Information AboutWidnes Vikings |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT WIDNES VIKINGS | |
| sports clubs established in 1873 | |
| british rugby league teams | |
| sport in cheshire | |
Widnes Vikings are a professional Rugby League club based in Widnes (formerly part of Lancashire , now considered part of Cheshire ). They play in the National League One . HISTORY Their traditional nickname is 'The Chemics' after the main industry in Widnes . They have a strong rivalry with Warrington Wolves and resisted the idea of merger with their rivals. Before Super League they were one of the stronger teams in British Rugby League but have generally struggled since then. Dubbed "Cup Kings" after going to Wembley nearly every year in the 70's and early 80's, Widnes were the envy of most rugby league supporters after becoming the worlds first official club champions in 1989. However, financial problems riddled the club in the early 1990s, and nearly saw the club merge with arch-rivals Warrington . Widnes were then excluded from the new Super League competition in 1996, and spent the next 5 years in the next tier of the English game, then known as the Northern Ford Premiership. They were finally promoted to Superleague under coach Neil Kelly in 2001. Their debut season in Super League was in 2002, Superleague VII, and the Vikings surprised everyone by narrowly missing out on a play-off place, and finishing 7th. The following season saw them consolidate with a 9th place finish, but in 2004 they avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth, with Castleford's defeat to Wakefield on the final day of the season saving Widnes' fate. But they had no such luck in 2005, and with 2 teams being relegated in 2005, Widnes' job was made tougher, and they eventually went back down to the second tier of the English game. Since relegation, Widnes have parted company with coach Frank Endacott and the majority of their under-achieving Superleague squad. They have built a new team in preparation for the 2006 season in National League 1 under coach Steve McCormack, who led Whitehaven to two consecutive NL1 Grand Finals. The club have also pulled off a major coup in securing the services of Australian full back David Peachey , who kept his word to join the club, despite its relegation. HALL OF FAME Mick Adams Mick Burke Keith Elwell Fred Higgins Jimmy Hoey Arthur "Chick" Johnson Vince Karalius Doug Laughton Tommy McCue Harry Millington Jim Mills Frank Myler Nat Silcock CURRENT SQUAD (AS OF 05/02/06) Paul Alcock - Second Row Dave Allen - Second Row Bob Beswick - Stand Off Mick Cassidy - Second Row James Coyle - Scrum Half Paul Crook - Hooker Gavin Dodd - Centre Dayne Donoghue - Second Row Danny Heaton - Prop Tim Holmes - Full Back Gary Hulse - Scrum Half Bruce Johnson - Prop Lee Marsh - Loose Forward Ryan Millington - Scrum Half Barrie McDermott - Prop Mick Nanyn - Centre Stephen Nash - Prop Paul O'Connor - Winger Terry O'Connor - Prop Lucas Onyango - Winger David Peachey - Full Back Mark Smith - Hooker Aaron Summers - Prop Ryan Tandy - Prop Phil Wood - Hooker Darren Woods - Centre HONOURS
RECORDS Player records
100+ Tries 234 Mal Aspey 1964/65 - 1979/80 199 Eric Hughes {Link without Title} 1969/70 - 1983/84 181 Martin Offiah 1987/88 - 1990/91 161 David Hulme 1980/81 - 1996 & 2000 - 2001 151 Stuart Wright 1976/77 - 1986/87 144 Frank Myler 1955/56 - 1967/68 120 John Devereux 1989/90 - 1997 118 Andy Currier 1983/84 - 1992/93 & 1997 114 Phil Cantillon 1999 - 2003 111 Johnny Gaydon 1961/62 - 1971/72 110 William Thompson 1956/57 - 1964/65 108 Derek `Mick` George 1971/72 - 1981/82 107 Darren Wright 1985/86 - 1996 106 Tommy McCue 1931/32 - 1948/49 103 John Basnett 1981/82 - 1986/87 102 William Reid 1909/10 - 1926/27 101 Jimmy Hoey 1922/23 - 1934/35 150+ Goals 1072 Ray Dutton 1965/66 - 1977/78 708 Mick Burke 1978/79 - 1986/87 434 Jonathan Davies 1988/89 - 1992/93 395 Jimmy Hoey 1922/23 - 1934/35 389 Robert Randall 1960/61 - 1964/65 383 Harry Dawson 1951/52 - 1962/63 243 John Myler 1976/77 - 1988/89 213 John Sale 1951/52 - 1957/58 209 Robin Whitfield 1961/62 - 1967/68 207 Arthur Pimblett 1957/58 - 1961/62 202 Mark Hewitt 1998 - 1999 201 Andy Currier 1983/84 - 1992/93 & 1997 195 Peter Topping 1927/28 - 1939/40 167 Colin Hutton 1945/46 - 1950/51 162 Harry Taylor 1908/09 - 1921/22 Team records
LEGENDS AND LEG ENDS Legends
Leg Ends
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