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300 Appearances

by Neil Dowson

During the last match at The Halliwell Jones Stadium Lee Briers became the 17th player to score 100 tries for Warrington, today will see him join the elite club of players to make 300 appearances for the club.  He has some way to go to reach Brian Bevan’s record of 620 appearances.  Nevertheless it is a tremendous achievement for Lee, who made his debut on 20 April 1997, to reach such a milestone, especially when you consider how many fewer matches are played in the moderen era.  Jon Clarke is the only member of the current squad to have reached 200 appearances, a feat achieved in the recent home defeat to Castleford.

The other 28 players to have played 300 matches for Warrington are:

 

Player

Debut

Last Match

Games

Bevan, Brian

17/11/45

23/4/62

620

Gordon, Parry

26/10/63

13/9/81

528+15

Miller, Jack "Cod"

11/12/26

9/2/46

526

Forster, Mark

16/1/83

17/9/00

442+16

Helme, Gerry

29/8/45

2/2/57

442

Tranter, Jim

16/12/11

26/12/28

439

Cunliffe, Billy

17/10/14

6/9/30

438

Boardman, Alf

3/9/1898

17/1/14

403

Thomas, George

5/9/1903

12/9/14

385

Dickenson, George

27/10/1900

18/3/14

375

Dingsdale, Billy

15/9/28

18/5/40

373

Ryan, Bob

6/10/45

8/3/58

372

Peacock, Alf

23/8/19

23/11/29

367

Williams, Frank

12/11/21

24/2/34

352

Fraser, Eric

27/10/51

28/11/64

352

Cullen, Paul

16/8/81

26/8/96

330+20

Naughton, Albert

17/12/49

20/5/61

348

Bath, Harry

17/3/48

9/2/57

346

Glover, Brian

14/9/57

3/4/70

332+1

Bevan, John

23/9/73

2/2/86

331+1

Holding, Billy

21/1/28

9/11/40

328

Brady, Brian

1/5/65

28/12/75

309+19

Cotton, Dave

2/11/35

13/11/48

326

Cunliffe, Tom

19/12/14

24/11/28

324

Fish, Jack

22/10/1898

18/2/11

321

Hesford, Steve

2/11/75

2/10/85

310+8

Kelly, Ken

1/1/77

15/3/87

301+15

Conroy, Tommy

21/10/61

2/11/75

262+50

 

The above list contains many of the star names from the club’s glorious past.  Fish, Thomas, Dickenson and Boardman appeared in a many of the five Challenge Cup finals that Warrington reached prior to the First World War.

The new book by Gary Slater and Eddie Fuller “So Close to Glory” tells the story of Warrington between the Wars.  This is the era in which the club had stalwarts such as Jack “Cod” Miller, Jim Tranter, Billy Dingsdale, Alf Peacock, the Cunliffe brothers Billy & Tom, Frank Williams, Billy Holding and Dave Cotton.  It was a time of reaching the big finals only to miss out on winning the Cup.

The golden years of Warrington were undoubtedly from 1948 to 1956, when 3 Championships and 2 Challenge Cup finals were won.  The longevity of success and the number of games played by the team are reflected in the number of players who have made over 300 appearances from this era.  It was a side full of stars including “Wizard of Oz” Brian Bevan, double Lance Todd winner Gerry Helme, pack leader and goal kicker Harry Bath, centre Ally Naughton, second row Bob Ryan and full back Eric Fraser.

Brian Glover, Parry Gordon, Brian Brady and Tommy Conroy were the cornerstone of the side in the years following this unprecedented success.  Whilst there may not have been many winners’ medals there was much to be proud of as Warrington continually made the Top 16.  The arrival of Alex Murphy in 1971 saw an upsurge in Warrington’s fortunes.  Gordon, Brady and Conroy were able to see successful finishes to their careers with Wembley and other final appearances.  Welsh winger John Bevan, goal kicker supreme Steve Hesford and “Man of Steel” Ken Kelly all tasted success in the 70’s & 80’s.

Mark Forster and Paul Cullen are the only other two players who have played in the Super League era to make 300 appearances.  They saw through the transition from part-time players to full time professional players that today make up Super League.  Oddly enough they are the only two players since the Second World War from the List to have been born in Warrington.

 







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