My earliest memory of the Wire was as a five year old playing in the street in 1950 when some of the older kids said that Warrington were parading the cup round the town. We followed them to Orford Lane or Winwick Road and watched the team come past in an open topped coach. I was captivated by that and it wasn't that long before a gang of us used to scrape together our 3d for the boys pen and follow the crowd coming from Orford down Battersby Lane to the ground.

that's a great memory.

gang of us used to scrape together our 3d for the boys pen

It were a tanner when I started....TOTAL RIP OFF !!

lol...a tanner, how much is that in stirling?

2.5p. It was a shilling (5p) for kids when I started. Three shillings (15p) for adults. You paid sixpence (2.5p) for Friday night A team games. A season ticket was fantastic value. My first one was less than ten shillings (50p).
If I'm remembering correctly, the Boy's Pen was an area in the Popular Stand (where Snookers was/is now) that was surrounded by green wood. I saw my first few games on the old Kop, then graduated to the Boy's Pen. My main memory of the old wooden main stand was the smell of wintergreen coming up from the Changing Rooms.
When Sunday Rugby started we had the man in his bowler hat on Fletcher St and his 'Beware your sins will find you out,' sandwich board. He was there for years. He even went to Wembley in 1974.
I used to run from Walton Rd, Stockton Heath, where we lived, into the village, then all along the Causeway dodging the lamp posts on the way. If I tried that now I'd have to give up at the Red Lion.

another great memory

Quote ="Teessidewire"Silver. You've really got me thinking now. Didn't Jackie Melling sign for Wigan in 1970 (or'69), in the deal that brought Welsh forward Colin Standing to Warrington? I think Standing played half a game and then went back to Wales, never to be seen again. Melling was a remendous right centre who suffered a lot with shoulder and knee injuries. I believe that he's still involved with wigan St Pats, Rogues may be able to help us with this one.'" I've just checked here. (Bilkos superb reference site) wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=947 There's no mention of Jackie Melling. I also checked in my reference books and can't find any record of him playing for Wigan. However I seem to recall Wigan signing him, so I just rang a mate who's older than me (there are still a few ) and he too thinks that Melling did sign for Wigan late in his career. Looking at the Colin Standing record it says that his last game for Wigan was 13th Dec 1969. I'm guessing that a swap was done prior to the Challenge Cup signing deadline for 1969/70 and maybe Melling got injured in an "A" team game. I'll ask the question on the Wigan site.

Quote ="Teessidewire"Silver. You've really got me thinking now. Didn't Jackie Melling sign for Wigan in 1970 (or'69), in the deal that brought Welsh forward Colin Standing to Warrington? I think Standing played half a game and then went back to Wales, never to be seen again. Melling was a remendous right centre who suffered a lot with shoulder and knee injuries. I believe that he's still involved with wigan St Pats, Rogues may be able to help us with this one.'" I've just checked here. (Bilkos superb reference site) wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=947 There's no mention of Jackie Melling. I also checked in my reference books and can't find any record of him playing for Wigan. However I seem to recall Wigan signing him, so I just rang a mate who's older than me (there are still a few ) and he too thinks that Melling did sign for Wigan late in his career. Looking at the Colin Standing record it says that his last game for Wigan was 13th Dec 1969. I'm guessing that a swap was done prior to the Challenge Cup signing deadline for 1969/70 and maybe Melling got injured in an "A" team game. I'll ask the question on the Wigan site.

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"I've just checked here. (Bilkos superb reference site) wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=947 There's no mention of Jackie Melling. I also checked in my reference books and can't find any record of him playing for Wigan. However I seem to recall Wigan signing him, so I just rang a mate who's older than me (there are still a few ) and he too thinks that Melling did sign for Wigan late in his career. Looking at the Colin Standing record it says that his last game for Wigan was 13th Dec 1969. I'm guessing that a swap was done prior to the Challenge Cup signing deadline for 1969/70 and maybe Melling got injured in an "A" team game. I'll ask the question on the Wigan site.'" Rogues. It was during the time that Wire were really on the rocks, prior to Ossie Davies taking over. They really were black days, but I'm almost certain that Jack was in the swap and we got a bit of cash too. Ive checked Bilko's site myself and can't find him. He won't have been that old either, probably about 28.

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"I've just checked here. (Bilkos superb reference site) wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=947 There's no mention of Jackie Melling. I also checked in my reference books and can't find any record of him playing for Wigan. However I seem to recall Wigan signing him, so I just rang a mate who's older than me (there are still a few ) and he too thinks that Melling did sign for Wigan late in his career. Looking at the Colin Standing record it says that his last game for Wigan was 13th Dec 1969. I'm guessing that a swap was done prior to the Challenge Cup signing deadline for 1969/70 and maybe Melling got injured in an "A" team game. I'll ask the question on the Wigan site.'" Rogues. It was during the time that Wire were really on the rocks, prior to Ossie Davies taking over. They really were black days, but I'm almost certain that Jack was in the swap and we got a bit of cash too. Ive checked Bilko's site myself and can't find him. He won't have been that old either, probably about 28.

Here you go.

I remember that bloke, he was there every match-day Sunday..I suppose he will know by now whether his sin-free life has been rewarded!

Funny actually, first time i saw Warrington playing was against Wigan in i think '99, was flicking through the Sky sports channels as i had the remote (i was 14), Wigan pulled away in the last 10 minutes or so IIRC. A year later, my mate at school told me he was a regular watching Wire and i asked to go along. First game was against Halifax at home in 2000. Went a couple more games that season Wigan at home and Saints away, and got a season ticket the following year. Don't remember much about those games though, so my first real Wire memories are the first game of the 2001 season away at Wigan, biff after biff after biff, and ''Van De Velde's barmy army'' ringing round the JJB for 80 mins.

My first game was York (h) Sept 79, with (and you're going to HATE me for this) everyone's favourite whistler (he was a top lad) and a lad called Ian. We fell out of touch a couple of years later.

SPOOOOOOKY, the last (proper) game at Wilderspool v Wakefield, as I was walking out of the gates underneath the scoreboard, I was stood next to Ian, who I hadn't seen in over 20 years.


Always like to keep my audience rivetted. Wake up

Standing in a kiosk pulling pints at Wilderspool in early 90's that's my proper memory of Wire. My dad & grandad did take me but I can't remember.

My first game at Wilderspool was Leeds 1970 (I think) in a challenge cup game, got free tickets for being picked for town trials, had to climb over turnstiles so we didn't count on the attendance. Wire lost and I remember we changed shirts at HT cos of the weather and had a fabulous view from the old terrace that ran along one side of the ground.

Late 70's/Early 80s at Wilderspool. Memories -

1. The confectionary trolley which used to trundle around the pitch at HT. Together with the guy with the back pack dispensing coffee and tea down a tube.

2. Changing ends to the Railway End at half time.

3. Smell of Wintergreen as players came out to Entry Of The Gladiators - Julius Fucik

4. Bob Eccles kicking a massive up and under when running on at the start of the game.

5. Standing with my Granddad and 2 70 year old+ WW2 veteran Poles in the Fletch.

6. Getting Pear Drops from the newsagent on the corner before the game.

7. Trying to peek in through the changing room windows in the new Main stand.

8. Collecting Steve Hesfords tie ups.

9. Occasional fighting with rival fans and atmosphere of menace.

10. Blue disabled cars parked inside the ground between the Railway and Snookers.

11. Guessing which floodlight bulb had gone this week.

12. Finding Rugby League really exciting, enjoyable and full of characters.

The boys pen in those days was a cordoned off area behind the sticks at the Kop end. A big police sergeant with a greenheart pace stick used to parade back and forth in front of us and you daren't lean over the wall never mind run on the pitch.

That would be Alex Murphy/'s testimonial for thirty tears in the game. They were struggling with ticket sales until it was announced that Bev was turning out and I think it was a virtual sell out. I think it was a Wire select team v the then GB side

I was in the corner where he scored. Vollenhoven should have booted the ball dead but he tried to shepherd it and Bev dived through his legs to score. That was one of the most exciting games I can remember.

Wires71

7.. Trying to peek in through the changing room windows in the new Main stand.

Classic!

Going the 'A'team games on a chilly evening watching the fringe players like Derek Finnigan and Jonny Lowe and A.Another who always got a game!

I also vaguely recall a home game against Blackpool late 70s early 80s which ended up 2-0 (Hesford pen) would be nice if anyone could confirm this score line though.

My Greenhalls 1990 shirt (my fave one ever)...
Old away grounds that were freezing cold watershedding and Thrum hall to name two..
The Causeway pub...(loved it there pre match)
Boxing day and New Years day local derbys..
Bovril hotter than molten lava..
Going to watch the A team on a Friday night (as a kid i loved being able to hear the players shout at each other)...
Being actually excited if our challenge cup or regal trophy game was being televised..

Have some distant memory of standing at the back of the Railway End with my father and younger brother , must have been around mid 60's.
Probably against Saints or the pies.
Didn't absorb much of the game at all, but what did stick in my memory was the folk kicking the enclosure cladding and generating a drumming noise.

Started going regular about late 70's, culminating in a Lions tour to Oz in 88.

Used to stand down in the corner of the old Wilderspool main stand (before it burn't down), and the railway end, and every bloody game there was some guy up in the stand bawling out "Knock is yed off" all the game.

Someone said he was a schoolteacher?

Some great memories here. Makes me feel that I want to be back home again. Can we keep them coming, please?

My first memory of going to Wilderspool was attending a tour match v NZ...it must have been late 70's early 80's ??? I remember standing in the Railway end with my dad. Can't remember much about the game....the one thing that I do remember was sitting on one of the terrace barriers with my dad holding me...and then falling off as we scored and my dad let go! Thankfully no damage was done!

One of the worst memories I have is going to Oldham for a night match in the late 80's....it was so cold we bought soup just to keep our hands warm...it was inedible! I think we got beat by 1 point...total nightmare.

One of the best memories was the day we beat Oldham to get to the challenge cup final in 1990...what a day at Central Park! I worked as a bar man in the Mulberry Tree in Stockton Heath at the time ...and the night we got to the final was amazing....the pub was packed with people dancing on tables and singing all night...fantastic...even though I was working!