In 1900, led by Jim Valentine, they won the Rugby League Challenge Cup defeating Salford at Fallowfield, Manchester. Swinton had remained a major force, as evidenced by their club-record four players - Buckley, Stopford, Gowers and Dave Robinson - on the 1966 tour to Australia and New Zealand. Another Hurricanes error on sixteen minutes presented the Lions with a chance to score and they took it when Anthony Dyne crossed in the left corner and again Gregson converted. In 1871, they joined the Rugby Football Union as "Swinton and Pendlebury F.C. But a further financial crisis at the end of 2013 saw the departure of chairman, John Kidd, and the club was rescued by a new consortium which initially comprised of director David Jones and the Supporters Trust. But sadly Paul Kidds team lost out to Sheffield Eagles in the final. Station Road, Swinton (1929-1992). Started December 9, 2022, Copyright 2022 League Publications Ltd The Lions have been forced to play their league games at Salford and Widnes since. They also have a player currently on trial. This category has only the following subcategory. A proposal in 1960 to create a Manchester rugby league club at the former White City Stadium on Chester Road, Old Trafford, Stretford, received strong opposition from Salford and Swinton. When two divisions were reintroduced in 1973, Swinton were out of the top flight, and have struggled to regain their former glories ever since. Swinton won the Lancashire Cup against Widnes in 1940, but thereafter the war curtailed the promise of further progress. Where not all appearances are available, figure is displayed in a light grey colour. The 192728 season saw the Lions sweep all before them. As for Valentine he was incredibly killed by lightning whilst on holiday at Barmouth in 1904. Humphreys was sacked in late May 2002 and replaced by former player Phil Veivers. Note: Promotion & Premiership double 1987, No. No. As part as of a new series to crown Swinton Lions greatest ever team, we delve into the history books to take a look at the best players from each era to wear the famous blue shirt. Started 2 hours ago, By By Louis Brogan was held up on ten minutes but on the next tackle Gregson put in a measured kick for Josh Eaves to chase and score and Gregson converted this one too. Swinton's first match was against a club called Standard from Eccles, and within 4 or 5 years the team became virtually unbeatable in the Manchester area and beyond. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s the Lions strove unsuccessfully to repeat former glories and often flattered to deceive, but the appointment of Welshman Cliff Evans as coach signalled a renaissance. 29 Anthony Dyne 13 Louis Brogan Such was the Lions success that by the mid-1880s Swinton had become recognised as a national force and unquestionably they were the strongest team in Lancashire. 10 Kieran Moran Crowds in excess of 20,000 were commonplace at Chorley Road where the fans marveled at the skills of the brothers Bryn at Jack Evans - both of them Great Britain internationals. Started October 13, 2022, By Started Friday at 11:11, By Unfortunately the football club would not grant Swinton a ten-year lease which would be required to enable much needed funding to bring the ground up to standard. The 1980s, the decade when we emerged from the doldrums to become a top end Second Division side, inter-dispersed with a fair share of memorable triumphs! Cox (71), Hughes (75) Martyn Sadler Powered by Invision Community. 8 Gavin Bennion The club was formed in 1866 when members of Swinton Cricket Club decided to take up "football" in the winter to keep fit. We're really keen to promote links with our past players, as in doing so it respects the history of the club, AND promotes the future of the club in a positive light. Started January 11, By Players such as Les Holliday (son of Bill) and Danny Wilson offered great hope for the future, but despite a Second Division Premiership success in 1987, three separate promotions simply brought about three immediate relegations. Firebrand flanker Lachie Swinton is free for Wallabies selection to face France after escaping a further ban after his send-off in the final round of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman. He played at representative level for Lancashire, and at club level for Swinton, and in Australia for North Sydney and Manly-Warringah (Heritage 207), as a scrum-half, i.e. Swinton Lions are in the process of giving winger Calum Hughes a trial period at Heywood Road. Jughead 1 Nathan Hill The first rugby match under floodlights took place in Salford, between Broughton and Swinton on 22 October 1878. Hodgson still holds the long distance penalty goal world record with a kick of 77yards (at the Athletic Grounds, Rochdale Hornets, in April 1940). 6 Nick Gregson Although born at Wigan 21 years ago, Joe has spent the latter half of his life growing up in Australia, and for the past three years has been playing his rugby league with the Sunshine Coast Falcons. Heywood Road, Sale, M33 3WB | info@swintonlionsrlfc.co.uk | 07932 500 731, Copyright Swinton Lions 2023 | Privacy Policy, Created by Rugby League World Cup England 2021. He was replaced by Paul Kidd and Ian Watson. [1] The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. The war took the lives of an astonishing 13 Swinton players, but back home the Lions played on in a desperate attempt to stay afloat. Peacetime brought about the shrewdest of gambles by the Lions directors who had managed to reign in the support of local businessmen. The 1960's had seen Rugby played by Smiths Industries and the Technical College as well as a renewed interest in schools rugby with the Grammar School (Henry Box in new money . Fortunately the club found a friend in Sedgley Park RUFC an ambitious and successful club in Division One of the RFU, which has meant from 2004 to 2010Swintonplayed their home matches at Park Lane, Whitefield the home of Sedgley Park. A move from their Burying Lane pitch to another at Stoneacre (close to the White Lion pub where the club now moved its headquarters and the players got changed) gave rise to the famous Lions nickname, which is one of the oldest in British sport. The Swinging Sixties, a glorious period in the history of Swinton RLFC. Explore. 21 Jonny Openshaw 24 Jacob Beer The only remaining director Steve Wild set about assembling a new board and plotting an alternative strategic course, whilst Head Coach Stuart Littler provided stability for the players and coaching staff. Louis Brogan was held up on ten minutes but on the next tackle Gregson put in a measured kick for Josh Eaves to chase and score and Gregson converted this one too. In 194142, Swinton abandoned the Lancashire League due to the Second World War and did not return until the 194546 season. A brief one-year tenure at the Willows in 2011 saw the Lions pick-up their first silverware in 25 years when captain Lee Wingfield held aloft the Championship One winners trophy. 14 Josh Eaves Hurricanes made a good start to the second half with pressure on the Lions line helped by a couple of penalties that got them down field but again the crucial pass went to ground, before Dom Flanagan came close to scoring for his side but lost the ball as he reached for the line. Goals: Stead Under captain, Hector Halsall, the Lions were a side with a strong Welsh presence, with players like Billo Rees as well as the Cumbrian goal-kicking second row forward, Martin Hodgson who signed for Swinton in January 1927. A 1965 semi-final defeat to Wigan proving the closest Swinton came. This record would stand for ninety years but three months later when the Lions visited Pontefract they lost 50. 18 Liam Cooper David "Dave" Robinson (birth unknown) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. During the second half of the decade other prominent players turned out for the Lions. 13 Liam Welham This week we are looking at the 1960s. 10 Kenny Baker Note: 1 Cumbria cap; Captained Div 2 Premiership team 1987, No. To view matches in which a player appeared, click the List button. The club had first formed in 1935 (I think Frank was still playing even then but was probably just a Colt in those days !) Calum is 27 years old and has been a stand-out performer for the Ince Rosebridge club in the National Conference League Division 1 over recent seasons. McAtee made his debut in 1977 giving him heritage number 869. Last modified: Tue, 17 Jan 2023 17:39:02 +0000, 2005-2023 Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. Crowds in excess of 20,000 were commonplace at Chorley Road. 1, Paul Mellor Check out our greatest team of the 2000s Sedgley years, Check out our greatest teams of the 1970s. 11 Sam Bowring Goals: Gregson 6/8 Three new signings to debut for Hull KR against Featherstone Rovers as Willie Peters names squad, London Broncos Matchday Experience in 2023. Appearances:68, Tries:11, Goals:0 | Dark Mode, Like us on Facebook Cas Stadium Revelopment - could it be this time? Jacob Smillie, former Swinton Lions rugby league player, in action at the NFL International Combine. Then came a remarkable decline in fortunes, due mainly to rank bad management and total lack of foresight. Why can't we discuss Leighs rebrand? 2 Mike Butt 8 Gavin Bennion 11 Sam Bowring 25 Scott Parnaby Only a financial crisis had enforced Swintons defection from the Rugby Union to which they had hitherto been staunchly loyal. Where not all appearances are available, figure is displayed in a light grey colour. Station Road itself was also recognised as one of the finest grounds in the Rugby League. Please note that appearance and tryscoring statistics shown here are based only on matches in which the player ran on in the specified position. Past Players - Swinton Lions - Total Rugby League Fans Forum All Activity Home CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB FORUMS Swinton Lions Past Players Past Players By steve wild, February 10, 2015 in. On Saturday 8 September 1906, Swinton hosted a Pontefract team who arrived with only 12 players. Here we feature 15 of the best, but who would be in your line-up? Leigh Sports Village, Leigh (2012-2014) Note: Twice promoted in 1985 & 1987 & won Div 2 Premiership 1987, No. Dyne then added his second before the break after another good passing movement and Gregson converted to give his side a good lead at the break. All in all 19 internationals, 5 Championship finals, 17 Lancashire cup finals, 4 Premiership finals and 30 Challenge Cup semi-finals were played on the famous turf. August 24, 2021 in Swinton Lions. The sale of Station Road because of bad debts and the move to Gigg Lane,Bury in 1992 did not prove the success the management had imagined and the forced departure from Bury in 2002 broughtthe club back to within one mile of the Swinton and Pendlebury border, when home games were played at Moor Lane home of a local amateur football club Salford City. 14 Jack Dawson Malcolm Billingham, The period leading up to the Great War was not particularly auspicious for the Lions. Players such as Les Holliday and the sublimely talented Danny Wilson offered great hope for the future. RFL re-structuring then left the Lions in the third tier for season 2015, and at this point the former Leigh Chairman, John Roddy, accepted the role of Chairman. 23 Joe Lowe Looking back, although the club did spend a season at the highest level in 1991-92, Swinton's last real moment in the spotlight was their Second Division Premiership final win at Old Trafford in 1987. Later that same year, the first tourists to reach these shores, a team of New Zealand Maoris, was defeated at Chorley Road. DOB. It all became to fruition in 1963 when, under the shrewd captaincy of Albert Blan, the Lions completed the final 18 games of a 30 match league calendar undefeated to walk away with the Championship. Wild, Stephen (1999). On 5 September 2017 the club announced that former Leigh Director Andy Mazey owner of Greater Manchester-based S. R. Waite Group would step in as the new club chairman. number 7, and coached at club level in Australia for Burleigh. The resulting move brought the club back to within a mile of the Swinton and Pendlebury border, when home games were played at Moor Lane, home of the local non-league football club Salford City. Sign up for a new account in our community. Financial crisis followed financial crisis and only the sale of the main stand saved the club from closure during 1917. Started November 18, 2022, By They topped both the Championship and the Lancashire League, having already defeated Wigan in the Lancashire Cup. Started Friday at 11:11, By Goals: Gregson 6/8 made a try-scoring dbut at Wilderspool to Swinton 494: Jack Atherton: 21 August 1948: 3 September 1951: Forward: 21: 5: 1: 0: 17: signed from St Helens Recs . 4 Jayden Hatton 5 Callum Dunne A new company, Swinton Lions Rugby Club, was set up to remove problems with shareholdings from the previous administration. In golden-point extra-time a drop-goal by Chris Atkin sent the Lions into ecstasy and a play-off final against Keighley at Widnes. Crowds in excess of 20,000 were commonplace at Chorley Road where the fans marvelled at the skills of Welsh half-back Billo Rees, and the brothers Bryn and Jack Evans, all of them Great Britain internationals. Subs: (all used) 10 Kieran Moran Results. Concentrating on a youth policy and training methods beyond his era, Evans began to model an exciting, young Swinton team. are one of the 22 original members of the Northern Rugby Football Union founded in 1895. However, what it also had was a staggering number of local junior teams from which the club drew its talent. 1 Dan Abram (NU) Please note that the numbers below are based on data contained in the RLP database, and may not be accurate. Follow us on Twitter Players such as Les Holliday and sublimely talented Danny Wilson offered great hope for the future, but despite a second division Premiership success in 1987, three separate promotions simply brought about three immediate relegations. They then followed this with their first-ever Championship a year later, and in 1928 the team reached its zenith becoming the last team to secure All Four Cups; they were also the only side from Lancashire to achieve this feat (Hunslet and Huddersfield were the two other clubs). Led by coach Cliff Evans and inspirational skipper Albert Blan, the team recovered from a slow start to complete the final backlogged 18 games (delayed due to the severe winter weather) of a 30-match league calendar undefeated to walk away with the Championship. Mick Adams Mick Adams was a part of the 'Cup Kings' era at Widnes where he made 415 appearances for the club at second row or loose forward in the 1970s and early 1980s. Appearances:180, Tries:62, Goals:49 The signings of Hector Halsall, a centre and future captain, and Albert Jenkins, a Welsh half-back, provided the catalyst. Calum is 27 years old and has been a stand-out performer for the Ince Rosebridge club in the National Conference League Division 1 over recent seasons. This meteoric rise in stature was made all the more remarkable by the fact Swinton at this time was nothing more than a tiny colliery village with a few cotton mills. RFL League 1: 07/17 14:00: 15: Swinton v Midlands Hurricanes W [10] As a result of the opposition the re-brand plans were shelved and almost the entire board resigned on 12 September 2019, leaving sole remaining director Steve Wild in charge to re-structure the club. Bedfordshire Bronco 13 Liam Welham Concentrating on a youth policy and training methods beyond his era, Evans began to model an exiting, young Swinton team. Swinton Lions 2023 Official Kit Launch Swinton Lions RLFC - Official Site 19:14 21-Dec-22. The set-back of losing the final knocked the Lions off their stride for a while, but happily Swinton regained their form and shape to finish their league campaign with 10 wins from 11 matches. These games were played just off Burying Lane (now Station Road), on a field now roughly covered by Buchanan Street. Why can't we discuss Leighs rebrand? Sin-bin: Moran (70) Interference MATCHFACTS In March 1929, a 22,000 thousand crowd saw the Lions defeat Wigan in the first match on new turf. ", playing their first game at Burying Lane against Eccles Standard. Welham then scored the Hurricanes opener when Richard Wilkinson sent out a looping pass for him to score in the corner and Ben Stead converted. The Lions produced an eight-try performance in a very competitive warm up game in which the Hurricanes showed they will have a promising season with some good play. The new ground could accommodate much larger crowds and the staging of County matches added to Swinton's growing reputation. Hurricanes made a good start to the second half with pressure on the Lions line helped by a couple of penalties that got them down field but again the crucial pass went to ground, before Dom Flanagan came close to scoring for his side but lost the ball as he reached for the line. Joe mainly plays as a full-back, but is also effective elsewhere in the backs. Still, as always, there were many Lions who continued to battle for the club with pride. Rugby League stands in solidarity with players, coaches, match officials, fans, volunteers, staff, and supporters in the struggle against racism and discrimination in sport and in society. Jump on the forums Appearances:99, Tries:26, Goals:0 However, in October 1871, the club decided to join the recently formed Rugby Football Union under the title Swinton & Pendlebury FC. Chairman John Roddy left the club as did John Duffy who joined Featherstone Rovers, and assistant Stuart Littler was promoted to Head Coach. Martyn Sadler Invision Community where not all appearances are available, figure is displayed in a light grey.... Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates Twice promoted in 1985 & 1987 & Div. 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