![]() In 1935–36, the team came close to being rugby league champions. Widnes became the first club to make two trips to Wembley, with a loss to Hunslet in the 1934 cup final. ![]() A scoreless second half meant Widnes had won the cup. Helens, Saints scored after six minutes to take a 3–0 lead, but Widnes hit back with a penalty try, a further try and a penalty to take a 10–3 half-time lead. The newly named Naughton Park was opened in 1932.Ī major boost for the club was Widnes' first ever trip to the Challenge Cup final, staged at Wembley. This came with a stipulation that the ground could be sold only to the local council at the original price. After several years of fundraising during the Great Depression of the 1930s, £3,250 was raised to save the ground. The Kingsway housing scheme threatened the loss of Widnes' ground. Helens 10–3 to bring home the Challenge Cup. In 1930, Widnes with 12 local-born players defied the odds to beat St. Local rivals Warrington donated their share of the traditional Easter and Christmas derby matches to keep Widnes afloat in 1927–28. However, the 1920s saw the club almost go to the wall. The club's first ever success came when they won the Lancashire League trophy in the 1919–20 season. Thirteen Widnes players were killed during the conflict. Widnes closed for the 1915–16 season but recommenced playing in 1916 following the introduction of conscription which meant that would not be accused of keeping men from volunteering for the First World War. He scored an extraordinary try to win the game, dribbling the ball from inside his own half. In 1914, Arthur 'Chick' Johnson was capped for the Lions (captained by Harold Wagstaff) in the famous Rorke's Drift test, a match in which they overcame all the odds, and injuries to beat Australia with a depleted side of 10 against 13. In 1902, the Lancashire and Yorkshire leagues were combined to form a second division, Widnes was added to the first division. The strength of junior rugby league in the area meant the club had a steady stream of new players to offset any losses. During the early years, the club often had to sell players to balance the books. Their first game was an away fixture against Runcorn which they lost 15–4. In 1895, Widnes were founder members of the Northern Union which broke away from the Rugby Football Union. The first ever game at what later became Naughton Park was against Liversedge on Saturday 12 October 1895. From 1884–95 they rented a field at Lowerhouse Lane before moving to their third separate site on that road in October 1895. From around 1878–84 the club were based at the junction of Millfield/Peelhouse Lane, apart from season 1880–81 when they played on the Widnes Cricket Club ground at Lowerhouse Lane. The first ground was on Albert Road behind what is now the Premier Wetherspoon's pub and a short spell followed in the Simms Cross area. By the late 1870s the club was being referred to as "The Chemicals"-subsequently shortened to 'The Chemics'. These are the only two known fixtures in that truncated first season.īy May 1876 the club had changed its name to Widnes FC and the cricket side of the organisation had disbanded, presumably to concentrate on football activities. A few weeks later a return match was played at Drill Field, Northwich under soccer rules. The first known game for the new Farnworth and Appleton FC was in Widnes in January 1876 played under rugby rules against Northwich Victoria. At their fourth annual evening party in the Drill Hall, Widnes, in November 1875, club Chairman Henry Lea "gave a short account of the club since it commenced about four years ago, and indicated that they had now started a football club in connexion (sic) with it, and hoped all would join". ![]() The Farnworth & Appleton Cricket Club was formed in 1871 and four years later the members decided to embrace the burgeoning football code. They have a strong local rivalry with Warrington Wolves.Ī newspaper extract from the Widnes Guardian in 1875 announcing the formation of Farnworth & Appleton Football Club. In 1989, after winning their third Rugby League Premiership, Widnes became the first official World Club Champions by beating the Australian champions Canberra Raiders 30–18 at Old Trafford. The club enjoyed a period of success in the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s, and were frequently described as "Cup Kings" reaching the Challenge Cup Final 7 times in 10 years between 19. Their historic nickname is "The Chemics" after the main industry in Widnes, but now they use their modern nickname, "The Vikings". Founded as Widnes Football Club, they are one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895. The club plays home matches at the Halton Stadium. The Widnes Vikings are an English rugby league club in Widnes, Cheshire, which competes in the Betfred Championship.
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