The Willows, Salford

The Willows was a rugby league stadium in Weaste, Salford, England. It had a final capacity of 11,363 with 2,500 seats.

The Willows
The Willows North Stand
Full nameThe Willows
LocationWillows Road, Weaste, Salford
M5 5FQ
Coordinates53°29′11″N 2°18′34″W
OwnerIain Watson
Capacity11,363 with 2,500 seats
Record attendance26,470 vs Warrington (Challenge Cup), 13 February 1937
SurfaceGrass
ScoreboardElectronic
Construction
Built1900
Opened1901
Renovated1966, 1971, 1975, 1989
Closed2011
Demolished2012
Tenants
Salford RLFC (1901–2011)
Salford United (1906–1936)
Swinton RLFC (2011)

History

In 1900, Salford agreed a 14-year lease on 5 acres (20,000 m2) of land belonging to the Willows Estate Company, named after the abundance of willow trees in the area. They made their debut at the Willows on 21 December 1901, beating Swinton 2–0 in front of 16,981 fans.

In the 1960s, the terrace was flattened at the Willows Road end to make way for the Salford Football and Social Club which was officially opened on 16 June 1966.

The Willows switched on its floodlights for the first time in the match with Widnes on Friday 11 March 1966. On 26 November 1989, Salford unveiled a new £50,000 electronic scoreboard above the Willows Variety Centre.[1]

Salford City Reds moved to the Salford City Stadium in Barton-upon-Irwell at the start of the 2012 season.[2] The last match at the Willows saw them lose to the Catalans Dragons 18–44 in front of 10,146 fans, a record for a Salford City Reds home match in the Super League.[3]

Redevelopment

In 2013, a proposal to redevelop the site for housing was put forward by City West Housing Trust.[4]

Rugby League Test matches

List of international rugby league matches played at The Willows.[5]

Game#DateResultAttendanceNotes
114 January 1922 Great Britain def.  Australia 6–022,0001921–22 Ashes series
227 January 1932 England def.  Wales 19–28,000
37 November 1968 Wales def.  England 24–176,002
423 October 1969 Wales def.  France 8–26,1891969–70 European Rugby League Championship
525 September 1971 New Zealand def.  Great Britain 25–248,0831971 Great Britain vs New Zealand series
625 January 1975 England def.  Wales 12–88,4941975 European Rugby League Championship
76 November 1975 Wales def.  France 23–22,2471975 Rugby League World Cup

Rugby League Tour Matches

The Willows also saw Salford and the county team Lancashire play host to various international touring teams from 1908 to 1978.

GameDateResultAttendanceNotes
128 December 1907 New Zealand def. Salford 9–212,0001907–08 All Golds tour
217 October 1908 Salford drew with Australia 9–96,1001908–09 Kangaroo Tour
330 December 1911 Australasia def. Salford 6–34,0001911–12 Kangaroo Tour
429 October 1921 Australasia def. Salford 48–39,0001921–22 Kangaroo Tour
53 November 1926 New Zealand def. Salford 18–103,5001926–27 New Zealand Kiwis tour
611 January 1930 Australasia def. Salford 21–58,0001929–30 Kangaroo Tour
721 October 1933 Salford def. Australia 16–915,7611933–34 Kangaroo Tour
830 October 1937 Salford def. Australia 11–812,0001937–38 Kangaroo Tour
930 October 1948 Australia def. Salford 13–216,6271948–49 Kangaroo Tour
1026 September 1959 Australia def. Salford 22–2011,0081959–60 Kangaroo Tour
1111 October 1967 Australia def. Lancashire Lancashire 16–79,3691967–68 Kangaroo Tour
1230 September 1973 Australia def. Salford 15–1211,0641973 Kangaroo Tour
1310 October 1975 Australia def. Salford 44–65,3571975 Australian Rugby League World Cup tour
1414 November 1978 Australia def. Salford 14–26,1551978 Kangaroo Tour

References

  1. "The Willows". Manchester Evening News.
  2. "The Willows: Salford Reds' field of dreams". Manchester Evening News. 10 February 2011.
  3. "Salford 18-44 Catalans Dragons". BBC Sport. 11 September 2011.
  4. "Multi-million pound plan to convert old rugby league ground into 120 homes". Manchester Evening News. 22 October 2013.
  5. The Willows results @ Rugby League Project


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