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 such as Barrow and Batley Bulldogs recently. They also have a very successful open age team in North West Counties (an organization that they were founder members of) that has been Champions for the past 3 seasons. The Youth and Junior set up is very strong and has regularly produced players for Open Age.
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 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, Ste Hunt and Will Tilleke 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.
In 1947 Eddie Rawlinson represented Great Britain at Under 21 level before turning professional with his hometown club Widnes RLC. The season of 1956-7 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.
Trevor Lloyd and Bob Lewis earned full great Britain caps and Frank Robinson was capped after only one season at St Maries. Jimmy McGillicuddy captained England against France. Arthur Buck captained a BARLA select.
More recently Bobbie Goulding, The late Dave Myers, Robbie Myler, Dave Smith, Dave Cosgrove, Gary Christie, Gary Burns, Gary McKeown, Tony Hannon, Terry O'Connor, Andy Friar, Lee Connolly, Jimmy Cassidy, Paul Harris, Adam Flanagan, Leighton Smith, Mike Gill, Tony Kirwan, Lee Birdseye, Danny Yates, Dayne Donaghue, Scott Yates, Jonny Leather, Michael Ostick, Vinny Myler, Andy Hibbert, Jonny Leather, Danny Smith, Dave Dourley plus a host of others have graced the game at a professional level. Bobby Goulding (Jnr) signed for Warrington Wolves in January 2009 following in his fathers footsteps.
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. Andy Parle, Gary McKeown, Tony Hannon all received local honours. 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!
Saints amateur representation recently isn't bad either with a fine record for Great Britain and Lancashire. Anthony Hollins, Adam Flanagan, Ben Smith, Karl O’Doherty, Leighton Smith, Scott Yates, Dayne Donoghue, Michael Ostick, Liam Grundy, Stu Martin, Michael Fairclough, Liam Grundy, Jonny Leather, Danny Prendergast, Craig Gallimore and Mike Allen have all won recent honours. In 2008 Mike Allen, Ben Bailey and Craig Duggan all represented Lancashire at Youth level with Mike and Ben going on to represent GB Community Lions away against France and against the Australian Institute of Sport in two games. Ste Hunt represented St Maries as GB Youth Assistant Coach. In 2009 Mike and Ben went to tour Australia whilst Paul Borg represented the NCL Eagles against France B and Morocco in South of France. Ste Hunt was selected as Assistant Coach to travel to Australia but unfortunately missed out through illness.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. Apolgies to anyone missed.
THE FAMILY CLUB
Long before Everton Football Club used the phrase “The Family Club” Widnes St Maries could claim this title with many brothers and fathers and sons representing the club. Here are a few that spring to mind with the obvious apologies to any one omitted.
Brian McKeown and son Gary; Bernard McKeown and son Darren; Kevin McKeown; Jimmy, Willy, Terry and Mick McGillicuddy; Tony and Mick Myler; John, Dennis and Dave Ruane; Willy Ogburn, Lol Ogburn (Snr), Brian and Billy Ogburn; Jack and Dennis Devaney; Barry and Kieran Morris; Mick and Joe Burke; Albert and Dan Naughton; Rob and Tony Hodson; Terry and John Dunne; Richard and Mark Woodward; Eric and Ste Woods; Dave and Ged Bates; Dave Ellis (Snr), Dave (Jnr), Paul and Jason Ellis; John Borrowman and son John; Arthur Buck and sons Graeme and Kev; Bobbie Goulding and sons Bobbie and Bradley; Leighton and Liam Smith, Frank Fenlon (Snr) and sons Frank (Jnr) and Tony; Matt, Mike and Mark Grady; Barry Quinn (Snr) and sons Barry (Jnr) and Ryan; Tony and Ste Hannon; Tony, Paul and James Kirwan; Jonnie and Martin Leather; Ryan and Craig Millington; Karl and Mark O’Doherty; Ben and Robert Smith; Andy and Ian Finney: Keith Prescot and son David; Peter Hollins and son Anthony; Ian Dawson and son Sean; Paul Prendergast and sons Danny and Adam; Mark and Kev Birmingham; Brian Gill and son Mike; Paea and Tevita Liku; Ian, Martin and Ritchie Scott; Mike and Shaun Allen; Mark Holland and son Paul; Scott and Stu Harland; Shaun, Craig and David Dourley.
Apologies if I have missed anyone. Boz 2009
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