Altrincham (rugby league)

Altrincham was a semi-professional rugby league club based in Altrincham, Cheshire, England.

Altrincham RFC
Club information
Full nameAltrincham RFC
Founded1901 (1901)
Exited1902 (1902)

They joined the Northern Union in 1901–02 and played for the single season in the Lancashire Senior Competition, which was effectively Division 2 (West). Although they were from Cheshire, they, like several other Cheshire clubs and some Cumberland clubs, participated in the Lancashire Competitions.

History

They joined the ranks of the semi-professionals when they became members of the Northern Union for the 1901–02 season finishing in 12th position out of 13 clubs (with an unenviable record of only one win and one draw).

At the end of the 1901–02 season, the County Leagues elected 18 teams to join the new Division 2 (7 from Lancashire and 10 from Yorkshire and new member South Shields) with the existing second competition scrapped.[1]

Altrincham were one of the 4 Yorkshire (Goole, Heckmondwike, Liversedge and Sowerby Bridge) and 2 Lancashire clubs (the other being Radcliffe) not elected to the new Division 2, but it is unknown as to which route the club followed.

Club League Record

In the single season in which Altrincham played semi-professional rugby league, 1901–02, there are few records readily available.[2]
Some of the achievements are as follows:-[3]

Season Competition Pos Team Name Pl W D L PW PA Diff Pts % Pts No of teams in league Notes Ref
1901–02Lancs Senior12Altrincham21313[2]
Altrincham had 2 points deducted. Only limited County League information is available for this season.

Heading Abbreviations
RL = Single division; Pl = Games played; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lose; PF = Points for; PA = Points against; Diff = Points difference (+ or -); Pts = League points
% Pts = A percentage system was used to determine league positions due to clubs playing varying number of fixtures and against different opponents
League points: for win = 2; for draw = 1; for loss = 0.

Several fixtures & results

The following are just a few of Altrincham's fixtures during the sole season in which they played semi-professional rugby league [2] [4] [5]

[6]-
Season Date Competition Opponent Venue H/A Result Score Att Notes Ref
1901–0228 Sept 1901Lancs SeniorWidnesLowerhouse LaneALost0–28?3[4]
1901–02Sat 2 Nov 1901Lancs SeniorWiganHomeHLost2–28? [2]
1901–0216 Nov 1901Lancs SeniorWidnesHomeHLost0–16?[4]
1901–02Sat 14 Dec 1901Lancs SeniorWiganSpringfield ParkALost0–38?1[2]
1901–02Sat 4 Jan 1902Lancs SeniorSt. HelensHomeHLost0–11?[5]
1901–02Sat 14 Dec 1901Lancs SeniorSt. HelensKnowsley RdALost0–35?[5]

Notes and Comments

1 - Folly Fields is the stadium used by Wigan at the time until 1901. They then became sub-tenants of Springfield Park See below - Note 2.
2 - Wigan became sub-tenants of Springfield Park, which they shared with Wigan United AFC, playing their first game there on 14 September 1901 at which a crowd of 4,000 saw them beat Morecambe 12–0, and the last game on 28 April 1902 when Wigan beat the Rest of Lancashire Senior Competition. A temporary ground was necessary to span the period between moving from Folly Fields and the new ground at Central Park being constructed.
3 - Lowerhouse Lane is the original site of the current ground used by Widnes. It was renamed Naughton Park in 1932 in honour of club secretary, Tom Naughton - and later renamed Halton Stadium after being completely rebuilt in 1997.

See also

References
  1. J C Lindley with personal recollections by D W Armitage (1973). 100 Years of Rugby - The History of Wakefield Trinity Football Club. The Wakefield Trinity Centenary Committee. pp. 37 and 38.
  2. "Wigan RL History - 1901-02 Season". Cherry and White. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  3. Jack Winstanley & Malcolm Ryding (1975). John Player Rugby League Yearbook 1975–76. Queen Anne Press.
  4. "Widnes History".
  5. "Saints Heritage Society".
  6. "Warrington Wolves results and archives". Archived from the original on 21 December 2011.
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