Black Reds raised the profile of Cumbrian rugby
Last updated 12:21, Thursday, 17 April 2008
ASPATRIA and Wigton have been fierce rugby union rivals for years – probably 125 if events of this week-end are any guide.
But they both have reasons to feel satisfied with their contributions to Cumbrian rugby – and further afield too.
Robert Miller’s selection for the Barbarians last week put him in a rather exclusive club, and elevated Aspatria into a unique position.
There won’t be many clubs below National League level who have produced three Barbarians as Miller followed Mark Richardson and Steven Hanley into those famous black and white hoops.
‘Tank’ was called up in February 1997 to play for the Barbarians at Leicester in an annual fixture which should have been staged around Christmas.
Two months later Richardson was to lead-out Cumbria at Twickenham and 80 minutes later had the honour of lifting the County Championship trophy.
Hanley turned out three times for the Barbarians in 2005, scoring four tries in the process while Miller appeared last week against Edinburgh Academicals in a special match to celebrate the Scots’ club’s 150th anniversary.
Steven’s father, Aspatria president Mel Hanley says: “I think that’s great record for a small, village club like Aspatria to produce three players for the Barbarians.
“The players get to wear their own club socks in these matches so the Black Reds have had an airing in some top company since Mark first got the call in 1997.”
Mine you, ex-Aspatria and Cumbria captain Richardson – now the chairman of rugby with the Bower Park club – makes a point of emphasising that he was the only current Aspatria player to get the Baa-Baa’s call.
“I definitely wore the Aspatria socks but it’s possible Steven and Robert wore Sale and Tynedale respectively,” he says.
No matter, the Aspatria club can take great pride in the fact that they all played for the club at some point before their selections.
It shouldn’t be forgotten either that the history of the Aspatria club (former in 1875 – just four years after the RFU) is littered with former members who played for England.
Men like James and Joseph Davidson, J H Blacklock, David Graham, Tosh Holliday, R J Hanvey, Joe Hall, Edwin Brown and Joseph Reay won international caps for their country.
Hanley and Davis Pears have been modern-day internationals who played their early senior rugby at Bower Park. There’s a general feeling that Miller might be the next. But what of Aspatria’s fierce local rivals up the road – Wigton - who were formed in the 1882/83 season, about seven years later than the Black Reds.
The mathematicians among you will have sussed already that this is the Greens’ 125th anniversary, which is why there’s plenty going on at Lowmoor Road this Saturday.
The action kicks-off 12-30pm with a Colts match between Wigton and Thornesians, a touring team from Doncaster.
It’s rugby all the way because following on from that, in a conveyor belt of live action, the Wanderers host Creighton in a Cumbria League match.
The main course is a traditional Past versus Present game in which former club heroes like Phil Graham, Jimmy Thompson, Mike Armstrong, Stephen Milnes and Matthew Lynch will be participating.
Current club coach Malcolm Brown, although a Black Red in his own playing days, is considered an honourable Green now and will be appearing as well.
The day will be rounded off with a dinner in the clubhouse when ex-Wigton and Cumberland full-back John Bell will provide the evening’s entertainment in his own inimitable fashion.
Current chairman of rugby Keith Warwick has been involved with the club for over 50 years, a member of the successful side which won the County Cup four years running between 1970 and 1973.
That was when they had just moved to Lowmoor Road from their old Barton Laws site and they were generally regarded as the best side in the county.
“That was one of the most successful periods in our history but when the League system came in we had 15 years as a North One club, which I think was a very fine achievement,” he says.
Wigton were actually formed in the year the County Cup was first contested (won by Aspatria as it happens) and the Greens had to wait 82 years before they got their hands on the trophy.
That was in 1965 and then in the early 70’s came the four in a row. Since then they have won it seven times – with back-to-back victories in 2003 and 2004 a reminder of former triumphs.
So while Aspatria can raise a glass on Saturday after the final North Two East game against Durham City to toast their three Barbarians, up the road Wigton will be reflecting on 125 years of history, and planning to write a few more chapters in that particular story.
