Although I'd been to Wilderspool before and had seen Wire at Wigan, my first real memory of Wire was the 59 - 60 Lancashire Cup Final Wire v Saints at Central Park.

I was in the "hen pen" and remember Saints switching Tommy Voll to the left wing to mark Brian Bevan. Bevan scored in the corner from a kick through just beating Vollenhoven to the ball and Wire won 5 - 4, which made a young Wigan Rogue very happy indeed.

John Bevans debut in 1973

My 1st Wire memory was against Leigh at Hilton Park in the 70's. I knew nothing about RL & can only describe the match as legalised thuggery. We were stood by the players tunnel & every Wire player coming off had cuts to the mouth & face, black eyes, bloody noses & loads of general bumps & bruises to the face.

I couldn't believe what I saw.

A freezing cold night, that I'm almost sure was Bonfire night...playing Halifax at wilderspool, we lost and I just remember John Schuster knocking over conversion after conversion. Don't know what year.

And that's why you signed Murphy as coach.

My first game was 1984(ish) against Bradford Northern. Stood in the Fletcher Street end with the old man and couldn't see a thing as I was too small to see over people in front of me being 11 and about 4'6". I do remember two players, Phil Ford and Rick Thackeray on the wings. Honestly couldn't say who else played, but thinking I was as fast as lightening it was those two flyers that caught my attention. I'm sure we won the game as there seemed to be lots of tries for the Wire down in front of the Fletch, but could well be mistaken. Didn't go again until 1987 when I was a bit taller and could see what was going on, and also knew a lot more about the game as we played it at high school (we never even had a rugby ball to play with at primary) and Wire had won the Premiership the year before and got into a couple of finals that year.

I have vivid memories of THAT night game in 1978 v Australia. I was 12 and had been to a few games over the previous couple of years but still remember the atmosphere of that night. Reading what Mike Nicholas said about that game still gives me goose bumps today.

First game at Wilderspool late 60's v Cas and we got beat told my dad I preferred Castleford and got a clip round my ear for my trouble ha ha well deserved

First game for me was a CC home tie against Bradford. Not sure of year, 86 I think. My vivid memory is of John Woods and Terry Holmes absolutely ripping us to shreds, which did not quite compute with my teenaged expectations. When Wire signed Woods a season (or two) later, I was delighted, and he didn't disappoint. A genius.

I'm not sure if I was taken to any other matches before Brian Bevan's last match in April 62, at the age of 5, but I know I was taken to that match. I don't remember anything of the match.
I do I remember me and my mates in the 60's being virtually on our own on the spion kop (railway end) chasing after the balls after goal kicks. Not sure who we would have been playing though.

I'd been a testimonial match before (Denis Curlings IIRC) but my first real Match Was Warrington Bradford Northern 1979, as angry and brutal a match as you were likely to see two sent off two stretchered off ...

I couldnt tell you what the standard of rugby was like it was legal fighting.......

and I was hooked........Wires won 10-8 which helped.....


it makes me weep a bit when People Say Ben Westwood is a thug...circa 1979 he'd have been a softie........

My first game was the 78 touring kangaroo game, I'd have been nine. My brother took me and I couldn't believe the atmosphere. The importance of the match and the result passed me by slightly, and years later I deeply regret I don't remember more of it (though a diet of Newcastle Brown won't have helped).

I also remember a cup game down at Wilderspool v Hull KR when they were in their pomp, about 79, which we won 9-5 I think, very much against predictions.

The most vivid memory I have of the matches around that period was looking into the shop window on Fletcher St. after the match at the books, scarves, flat caps and pendants all adorned with the famous rugby ball-lightning bolt logo.

Bobby Fulton coming home

I wish, or sir lessie!

My first game was 1967 or 1968 against Swinton at home, a night match. I was six or seven. All I can remember was being on Th Fletch and asking some bloke where I could buy a programme and he gave me his.

Started properly in 1970, Whiehaven at home.