Wilderspool Stadium
Wilderspool Stadium was a rugby league stadium in Warrington, England. The ground was Warrington RLFC's old ground before moving to the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Full name | Wilderspool Stadium |
---|---|
Location | Fletcher Street, Warrington |
Coordinates | 53°22′57″N 2°35′17″W |
Owner | Warrington Borough Council |
Operator | Warrington Wolves |
Capacity | 9,200 (900 seating) |
Surface | Grass |
Scoreboard | Manual |
Construction | |
Built | 1881 |
Opened | 1881 |
Renovated | 1888 |
Expanded | 1983, 2000 |
Closed | 2014 |
Demolished | 2014 |
Tenants | |
Warrington Wolves (1881–1882, 1884–2003) Warrington Wizards (2003–2012) |
History
It was the home ground of Warrington RLFC until 2003.[1] The final game was played in September 2003 with Warrington beating Wakefield 52–12.[2]
A stand was completely destroyed by arson in 1982.[3]
During the 1994 Kangaroo tour, Australia defeated Warrington 24-0 at Wilderspool before a crowd of 11,244 in the Kangaroos' last ever game at the ground. The record Kangaroo Tour attendance at the stadium was on the 1948-9 tour when 26,879 saw Warrington defeat the Kangaroos 16-7.[4]
The stadium was finally demolished between August and October 2014.[2] A plan for 160 houses on the site was submitted in 2019, more than 16 years after the final game at Wilderspool.[5]
The scoreboard from Wilderspool was restored and placed in Warrington's Victoria Park in 2017.[6]
Rugby League Test matches
List of Test and World Cup matches played at Wilderspool Stadium.[7]
Game# | Date | Result | Attendance | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 15 April 1953 | 8,449 | 1952–53 European Rugby League Championship | |
2 | 1 December 1973 | 10,019 | 1973 Ashes series | |
3 | 20 September 1975 | 5,034 | 1975 Rugby League World Cup | |
4 | 24 March 1979 | 5,004 | 1979 European Rugby League Championship | |
5 | 8 October 1995 | 8,083 | 1995 Rugby League World Cup Group B | |
6 | 20 October 1995 | 1,950 | 1995 Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament | |
7 | 16 November 2003 | 2,536 | 2003 European Nations Cup |
Rugby League Tour Matches
Wilderspool also saw Warrington and the county team Lancashire play host to various international touring teams from 1907–1994.
Game | Date | Result | Attendance | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 21 December 1907 | 10,000 | 1907–08 All Golds tour | |
2 | 14 November 1908 | 5,000 | 1908–09 Kangaroo Tour | |
3 | 8 February 1909 | 7,000 | ||
4 | 30 December 1911 | 8,500 | 1911–12 Kangaroo Tour | |
5 | 29 October 1921 | 16,000 | 1921–22 Kangaroo Tour | |
6 | 14 December 1921 | 6,000 | ||
7 | 9 October 1926 | 5,000 | 1926–27 New Zealand Kiwis tour | |
8 | 26 September 1929 | 24,000 | 1929–30 Kangaroo Tour | |
9 | 21 December 1929 | 12,826 | ||
10 | 20 September 1933 | 16,576 | 1933–34 Kangaroo Tour | |
11 | 14 October 1933 | 16,431 | ||
12 | 17 March 1934 | 11,100 | 1934 French rugby league tour | |
13 | 29 September 1937 | 16,250 | 1937–38 Kangaroo Tour | |
14 | 27 November 1937 | 12,637 | ||
15 | 30 October 1948 | 26,879 | 1948–49 Kangaroo Tour | |
16 | 11 October 1952 | 21,478 | 1952–53 Kangaroo Tour | |
17 | 19 November 1952 | 5,863 | ||
18 | 27 October 1956 | 15,613 | 1956–57 Kangaroo Tour | |
19 | 19 September 1959 | 17,112 | 1959–60 Kangaroo Tour | |
20 | 14 September 1963 | 20,090 | 1963–64 Kangaroo Tour | |
21 | 30 September 1967 | 11,642 | 1967–68 Kangaroo Tour | |
22 | 11 October 1978 | 10,143 | 1978 Kangaroo Tour | |
23 | 29 October 1980 | 5,680 | 1980 New Zealand Kiwis tour | |
24 | 31 October 1990 | 10,200 | 1990 Kangaroo Tour | |
24 | 9 November 1994 | 11,244 | 1994 Kangaroo Tour |
References
- Andy Wilson (16 September 2003). "Wilderspool braced for final hooter". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- Malia, Simon (7 August 2014). "Wilderspool demolition paves way for Wire Regeneration masterplan".
- "Timeline". My Warrington.
- 1948 Kangaroo tour @ Rugby League Project Archived 17 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- Skentelbery, David (8 February 2019). "160-homes plan for former Wilderspool Stadium site". Warrington Worldwide.
- Everett, Adam. "Wilderspool Stadium scoreboard restored in Victoria Park". Warrington Guardian.
- Wilderspool results @ Rugby League Project