Wilderspool Stadium
Wilderspool Stadium was a rugby league stadium in Warrington, England. The ground was Warrington RLFC's old ground before moving to the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
| Full name | Wilderspool Stadium |
|---|---|
| Location | Fletcher Street, Warrington |
| Coordinates | 53°22′57″N 2°35′17″W / 53.38250°N 2.58806°WCoordinates: 53°22′57″N 2°35′17″W / 53.38250°N 2.58806°W |
| Owner | Warrington Borough Council |
| Operator | Warrington Wolves |
| Capacity | 9,200 (900 seating) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Scoreboard | Manual |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1881 |
| Opened | 1881 |
| Renovated | 1888 |
| Expanded | 1983, 2000 |
| Closed | 2014 |
| Demolished | 2014 |
| Tenants | |
| Warrington Wolves (1898–2003) Warrington Wizards (2003–2012) | |
History
In 1898, Warrington RLFC moved to the Wilderspool Stadium. A 10-year lease was agreed with Greenall Whitley for land on the east side of their previous ground, a pitch previously used by Latchford Rovers Rugby Club. Warrington's previous pitch was used to build houses in Fletcher Street.
Wilderspool Stadium was modernised and extended in the inter-war period, becoming one of the finest venues in rugby league, and being awarded host status for Championship finals, Challenge Cup semi-finals, and tour games. A new west perimeter wall and turnstiles were built at Wilderspool around 1921. In 1925 the supporters' club provided Warrington with covered accommodation on the popular side of the ground and two years later, they donated a scoreboard. In 1926, the perimeter wooden fence being replaced by a concrete wall. New dressing rooms underneath the main stand were opened in January 1934.
Wilderspool's record attendance was created in the 1948-9 season when 34,304 spectators turned up to see Warrington lose only their second game of the season to Wigan.
During the Second World War, Wilderspool was requisitioned for the war effort; being used as a storage depot.
In April, 1953, Wilderspool staged its first international, a match between Wales and Other Nationalities.
In 1958, the popular side terracing became fully covered and soon after the Fletcher Street End was given a roof.
In 1965, floodlights were installed at Wilderspool.
A stand was completely destroyed by arson in 1982.[1] The Brian Bevan stand was built in 1983 to replace the one lost to arson.
During the 1994 Kangaroo tour, Australia defeated Warrington 24-0 at Wilderspool before a crowd of 11,244 in the Kangaroos' last game at the ground. The record Kangaroo Tour attendance at the stadium was on the 1948-9 tour when 26,879 saw Warrington defeat the Kangaroos 16-7.[2]
Warrington RLFC left Wilderspool for the Halliwell Jones Stadium in 2003.[3] The final game was played in September 2003 with Warrington beating Wakefield 52–12.[4]
The stadium was finally demolished between August and October 2014.[4] A plan for 160 houses on the site was submitted in 2019, more than 16 years after the final game at Wilderspool.[5]
The scoreboard from Wilderspool was restored and placed in Warrington's Victoria Park in 2017.[6]
Rugby League Test matches
List of Test and World Cup matches played at Wilderspool Stadium.[7]
| Game# | Date | Result | Attendance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 April 1953 | Wales def. Other Nationalities 18–16 | 8,449 | 1952–53 European Rugby League Championship |
| 2 | 1 December 1973 | Australia def. Great Britain 15–5 | 10,019 | 1973 Ashes series |
| 3 | 20 September 1975 | England def. Wales 22–16 | 5,034 | 1975 Rugby League World Cup |
| 4 | 24 March 1979 | England def. France 12–6 | 5,004 | 1979 European Rugby League Championship |
| 5 | 8 October 1995 | New Zealand def. Tonga 25–24 | 8,083 | 1995 Rugby League World Cup Group B |
| 6 | 20 October 1995 | Russia def. United States 28–26 | 1,950 | 1995 Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament |
| 7 | 16 November 2003 | England def. France 68–6 | 2,536 | 2003 European Nations Cup |
Rugby League Tour Matches
Wilderspool also saw Warrington and the county team Lancashire play host to various international touring teams from 1907–1994.
| Game | Date | Result | Attendance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 December 1907 | Warrington def. New Zealand 15–13 | 10,000 | 1907–08 All Golds tour |
| 2 | 14 November 1908 | Warrington def. Australia 10–3 | 5,000 | 1908–09 Kangaroo Tour |
| 3 | 8 February 1909 | Warrington drew with Australia 8–8 | 7,000 | |
| 4 | 30 December 1911 | Australasia def. Warrington 34–6 | 8,500 | 1911–12 Kangaroo Tour |
| 5 | 29 October 1921 | Warrington def. Australasia 10–3 | 16,000 | 1921–22 Kangaroo Tour |
| 6 | 14 December 1921 | Lancashire def. Australasia 8–6 | 6,000 | |
| 7 | 9 October 1926 | Warrington def. New Zealand 17–5 | 5,000 | 1926–27 New Zealand Kiwis tour |
| 8 | 26 September 1929 | Australasia def. Lancashire 29–14 | 24,000 | 1929–30 Kangaroo Tour |
| 9 | 21 December 1929 | Warrington def. Australasia 17–8 | 12,826 | |
| 10 | 20 September 1933 | Australia def. Lancashire 33–7 | 16,576 | 1933–34 Kangaroo Tour |
| 11 | 14 October 1933 | Warrington def. Australia 15–12 | 16,431 | |
| 12 | 17 March 1934 | English League XIII def. France 32–16 | 11,100 | 1934 French rugby league tour |
| 13 | 29 September 1937 | Lancashire def. Australia 7–5 | 16,250 | 1937–38 Kangaroo Tour |
| 14 | 27 November 1937 | Warrington def. Australia 8–6 | 12,637 | |
| 15 | 30 October 1948 | Warrington def. Australia 16–7 | 26,879 | 1948–49 Kangaroo Tour |
| 16 | 11 October 1952 | Australia def. Warrington 34–10 | 21,478 | 1952–53 Kangaroo Tour |
| 17 | 19 November 1952 | Australia def. Lancashire 36–11 | 5,863 | |
| 18 | 27 October 1956 | Warrington def. Australia 21–17 | 15,613 | 1956–57 Kangaroo Tour |
| 19 | 19 September 1959 | Australia def. Warrington 30–24 | 17,112 | 1959–60 Kangaroo Tour |
| 20 | 14 September 1963 | Australia def. Warrington 28–20 | 20,090 | 1963–64 Kangaroo Tour |
| 21 | 30 September 1967 | Australia def. Warrington 16–7 | 11,642 | 1967–68 Kangaroo Tour |
| 22 | 11 October 1978 | Warrington def. Australia 15–12 | 10,143 | 1978 Kangaroo Tour |
| 23 | 29 October 1980 | Warrington def. New Zealand 11–7 | 5,680 | 1980 New Zealand Kiwis tour |
| 24 | 31 October 1990 | Australia def. Warrington 26–6 | 10,200 | 1990 Kangaroo Tour |
| 24 | 9 November 1994 | Australia def. Warrington 24–0 | 11,244 | 1994 Kangaroo Tour |
References
- ^ "Timeline". My Warrington.
- ^ 1948 Kangaroo tour @ Rugby League Project 17 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Andy Wilson (16 September 2003). "Wilderspool braced for final hooter". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ a b Malia, Simon (7 August 2014). "Wilderspool demolition paves way for Wire Regeneration masterplan".
- ^ Skentelbery, David (8 February 2019). "160-homes plan for former Wilderspool Stadium site". Warrington Worldwide.
- ^ Everett, Adam. "Wilderspool Stadium scoreboard restored in Victoria Park". Warrington Guardian.
- ^ Wilderspool results @ Rugby League Project