playing the ball. Warrington had much to do with the introduction of all of these rules, now taken for granted as part of the current laws.
Challenge Cup Final 1906-1907 Winner Warrington RLFC 17 Runner up Oldham 3 Venue Broughton. Attendance 18,500
1907 The first tour of Britain by New Zealand Warrington win 8-7 before 8,000 at Wilderspool the second meeting ended in a loss for the Wire,Warrington play Wakefield Trinity at West Ham in London.
1908 November 14th the Australian tourists pay their first visit to Wilderspool, The Kangaroos embarked upon a massive six months tour of Britain taking in 45 matches. Their timing was not good as the north of England was hit by strikes in the cotton mills, which badly affected attendances as fans could not afford to watch the pioneering Aussies. On Saturday 14 November 1908 Warrington played the Kangaroos. Warrington won the match 10 ' 3 with Jackie Fish the hero scoring one try and Ike Taylor the other, Fish and George Dickenson kicked a goal each. A crowd of 5,000 watched the match at Wilderspool. The Warrington team that day was Jimmy Tilley, Jackie Fish, George Dickenson, Ike Taylor, L. Treharne, Ernie Brookes, John Jenkins, Billy Dowell, Alf Boardman, Billy O'Neill, George Thomas, Peter Boardman and John Willie Chester. The Australians came back to Wilderspool for "revenge" later in the tour but tries from Fish and Jenkins earned the 'Wirepullers' an 8 ' 8 draw. Two members of the Kangaroo squad, Dan Frawley and Larry O'Malley later signed for Warrington and played the next season at Wilderspool. Warrington have the best record of any club side against the touring Kangaroos with eight wins and one draw from sixteen matches
1909 When the tour ended in March Australians L.O'Mally and O.Frawley signed for Warrington .On April 12th Warrington thrash St Helens 78-6 at Wilderspool (a club record) Welsh Forward George Thomas scores 33 points (5 tries and 9 goals ).
1910 Saw the first GB tour of Australia and New Zealand Frank Shugas was Warrington's first Tourist.He played twice against New Zealand.
1910-11 A benefit awarded to Jackie Fish raised £268/15s/11d (£268-79p)quite a sum in 1910.Warrington signed forward Arthur Skelhorn on Feb 3rd 1911 he received £5, his club Stockton Heath also received £5.
1911 Jimmy Tranter signes for Warrington from the Newton club he gets £5 his club also get £5.The first stage of the main stand is opened on 2nd September by club President T.Locker Warrington beat Leigh 16-10 later that day. the stand burnt to the ground in 1982 in 20 minutes .
In 1914 Warrington first team players went on strike because they were not paid a £1 bonus ,they explained their actions to the crowd at an A team game (4,000 were in attendance).48 teams enter the works competition this was a record entry.The ground was bought from Greenall Whitley, 25 players enlist in the armed forces, a reduction of 15% in playing fees is agreed.
1918-19 Entrance fee for the ground was Enclosure side 3d ( 1 1/2p approx) Popular side 9d ( 3 1/2p approx).
1920 Bill Cunliffe and A.Skelhorn tour Australia and New Zealand.
1921 What is believed to be the first plus 20,000 crowd at Wilderspool were in attendance to witness Warrington beat Hull 16-5 in a Challenge Cup first round replay.
1922 Northern Union changes its name to Rugby League.
1923-24 Supporters club is formed.
1926 Concrete wall is built around the playing area.The first Lancashire Cup final to be played at Wilderspool is won by St Helens as they beat St Helens Recreation 10-2 in front of 19,439.
1927-28 Supporters club present club with new scoreboard,which is still in place at the Fletcher St end of the ground.
1930's The tunnel at Wilderspool was dug by four players who were miners before joining Warrington.
1931 The Australian duo Bill Shankland and Nelson Hardy sign for the club for £550 and £400 respectively.
1932 In January the first live radio broadcast of a league game is transmitted from Wilderspool,Wire lost to Halifax 0-2.
1933 April 6th Tommy (Tubby) Thompson becomes the first Warrington player to score six tries in a game as the Wire beat Bradford Northern 38-12 at Wilderspool.
1934 January 13th Councillor A .Crowe club president and mayor opens the new changing rooms which are beneath the main stand.
1936 The club employ their first team manager Mr Chris Brockbank.
1937-38 An Austalian centre Dave Brown signs a 4 year contract which is worth £ 1,000 for the first year.Warrington's most expensive player at the time is signed W.Belshaw from Liverpool Stanley for £1,500.The star of charity matches between the two clubs brings huge benefit to local charities and amateur football in both towns.
1939 Ozzy Davies sets new try scoring record with 34 in a season.
1939 After 3 games war is declared ( I do not think there is any connection)Wilderspool is commandeered for storage space,only friendly games are played ,many wire players gueat for other clubs.
1940 September 14th as Warrington are playing Broughton Rangers at Wilderspool a German Aircraft bombs Thames Board Mills who were having a family day on the playing fields ,a number of people are killed.
1942 The club is formed into a limited company10,000 £1 shares are offered to keep the club solvent.
1945 Sydney born Brian Bevan was destined to be the best winger in rugby league history,although a member of Eastern Suburbs he never played first grade rugby in Australia he never played test rugby.He joined the Royal Australian navy in 1942 and set in motion a chain of events that would take him on the path to greatness.In the winter of 1945-1946 he approached both Leeds and Hunslet both declined to give him a trial,Warrington however after a trial game in the reserves gave him a first grade start against Oldham on 17th November 1945 on the right wing.
1947 I was born in the September of this year,I remember very little it , it seems one of the coldest winters ever recorded , 180 tons of sand was spread on the pitch at Widerspool to try and combat the severe frost.February 1st. Record gate receipts of £ 2,143/10s/3d for a league match are generated when 26,127 fans plus 2,000 season tickets holders attend for the visit of Wigan.September 3rd for the first time more than 30,000 fans turn out at Wilderspool (30,150) to see Warrington lose 15-10 to Wigan in a Lanceshire Cup 1st round tie.
1948 March 13th the first all ticket home game at Wilderspool attracts 30,000 fans who paid record receipts of £4,145 for the 3rd round Challenge Cup tie vs Wigan.Brian Bevan scores a club record seven tries in a game as Warrington defeat Leigh 28-8 at Wilderspool in front of 20,000.Australian Harry Bath signs from Barrow for £1250 as Warrington become Champions for the first time.Bevan score seven vs Leigh. Bevan Article and Picture
1949 34,304 a record crowd turn up to see Wigan beat the Wire 8-4 in a league game on January 29th.Record signing of Ally Naughton for £4,600. Challenge Cup Final 1949-1950 Winner Warrington RLFC 19 Runner up Widnes 0 Venue Wembley Stadium London Attendance 94,249
1950 January 6,000 spectators turn up to witness the debut of Canadian Olympic sprinter Ted Haggis on the left wing against a Lancashire Amateurs side.In September (13th) Harold Palin kicks a record 14 goals in a match against Liverpool Stanley who are annihilated 73-0 in the first round of the Lancashire Cup at Wilderspool.Wire beat Widnes 19-0 to win their first ever Cup Final at Wembley.
1951 At 16 years and 199 days Laurie Gilfedder becomes the yougest player ever to play for Warrington ,the visitors were Belle Vue Rangers .Ces Mountford appointed as new manager on a ten year contract.
1952/53 New try record set by Bevan his seventh try against Bramley in a match at Wilderspool makes it 66 tries in a season,a record 363 points in a season are scored by Harry Bath.
1953/54 Warrington win the League Championship,the Lancashire League,and after a 4-4 draw at Wembley they win the Challenge Cup 8-4 against Halifax before a record crowd of 102,569.Warrington win all 23 games played at Wilderspool,they were 18 league games,2 Challenge cup ties 2 Lancashire cup ties and a Championship semi final play off.
1954/55 Warrington win League Championship and Lancashire League,March 12th Brian Bevan scores his 600th career try as Warrington defeat Workington 35-9 at Wilderspool.
1956/57 Harry Bath plays his last game for Warrngton after a 1st round success in the Challenge Cup,November 16th Brian Bevan scores 600th career try in the 29-17 defeat of Bramley at Wilderspool.
1958 Fletcher st stand Covered
1959 November 28th bevan's 700th career try as Wire beat Blackpool Borough 30-12 at Wilderspool.
1962 Brian Bevan made captain for the day as 16,578 pack into Wilderspool to see his final game for Warrington as Wire beat Leigh on Easter Monday.Bevan played a total of 312 appearsnces at Wilderspool 311 for the Wire and one for other nationalities.
1963 The last 0-0 draw at Widerspool was against Workington Town in April .
1964 Joe Pickavance comes on as sub the first time the practice is allowed in Rugby League.
1965 On September 28th the first floodlights to be used at Wilderspool are switched on by Mr John Whitley managing director of Greenall Whitley,Warrington entertain Wigan in a floodlit friendly,they put up a good performance and win 9-5.
1967 J.Fleming is appointed the new coach.
1969 Warrington call a meeting to discuss the transmission of live games on the BBC a number of clubs including Wigan object to the idea, fearing gates will drop.January 5th First ever game to be played on a Sunday v Blackpool away,as it was not permitted to charge for entry on a Sunday clubs got round the restriction by selling team sheets which strangely enough were the same price as the entrance charge to the game,these were shown at the turnstile and you were admitted well sort of free?.
1970 Warrington suffered one of their worse defeats when Salford came to Wilderspool and thrashed the Wire 50-0. They led 29-0 at half time and crossed the try line 12 times.
1971 A takeover by local businessman Ossie Davies saves the club from oblivion.Alex Murphy joins the club from Leigh as the new player coach,he brings Kevin Ashcroft with him.
1972 In an effort to raise much needed cash the popular side stand area is sold to enable a large leisure complex to be built,comprising concert hall ,saunas and squash courts life membership costs £150.The Spion Kop is covered by the roof which once covered the popular stand.
1973/74 John Bevan makes try scoring debut at Wilderspool as Wire beat Castleford .Wires best season they win The Locker Cup,The Player's No6 Trophy,The Captain Morgan Trophy,The Rugby League Challenge Cup Warrington beat Featherstone Rovers 24-9 in what many call the Murphy final it is said he bent the referee to his will ,and Warrington suffered when he went off ,to recover when he was persuaded to return to the game.And The Top 8 Play Off.Parry Gordan scores five tries in a match as Warrington defeat Dewsbury 26-10,the story behind this event is that a lot of people at Warrington felt that Parry was being overlooked as a GB scrumhalf,the team actually made sure Parry scored every try he could to the extent that players actually hung around with the ball waiting for Parry to score the try.
1975 Warrington returned to Wembley to get beaten by the new cup kings Widnes 14-7.
1978 Warrington beat Australia 15-12 at a packed Wilderspool,Alan Gwilliam gets the try that seals the win.I was there, June Billy Benyon is new Coach.
1979 Warrington celebrate their centenary ,Ossie Davies resigns from board Brian Pitchford takes over as Club Chairman.Starting in 1978 in December Welsh prop or second rower Mike Nicholas is sent off four times ,1/a high tackle on Keith Bell of Featherstone Rovers 2/ 7 days later he is sent off against Barrow.3/March 1979 sent off against Leigh.4/ Nicholas is sent off after 3 minutes along with Bradford prop Jimmy Thompson for fighting at th second scrum.Starting in 1972 Nicko is sent off a total of 12 times the last time in 1980 he clashed with Jim Mills of Widnes and was sent off by Fred Lindop,Nicko still lives in Warrington and still watches the Wire.
1982 Kevin Ashcroft is appointed coach,the main stand is burnt to the ground in 20 minutes at lunch time on the 29th April.Bob Eccles score five tries as Warrington beat Blackpool in a John Plater Trophy game on the 12 Dec .
1983 First ever shirt sponsor is Sparkomatic, the new main stand now called the Brian Bevan Stand is officially opened on February 6th,Warrington defeat Hull 18-16 on the day.Colin Hawkyard the Oldham centre has the dubious honour of being the first player at Wilderspool to spend ten minutes in the sin bin (January )Later that year March the first Wire player to receive the accolade is Hooker Roger O'Mahoney.
1984 In June Reg Bowden is made team coach.
1985 Andy Gregory signs for Warrington from Widnes in a world record deal.October 2nd Les Boyd plays his first game for Warrington after clearing his long term Australian suspension.
1986 Tony Barrow takes over from Reg Bowden as coach.
1988 January 1st New Years Day Derby game with Wigan erupts into the battle of Wilderspool as 4 a sent off and 1 sinned binned during the first 20 minutes.Both teams ended with 11 players the result 15-15.Australian player Brian Johnson is appointed coach
1989 October 10th Warrington play the superbly talented Widnes whose team included Jonathan Davies,Martin Offiah and the Hulme brothers,Wire won 28-6 in front of 10,200 with the gates closed 15 minutes before kickoff.
1992 October 13th Warrington had their smallest ever crowd at Wilderspool when Warrington beat Blackpool Gladiators 32-8 in a Regal Trophy preliminary round.
1993 March 28th A minutes silence is observed before a league game with St Helens in memory of two young boys Johnathan Ball and Tim Parry who were murdered when an 2 IRA bombs exploded in Warrington Town Centre eight days previous.Jonathan Davies the Welsh Union international joins the club from Widnes Warrington take over his contract to ease the financial problems Widnes were having at that time.
1994 A Titanic derby at Wilderspool sees 11,379 in the ground and 2,000 locked out,a Wigan in a controversial game " a last minute penalty by Russell Smith under the sticks gave Wigan a win when Warrington needed points to ensure the league title ",it was not to be as Leeds fielded a weakened team against Bradford and had 50 points put passed them,in an episode that did Rugby League no credit.
1995 Warrington defeat Doncaster 68-20 to record the most points ever scored at Wilderspool Jonathan Davies kicks eight goals and scores three tries to give himself 28 points on the day.
1996 After Warrington lose 80-0 at St Helens Coach Brian Johnson resigns John Dorahy takes over.First year of summer rugby Warrington finish fifth under coach Dorahy.
1997 Warrington add Wolves to the club name, March 31 Warrington beat Wigan at Wilderspool for the first time since 1986 ,a great team effort and 3 tries from Nigel Vagana see Warrington home,this season was Warrington's worst ever as they lost nine and won eight of their 17 home games,first time the club had lost more than they won at home ,Dorahy resigns, Darrly van de Velde takes over the reins .Iestyn Harris goes into super sulk mode and forces the club to sell him to Leeds.Paul Sculthorpe is sold to St Helens.
A TRAUMATIC week has seen Warrington's Rugby League Club pulled back from the brink of extinction.The Wolves were left staring into the abyss last Friday 9th October when the consortium set to take over the club suddenly collapsed as the Emerson Group and Martin Dawes Ltd pulled out of the deal. Greenalls were left owning 90 per cent of the shares, having bought out the old board for without the cash to fund the club due to difficulties with its own share price.Hopes of finally cutting the noose of debt that has been slowly strangling the 119-year-old club were suddenly extinguished and it was heading towards voluntary liquidation.
Warrington Borough Council then stepped in with a plan to buy the leasehold for the century old Wilderspool ground, thereby providing the cash to pay the debt. The council are saying little at present but land value experts have been running the rule over Wilderspool since the weekend and a move to buy a parcel of land around the Causeway area won approval in secret session of the policy committee on Monday night. Council Leader John Gartside said: "As council we are very concerned about the situation and are examining every legal strategy to ensure the club thrives."We are confident that on a two to three year view, a new stadium can be constructed and the club taken from strength to strength." Warrington Wolves Chief Executive John Smith said: "The next Step is to make sure we get a realistic value for the ground so all the requirements of all parties are satisfied. "We need to get the best value to make sure we can invest in the best players and take the club forward. "The crucial factor from here will be ensuring that the revenue comes in to make the club successful. The fans will play a vital part in that." The Emerson Group was unavailable for comment as to its decision to pull out of the deal. "The crucial factor from here will be ensuring that the revenue comes in to make the club successful. "The fans will play a vital part in that." A Martin Dawes spokesman said: "This is a commercial matter and therefore the company believes it is inappropriate to comment."At the end of the 1997 season Warrington had scored 32,710 points at Wilderspool since going there in 1898 and conceded 17,017,if an average game could be imagined Wire would win 18-9.
Of all the games played at Wilderspool 1,845 Warrington won 1,352 (73%) Drew 75(4%) and lost 417(23%).Two matches were abandoned, one the result stood, the other required a replay.
1999 Peter Deakin joins club as Chief Executive,he sets in place a lot of initiatives aimed at getting the club involved in the local community,Warrington are recognised as leaders in community involvement schemes.
2000 Warrington Borough Council bail out the club by buying the ground, Tesco invite Warrington to join them in a joint Stadium and Superstore venture to be situated on the derelict land which was once Carlsberg Tetley's brewery on Winwick Rd. Plans are submitted and planning permission is sought.
2000 Hundreds of Warrington fans complete with flags banners and a band descend on Warrington town hall as the debate on planning permission takes place inside ,the proceedings are broadcast to the people outside via loudspeakers.A good natured banter ensued dependant on whose arguments were being listened to inside. Peter Deakin comes onto the balcony to confirm that planning permission had been granted. Joy was short lived however as the Secretary of State John Prescott decided to call in the application thus delaying the project.
2001 The planning inquiry is set for 15 May 2001 .The venue is changed to The Parr Hall Warrington to accomodate the numbers expected to attend.The matter is now in the hands of the government departments involved ,a decision is expected in November 2001.
Warrington Wolves and Woolston Rovers say Rugby League in the town will be the winner when the two clubs come face to face in the fourth round of the Silk Cut Challenge Cup. Both camps are urging the town's Rugby League fans to turn out in force and fill Wilderspool Stadium to its capacity on Sunday, February 11 for the first clash in history between the Super League aces and the amateur minnows.National Conference League club Woolston will reap the benefits of the split 'gate' receipts which will be a massive boost for possible plans to build a new clubhouse and sort out pitch drainage at their Bennett's Recreation Ground home in Padgate. For Warrington Wolves and the town in general the cup tie will provide a huge community base to get across the message of continued support for the planned new 'People's Stadium' and Tesco Extra Store on the former Tetley Walker brewery site in Winwick Road.
What a day is in store! It will be the Wolves' first game of the 2001 season and debuts are expected to be made by Australian superstar Kevin Walters, New Zealand Maori World Cup centre David Kidwell, Tongan skipper Martin Masella, ex-London Broncos goal-kicking winger Rob Smyth and utility ace Steve Georgallis, who was brought to Warrington from Wests-Tigers. Then there are the coaching and playing links between the two clubs. Woolston's coach John Fieldhouse is a former Warrington player and previously had a spell as one of Darryl Van de Velde's assistant coaches working with the Alliance team, then alongside Paul Cullen.Woolston players Mark Wallington, Darren Geritas and Lee Westwood have previously been on Warrington's books. Shaun Geritas, who was substitute for Rovers in their Challenge Cup success over Chorley Lynx at the weekend, played eight top flight games for the Wolves in 1997. More recently back row forward Dave Patterson played reserve grade rugby for the Wolves last year and loose forward Daniel Heaton was a trialist for Wolves in their Boxing Day friendly against Salford City Reds.
For the Wolves, leading operations off the field is Adam Jude, the Wolves' chief operations officer is a former National Conference League champion player with Rovers. And the Wolves' special projects officer Brian Chambers held coaching positions at Woolston. The links continue with the fans. The majority of Rovers' fans are also Wolves supporters and were campaigning for the Wolves' new stadium when at Chorley on Sunday.And Simon Moran, who is a Wolves director, has his company name SJM Concerts on the front of the Woolston Rovers jersey. On paper, the match has all the hallmarks of being a one-sided affair but the Wolves are too professional to take the green and gold brigade lightly.Coach Van de Velde, speaking from the Wolves' training camp in Lanzarote, did admit though that his players will be showing no mercy. He said: "Rugby League in the town in general is going to be the winner from this, which is great."This is the start of the competition for us and we need to be focused and play to our potential. This is the challenge we have got to meet."There is no doubt Woolston will be motivated for it. They have some young players who will want to show what they are capable of."
2001 Van de Veldt who had stated that this would be his last year leaves early ,fellow Australian Steve Anderson takes over in August he brings David Plange as Assistant.Allan Langer leaves the club and returns to Australia.Anderson makes some signings which include Matt Sturm, Dale Laughton, Nick Fozzard,
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Peter O'Dea 2002
