Memories of a Lifelong Fan: I Wasn’t There
by Anne White Hurst, Age 71
Anne recalls her trip to Wembley 50 years ago when Warrington played Halifax in the Challenge Cup, something she will never remember as she collapsed with scarlet fever at kick off. Wilderspool, Warrington v Huddersfield. One sunny day in 1948, standing on the Fletcher Street terraces, was my first taste of rugby league. As a child I was told stories of legends: Tranter, Miller, Shankland and many others. My father coming home on a Saturday afternoon full of praise for his team. So is it any wonder that I should find myself standing there.
The last game at Wilderspool was very emotional for me. I could see as though it was yesterday. Bevan, Bath, Naughton, Les Jones, Helme running from the tunnel. All the highs and lows that we have gone through. Walking away from Wilderspool that day, I realised how privileged I was to have been there.
Now we have a new stadium, and on that night of 21st of February 2004. My thoughts went back fifty years ago to 1954.
Wembley 24th April. We had already had a taste of victory a few years previously against Widnes, so supporters were agog with anticipation of another one.
3:00pm, Warrington and Halifax were on the field and the game started. I remember Harry Bath kicking a penalty goal and then nothing! Nothing about being taken to hospital or who won the game.
Falling in and out of consciousness over the next few weeks I only have fragments of memories.
One day a black and white television set was bought into my room. I couldn’t understand why it was there or what all the noise was about; little did I know it was the championship final.
Another day I woke to find a man standing at the side of my bed, my muddled thoughts were is this God. But no it was great Bob Anderton giving me the Challenge Cup to hold. I realised then wrongly of course that we had won the cup at Wembley.
From that day on I slowly recovered, so perhaps Bob was God after all. After many weeks I was home and learned of the stories of Wembley, Odsal and Maine Road. How disappointed I was to have missed it all.
There were two exhibition games in Dublin and Belfast between Warrington and Halifax, and an interview with the press, Brian Bevan told my story and it was published in the Irish papers. I never got to thank him for his kindness, so on May 2nd, I shall be at the stadium to put flowers by his statue to pay tribute to him and all the players who have gone from us, and also a thanks for having been another fifty years.
My story has now gone a full circle, for now is the time to hang up my scarf and what I fitting way to end. A match against Huddersfield where it all started 56 years ago.
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