Wire2Wolves.com is the official heritage website set up by The Foundation. Warrington Rugby League Football club was founded back in 1879 and has become part of life and the memories of the people of Warrington.
This site has been set up to celebrate and remember our communities memories young and old which will be archived for future generations.
Warrington are saddened to learn of the passing today of former player Barry Briggs. Barry who had been ill for some time passed away this morning in his sleep at St Rocco's Hospice in Warrington. He was 63.
Barry who was born in Warrington had been a schoolboy star who was an ever present in the Warrington schoolboy sides, snapped up by Warrington as a sixteen year-old. Progressing through the club's colts, "B" and "A" teams to be a regular first teamer by the age of 20. He made his first team debut coming off the bench against Rochdale Hornets on 3 April 1965. He helped Warrington to a 9-2 victory at the Athletic Grounds.
In 1967 Barry was in the second row for Warrington against St Helens in both the drawn Lancashire Cup Final and the replay. The first match played at Central Park, Wigan was drawn 2-2 and St Helens won the replay at Station Road, 13-10. Barry became friendly with Bobby Fulton in 1969 when the Australian legend guested with Warrington. He even took is family to Australia later that year and played at Newtown in the Sydney Premiership. Former Warrington legend, Harry Bath was the coach of the "Bluebags" and they were to strike up a lasting friendship. Barry even collected Harry's citation when Bath was inducted into the Warrington Hall of Fame in 2007.
His family did not settle in Australia and in 1972 he returned to England, re-joining Warrington and made his second debut on 14 January 1973 in a 13-10 win over Swinton at Wilderspool. He was then a regular in the Warrington side that won the League Leaders Trophy that season. During this spell he played alongside his brother Wilf. Barry started the 1973/4 season as first choice loose forward however by November he had lost his place in the team and his final match was on 4 November 1973 in an 10-18 defeat at Bramley. Following the defeat coach Alex Murphy dramatically changed the team and Barry was one of 15 players transfer listed by Warrington. He eventually moved to Wigan where he played out his career, with one of his old schoolboy mates Warren Ayres.
Barry made 149 appearances in the Primrose and Blue of Warrington, including 13 as a substitute, scoring 31 tries, kicking 3 goals and dropping 2 goals.
Barry Briggs was a second rower who had all the skills to have made an international. He was a tall, strong and quick player who was very tough. He probably could have gone much further in the game but was a very laid back character who could frustrate a coach. Along with his brother Wilf, Barry had been an active member of the Warrington Past Players Association. Both were very good bowlers
Warrington Wolves send their condolences to his wife Jean and the Briggs family at this sad time.
Saturday’s game against Wigan was a classic derby between the two sides.
The evening was made extra special at half-time when Club Chairman Steven Broomhead named Alex Murphy OBE as the Wolves’ first Club Ambassador making a presentation in front of a sell-out crowd.
Andy Gatcliffe, Chief Executive, said: “Alex Murphy is a highly respected and very well-known figure within Rugby League after a long and successful playing/coaching career. Everyone associated with the club is delighted that he has accepted the role of Club Ambassador.”
Alex will be taking an active role within the club both on matchday and non-matchday supporting, promoting and enhancing the future of Warrington Wolves to all.
Alex is looking forward to getting out and about in his new role at the club: “It is absolutely magnificent. I’d like to thank the Board and Chairman as this is a great honour. I believe Warrington are the club at the moment and are the most improved in Super League. I’m looking forward to this role and mixing with the people be it sponsors, spectators or small business who would like to get involved with the club. I will help Warrington out in any way that I can.”
Alex Murphy: The History
Murphy joined Warrington as player-coach in May 1971 having just won the Challenge Cup with Leigh.
Warrington Chairman Ossie Davies supported Alex’s team-building plans and they invested heavily in strengthening the side. Alex went back to Leigh to sign half their pack; Great Britain front rowers Dave Chisnall and Kevin Ashcroft together with the very experienced Geoff Clarkson. Bobby Wanbon joined from St Helens. Murphy recognised the ability of Welsh Rugby Union players and brought Frank Reynolds, Mike Nicholas, Clive Jones, Dennis Curling and John Bevan to Warrington.
In 1973 a 20 match unbeaten run in the league helped Warrington win the League Leaders Trophy by finishing top of the league.
The 1973/74 season saw the most successful at Warrington with four trophies won. The highlight was a Challenge Cup win at Wembley over Featherstone Rovers. The Captain Morgan trophy, John Player trophy and Club Merit trophy also ended the season at Wilderspool.
Warrington returned to Wembley in 1975 but Murphy missed the match through injury and Widnes won the Challenge Cup. Murphy retired as a player shortly after but remained as coach until 1978.
He played 67 times for Warrington, scoring 9 tries, 12 goals and 28 drop goals. Alex is a member of the Rugby League Hall of Fame.
Picture caption:
Alex Murphy pictured here at the Wigan game pitch side with Chairman Steven Broomhead.
Parry Gordon was as his 1981 testimonial brochure claimed – “Mr Loyalty”. He served Warrington for twenty years as a player, racking up 543 appearances and scoring 167 tries.
Parry went to Highfield Boys’ School in Wigan, where he learnt the game of rugby league. He along with long-time friend Jack Melling (the former Warrington centre) were selected for Lancashire Schoolboys. As a schoolboy he lived for rugby league and it was his overwhelming ambition to be a professional player for his local team, Wigan. Wigan however did not recognise his talents and so there was no career at Central Park for Parry.
At 15 he left school and was taken down to Wilderspool by Ronnie Mather to play in Warrington Colts under the guidance of Roy Hazelhurst. His potential was quickly recognised and he was signed in the early hours of 17th February 1961 on his 16th birthday for £400, coach Cec Mountford’s last signing would prove great value for money. Cec commented at the time “This lad has extra-ordinary promise and I am sure he will make it in professional Rugby League”. Mountford, who passed away in July, was a good judge.
Gordon made his first team debut for Warrington, against Barrow at Wilderspool in October 1963, partnering his hero Jackie Edwards at half-back. Although the eighteen year-old made a promising debut he had to wait until New Years Day 1964 for his second appearance. He was one of five try scorers in a 25-12 defeat of Challenge Cup holders, Wakefield Trinity at Wilderspool, racing in from 40 yards. He quickly had the full backing of the Warrington supporters. Parry was always a fans favourite because of his wholehearted displays, never giving less than 100% effort every time he played.
Two years later he established himself as the first choice scrum-half at Wilderspool, a role he kept for the next fifteen seasons. Parry’s loyalty for his first ten years at Wilderspool was fully tested as the side struggled to recapture the glory days of the 1950’s. Parry played scrum half in the 1967 Lancashire Cup final against St Helens. A Willie Aspinall drop goal gave Wire a draw, but they were defeated 10-13 in the replay, despite a try from Parry.
In 1970 Warrington reached an all-time low as the club, in financial difficulties, struggled to survive. On the last weekend of November 1970 Parry truly demonstrated his loyalty. The “A” team were playing at Salford on the Friday and were short of players. Even though he was selected for the first team match on the Sunday, Parry volunteered to help out and play. The “A” team were beaten 43-0. Things did not get any better on Sunday as Salford ran riot at Wilderspool, winning 50-0.
Things did get better, Ossie Davies stepped in and took control of the club and at the end of the season Alex Murphy was appointed the new coach. A new era dawned at Wilderspool and Parry was to be rewarded for his loyalty.
Parry was a key member of the Warrington side that went on to win four trophies in the memorable 1973/74 season, the Captain Morgan, Players No6, Challenge Cup and Club Merit Trophy. In the brutal Wembley final of 1974 Parry limped off at half-time and was unable to return for the second-half. The hip injury forced him to miss the following week’s Club Merit Trophy final win over St Helens.
Gordon made 45 appearances in the 1973/4 season. He scored five tries in a match against the then champions Dewsbury. He was very unfortunate not to be selected for the 1974 Great Britain tour of Australia. Steve Nash and Alan Bates being selected above Parry.
The following season Gordon played in the Floodlight Trophy final defeat to Salford, after a replay and the 1975 Challenge Cup final. Wembley was a disappointment as not only did Warrington lose to Widnes, but Parry picked up a throat infection forty-eight hours before the match. With Murphy out injured Parry had to play despite his illness.
Parry led Warrington to the 1977 Premiership Final, but the Wire were defeated 20-32 by St Helens. In January 1978 he lifted the John Player Trophy aloft following a 9-4 defeat of Widnes in the final in the mud of Knowsley Road. Widnes defeated Warrington in the 1979 John Player Trophy final when Gordon was to make his ninth and last appearance in a major final.
He however, never won a full international cap, many pundits of the time rating him the best uncapped scrum half. The nearest he got was coming on as a substitute in Papua New Guinea in a warm up match for the 1975 England World Cup squad. Gordon played at a time when there were so many great scrum-halves such as Murphy, Millward, Bishop, Hepworth, Seabourne, and Nash. Parry played seven times for Lancashire, scoring one try, and once for the Great Britain under 24s.
His final game in September 1981, helping out his club as usual, was a home win 14-7 against Castleford. Parry Gordon had given 20 years’ service to the club, his appearance total being second only to Brian Bevan, no wonder he was “Mr Loyalty”. His rare loyalty was rewarded with two testimonials.
He served as assistant coach to Billy Benyon for over 12 months, but left shortly after Benyon was replaced as coach in March 1982. He worked as a fitter for British Aerospace during the day and finished at Wilderspool to spend more time with his family – his wife Val and three daughters, twins Andrea and Karen, and Paula. Tragedy hit the Gordon household with the death of Karen through cancer.
Parry coached at Wigan St. Pats on a part-time basis for a while after leaving Wilderspool and enjoyed his time in amateur rugby. He took a redundancy deal from British Aerospace in 1997 and spent much time over the last twelve years working for Butterflies Cancer Trust in their Wigan charity shop.
He was elected by his peers to the Warrington Rugby League Hall of Fame. Parry was at Wembley this August, along with his 1975 team-mates, to see Warrington Wolves win the Challenge Cup for the first time since 1974. He received a warm welcome from the fans at The Halliwell Jones Stadium when he was presented with a painting of him in action, by Morris Riley, at the Wakefield match, the week before Wembley.
Parry was an active member of the Warrington Past Players Association and was well respected throughout the rugby league world. No one had a bad word to say about him. He was a modest man whilst being the embodiment of a genuine sportsman. Parry Gordon died suddenly at his home on Tuesday evening, following a heart attack at the age of 64, in the arms of his teenage grandson Daryl.
The funeral will take place at St Bernadette’s Church in Shevington, Wigan on Friday 13th November.
Have you an interesting story, pictures, memobrilla this site will look after them for years to come. You can send us your memories and pictures through the website or by dropping off your story or pictures we will scan them in and return them to you.