I was at the game and would not have been if it was 1977 as I was 6. I'm sure it was 81 ish.

I'll ask him.

Si, thats what sticks in my memory as well which is why i was fairly sure it wasn`t the 1977 game. The place erupted when Brian Bevan scored and like you say they didn`t half boo when someone tackled him, it had to be in the 80`s the game that i`m thinking of....

As Reg Reagan would say when he is reminiscing over the Tamati v Greg Dowling fight..... Memories

Unfortunatley i was there( only because it shows how old i am) but it was the one and only time i ever saw Brian Bevan play. Iam sure it was the John Bevan testiomional game, but i am not 100%. I do remember asking everybody around me why Brian Bevan was so admired by everybody only for him to get the ball and go on a run up the wing, the whole crowd erupted, i was about 10 and i can still remember it like yesterday. Good at remembering things me !!!!!
watched sky the other week when ofiha(spelling) was on and he said i scored 501 tries" dont fortget the 1", i felt like calling in and saying still a long way short of 796 though!!!!!!!

your right, i was there as well, i lived in germany in 77 so it must have been the 80's

I believe that Steviewire is correct.

Brian Bevan played in only one testimonial game in the 70's - Alex Murphys, which was controversial because it was at least the second and possibly the third testimonial of Murphy's career, even though he had been at Warrington for less than the stauatory 10 years.

If my memory serves me correctly, Warrington played a Salford side, and Brian Bevan only came on to the field in the second half to replace John Bevan who then switched sides to play for Salford (hence in the famous photo John is wearing a Salford shirt - with Warrington shorts and socks).

Brian Bevan scored one try - courtesy of players doing what ever they could to avoid tackling him.

It was his second. He'd had one at Saints. The one with us was awarded on his announcement of his retirement as a player.

I've got a copy of the programme with some classic autographs on it including Brian Bevans.

Eric Clay was referee........an old adversary of Murphy's....they'd had many a run in. Clay used to claim that he'd awarded opposition teams more yards for Murphy's back chatting than Murphy had made in his career!! In the second half of the testimonial they swapped shirts with Murphy going to Ref. Rather predictably he sent Clay off!!

By the way Mark Forster had two testimonial matches joining Murphy and Don Fox from Wakefield as the only RL players to have done so.

I have some very vague memories of going to this game with my Dad, the only thing I really remember about the game is Brian Bevan scoring because my Dad had told me so much about him.

Sorry can't be any further help but Albino seems to remember it well..

You bein cheeky there?..............I don't remember too much more other than it was a party atmosphere and a glorious day!

I'm gonna try and dig the programme out and see if there's any other notable points of interest.

Think it was John Bevan's testimonial.
I remember being there.

Like Kol said..JB is wearing a Salford shirt it the photo.
You will find a piece upon it in the blue Warrington centenary book, from the 80's not to be confused with the Wilderspool end of an era centenery book. Providing you can find a copy of it!!

did a lttle research and found that the testemonial game where the two Bevs played on opposite sides was actually for Dennis Curling in 1977. Brian in wire kit and JB in Salford kit. The centenary book rubber duckie quoted gives brief details.

I think Murphy testemonial was against a GB or England select side.

there were a few other testemonial games including Parry Gordon, JB and I think Derek Whitehead, I don't recall Brain Bev playing in these.

Too much work for the brain on a friday tea time I'm afraid

iam almost certain it was very early 80s as ihad just left school

Taken from "Images of Sport Warrington Rugby League Club 1970 - 2000" compiled by Eddie Fuller and Gary Slater on page 42 below a photo of Brian with ball in Warrington kit and John in background in Salford kit:

"[iBevans at the double. Dennis Curling was rightly awarded a testimonial season which raised the impressive sum of £3,500. The highlight of the fund-raising was a testimonial match that featured John Bevan and Brian Bevan on opposite sides[/i."

So that comfirms my original thoughts of it being Dennis Curling's testimonial. Can anybody dig anything out on these other "alledged" games?

Just checked in Robert Gate's fabulous book "The Great Bev" and he records:

[iIn the years following his retirement ....... occasionally he would appear in a benefit or charity match.... As late as the mid-late 1970's he appeared in such games at Wilderspool in benefits for Alex Murphy and Parry Gordon and in a testimonial for the late Jim Challinor."[/i


I reckon a few people's memories are playing tricks with them.

Quite a few people have stated already that they couldn`t have been at the game in 1977 for one reason or another but they remember Brian Bevan making an appearance in the 80`s in one of these testimonial type games, from memory i don`t think he started the game that people like myself and others are referring too, due to his age at the time he only came on for a short spell but that was more than enough to wow the crowd and send everyone home happy at witnessing the great man on a rugby field.

You stated Parry Gordon above, i thought his testimonial was in 1981 or did he have another benefit type game in the 70`s as well ?

Found it.......


Parry Gordons Testimonial Brochure

titled Parry Gordon -Mr Loyalty

price 50p


autographs on the front cover Stuart Wright (told you I waited for it)
neil courtney, Paul ford, and one Brian Bevan

theres no date on the programme but it shows him signing in Feb 61 and says "Thanks for 20 marvellous years"......
and Paul Fords debut was in 1981 so there you go............

Bevan definitley played in that game and from the all stars team sheet i'm sure it was someone like Mick Adams that tackled Bevan

Nice work Bick even though some of our memories on this thread aint what they used to be

I too think it was Murphys testimonial.

It was around mid seventies.

I think it was the one and only time i ever saw Brian Bevan play.

To add a bit more Murphy swapped shirts with ref ( Fred Lindop I think ) and Lindop took a kick at goal following a try and completely spooned it.

I went this game, it was Parry gordons testimonial.

How old are you Rob?

Funny that,
Was thinking of this recently on another website.
I was at the match and I remember it as either Parry Gordon or john Bevan testimonial.
The other thing that sticks is that I used to kid the chemic fans about when was the last time Mick Adams wore a wires shirt.....
That stumped them, but he did in in one of them games

I to remember them setting bevan up for a try and someone tackling him (adams?).
Then they let him in neext time.
I'm sure the look nw filmed it.

I was also there it was Alex Murphy's Testimonial Match 1975.

I was at the Murphy one too and saw him play a couple of games in the Warrington Works Competition in the early seventies. He still had a fair bit of pace then. I'd loved to have seen him play, but just to read 'The Great Bev,' makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.

It was definately NOT John Bevan's testamonial.
Still remember that day very well, and if Brian would have played, there'd have been a damn site more that turned up (unfortunately).

IIRC, that was the first game played in this country, where the 4 point try was used. The game was played straight after the end of the 1982-83 season (late May)

I'm thought it was AJ Murphy's testimonial, the only time I got to see the Great Bev play. John Bev was on the other wing.