sorry to top you all. i was at wembley,saw the game,boring.my mum went to the replay,lucky devil.listened to the replay on an old accumulator wireless.subsequently,met harry bath and gerry helme.
will be at old trafford too.

Amazing So you will have sen Brian Bevan in the Primrose and Blue ?

So did I, John Bevans testimonial. Remember Brian scoring a try under the sticks, sidestepping a way through.

LOL I saw that too but it doesn't count he must have been 60 if he was a day.

I counts for me.
I remember my dad telling me at the game, he looks exactly the same as he did nearly 20 years ago, and looks just as fast.

Don't get me wrong, I love a historical thread probably more than most! I meant, why 1954, and what the significance of this was??

However, on the subject of historical perspective, I offer this...

I must admit I was pleased to see the '3 years on thread' which highlighted the fact we only had 3 players from the 2013 team playing at the weekend, just 3 years on. It shows the scale of re-building we've done, that Smith deserves a huge amount of credit for: this is basically his second Wire team (and flies in the face of those who question his ability to recruit, and say he 'inherited' his first-which in itself ignores the fact he converted also-rans into trophy winners).

However, the key thing I would emphasise are the parallels to our often referred to 'greatest era', of the late 40s, early 50s. In fact I would say this is a total misnomer: this too was two totally distinct teams. The mistake stems from the fact that three of our greatest ever players (Bath, Helme and Bevan) span this era. In actual fact only three players played in both the 1948 and 1954 Championship winning teams (Bath wasn't one as he wasn't eligible to play in 48, though Bob Ryan, another Wire great but often forgotten in light of the 'holy trinity' was the other with Bev & Gerry).

The similarity between then and now is significant, with the crucial difference that our first team in this era failed to win the Championship. In the 48-50 period we won League and cup, made a few other finals and topped the league (twice). We then had 2 poor relatively poor seasons, with a 6th and 9th place finish and no finals, whilst the team was re-built, only to bounce back to win the double, retain the league and finish top in back-to-back seasons for (so far!) the only time in our history. Fast forward 60 years, and our first team wins 3 Cups and tops the league, but just falls short (twice) for the big prize. We then have a couple of relatively poor years, while a second team is assembled, before getting back in final contending shape, and topping the league, and maybe, just maybe, carrying off the Championship.

I maintain that the anomaly was our modern eras first team's lack of Championship glory: they should have won a title but didn't. However, I do feel history is repeating, and agree with Smith that this team will win a GF. I expect it to be this year if I'm totally honest, but if not, it'll be in the next two.

My main point: enjoy this now, it probably won't last. After the glory years of the 50s we weren't a real force again for 20 years, and even then we're not really top dogs. This may happen again. So lap it up while you can: we may never see the like of this era again.

Great post NtW, it's been great being a wire fan since 2009 after being let's say difficult for the rest of my wire following years. 7 finals in 7 years plus 2 shields has been great. We still need to add the big one though. Hopefully this Saturday.

I was born in January 1955 during a match v Whitehaven at Wilderspool. I've actually got the programme from this match, given to me on my 50th birthday. Would be nice to chalk up the championship this year, I have to say.

I should have been more verbose and stated 1954(/55) season which was our last league win?

i remember the great bev.a wonderful player.not gifted defensively but my word going on attack had everyone on their toe's.for ntw points,i went because i enjoyed it,all children went.we had our own "pen"at wilderspool.on monday at school is was all about the"wire,"waiting impatiently for the next home game.it was'nt important that we won things,of course we wanted that.it was more important that the family of supporters met every home game,almost like a community.it seems that all people crave is success today,in those long ago day's as a child,it was sheer pleasure to be there.

True dedication from your mum to still go to the game!

I would have just called the thread 1955-this was when we last won the title after all. Things are easier now we start and finish in the same year!

Another historical comment-a lot of those who pass comment that the team finishing top is 'true champions' are seemingly ignorant of the fact that possibly our best ever side (1953/4 double winners) only actually finished 2nd on the ladder. The 1954/5 team did finish top before winning the Championship Final though.