SEVENTY YEARS OF EXCELLENCE. Widnes St Maries A.R.L.F.C was formed in 1937 when some ex pupils of St Maries R.C. School in Widnes got together with the headmaster Mr Joseph Ludden and decided to continue to play in the local leagues as a junior team. Little did they know that seventy years later “The Maries” would be thriving in Division 1 of the top amateur league the National Conference and playing against professional opposition in Barrow last season and Batley Bulldogs this season. They also have a very successful team in North West Counties an organization that they were founder members of. In those far off days no one could have imagined that Saints would have won every honour that the amateur game has to offer and under present coach Stephen Hunt they won the Division 2 and then the Division 1 Championship and the North West Counties Cup twice in his first coaching spell. Dave Ruane went on to win the Division 2 NCL title and back to back Widnes Cup Finals before relinquishing the reins once again to Ste. Most of the teams in Widnes have or have had players in their sides that started their playing days at St Maries. The worst spell in their history hit the Saints just as B.A.R.L.A. had started in 1971. Shaken by the tragic loss of centre Jimmy Case, several bad injuries crippled the team one after another. Morale, that vital spirit slumped, good players drifted away and playing with 12 and sometimes 10 players they dropped into the Second Division. However the flame still flickered and a dedicated few quietly rebuilt taking a most important decision to form a Youth Team the first in the clubs history. The Youth team coach was Jimmy McGillicuddy no mean player himself having captained Lancashire and England in his amateur days. He built up a squad of talented players. Ray Ashton, Terry Rose, Les Cook getting recognition with English Youth and county honours. Jimmy Fox started an under 16's squad to supply a rich source of future players. In 1974 under Frank Harrison the Saints won the 2nd Division Title. The home of the Saints had been Gossages Rec, for four decades when the committee decided to move to the new playing fields on Prescot Road. Many predicted disaster for the then struggling St Maries but they were wrong. The go ahead committee approached the McKechnie Recreation Club and received permission to use the club facilities. The rest is history. St Maries have had some great coaches over the years, Geoff Smart, Willie McGillcuddy, Charlie Henshaw, Dave Ellis, Brian and Bernard McKeown, Peter Clarke, Paul Prendergast, Bobbie Goulding and Ste Hunt have all brought success to the club. The arguments will rage long amongst followers of the game and the fortunes of St Maries about who had the greatest success but one name who will always be talked about "Pep" Donegan! Under "Pep", Saints swept away all opposition collecting trophy after trophy, winning everything they entered into in the 50's and early 60's. Players and spectators from the 1950 - 51 season recollect the day Billy Potter scored the try that brought the Lancashire Cup to Widnes. The season of 1956 - 57 saw St Maries win through to the first round proper of the Challenge Cup, with the mighty Halifax awaiting them at Thrum Hall. In the team that day at No 9 played a certain Mick Naughton later a top whistler and founder of the Widnes Tigers Club. Who could have forecast his early death, what a loss to us all. St Maries at that time had some outstanding players in Dennis and Terry Karalius, Joe Preston, Brian Smith, Derek Corwell, Harry Currier, Jack Grimes, The Ogburn brothers, Billy, Lol and Brian, Frank Nash, Martin Banman, Tommy Fraser "Big Dave" Gilhooley and many more. With Brian McKeown playing at the top for the next twenty years then to finish off coaching. Producing ready made talent has always come easy to the Saints, over the years the pro ranks have been swelled with lads from the club. Bobbie Goulding, Robbie Myler, Dave Smith, Dave Cosgrove, Gary Christie, Gary Burns, Gary McKeown, Tony Hannon, Terry O' Connor, Paul Harris, Adam Flanagan, Leighton Smith and Andy Hibbert plus a host of others that had fed the pro clubs throughout the game. Saints amateur representation isn't bad either with a fine record for Great Britain and Lancashire. After the dark days of the Seventies and the early Eighties the under U19's under Charlie Henshaw, Dave Ellis and John Borrowman once again began to show their pedigree. Chris Kelly, Dave Smith, Dave Cosgrove and Ste Connor were all selected to play against the Australian and New Zealand Tourists in one team. David Webster represented Ireland then Ian Dawson some how missed earlier was then to gain honours only dreamed about by amateur players, Open Age player of the Year, Great Britain Tourist to the Far East, South Africa, Captain, you name it! Anthony Hollins, Adam Flanagan, Leighton Smith, Michael Ostick, Liam Grundy, Stu Martin, Jonny Leather and Danny Prendergast have all won recent honours. Once again St Maries had produced the goods. St Maries have also produced some of the games top referees, including Mick Naughton and Ronnie Campbell. So there you have it. A run down of the names that spring to mind. You will perhaps think of others like Jed Snee, Arthur Dagnall, Sam Hatton, Mick Fitzgerald, Joe Molyneux and Mick Roberts.