One of the things that sticks in my mind about the 70's and is a far cry from todays game was the amount of silverware on offer!! All were highly prized as well, in part due to the prize money that came along with the winning of this silverware in those semi professional days!
The massive attraction of the Locker Cup to open up the season, The Lancashire cup which saw many a blood and thunder tussle, The Players/John Player Trophy was highly prized and indeed for me holds some magic memories, The BBC floodlit Trophy, the Challenge Cup of course, the end of season play offs, and one year even the Captain Morgan Trophy thrown in as well! Add to that The League Leaders Shield after about 36 league games and its a far cry from todays supposed "overcrowded calender"
Of course the full time professional and summer era has brought us a quicker game full of athletes and supermen compared to those days of barrell stomached props and Rob Burrow-esque style half backs but if you ever get chance to take a look back at some of the old games of the 70's, I think you'll be surprised at the fitness and skill levels and the speed at which the game was played!
Its difficult to compare when, who, which, or what was best. All I know from a personal level is I've always enjoyed my Rugby League and hope that will always be the case!!

Considering ,as you say, all the cup competitions of yesteryear ,anything up to 34 league games a season ,training twice a week & players holding down full time jobs it is remarkable how fit the players must have been. It was still a spectacle then even without super fit players & scripted moves on the pitch.

For some reason i have quoted trisprint instead of Albino ,sorry

I don't see why we shouldn't be trying to spread the word - after all, we know how great this game is, so why not give other people more chance to see it for themselves? Plus the money factor - the Sky money now contributes over £1m to each SL club every year, and still we have clubs on the edge of collapse, so how many would actually be left without that support? It is annoying having the fixtures moved around to suit them, but it's really not much of a problem, and I don't think it hurts our game in any other way.

How old was you when you started going in "early 80's"?

I doubt you have ever stepped foot in Wilderspool in your life..........

I’m afraid I can go back further than you. My first memory was being on my dad’s shoulders to watch the all conquering team of 53 – 54 parade the cup at the Town Hall. Most memories are of the late 50s and the 60s with legends like Brian Bevan etc. but including some of the people you mention.
In those days we were a top team and certainly the equal of Wigan and Saints. They seem like great days. How much of it is because they are memories of my youth I don’t know.
I’ve been living in the London area for nearly 40 years but have been taking a big group (mostly southerners) to Wembley for the Challenge Cup Final for over 20 years. I love having Warrington back as a force to be reckoned with again.
Can I ask a question, having been exiled for so long? How much rugby league is played in the schools in and around Warrington these days? I passed the 11 plus and went to Newton-le-Willows Grammar School and was forced to play union but I know the other schools played league e.g Evelyn Street versus Bewsey. Do we get local talent in the same way now?

Or Malaga away Lowey!!!

Correct........... or Barrow away for that matter................!!!

You just reminded me that I [ihave[/i seen worse weather during a game than we got 20 minutes in on Saturday!

Swinton (a) 92ish
2 hours of solid downpour AND a floodlight failure, too.
Wetter than an otter's pocket

Always remember the blizzard we had to contend with in that CC tie at Oldham in the 90's.

(The one where the Wire fan, (who had imbibed too many shandies), ran onto to the pitch at half time to tackle the Oldham Bear mascot. To this day the funniest thing I have witnessed at a RL match, especially as the mascot got up and launched the bloke as he walked back to the stands)

I remember that. I don't remember the blizzard, in my head it had snowed the day before and it was that cold in Oldham it didn't melt.

I also remember another trip to Oldham the day Princess Diana died. Rained all day and we were torn apart by John Davidson.