Joe mainly plays as a full-back, but is also effective elsewhere in the backs. We will see how things go during the remainder of our pre-season and then sit down with Joe ahead of the start of our league campaign., Heywood Road, Sale, M33 3WB | info@swintonlionsrlfc.co.uk | 07932 500 731, Copyright Swinton Lions 2023 | Privacy Policy, Created by Rugby League World Cup England 2021. Note: Part of the team to earn promotion in 1991, No. An era of new optimism and new confidence, fast entertaining rugby league and an abundance of rising stars! Then, having gone three years undefeated in the mid 1870s, the Lions gradually sought a tougher fixture list. During the autumn of 2009 director Paul Kidd stood down as head coach and moved to his new role as director of rugby. Jack Evans (English rugby league, born 1897), File:William Rees - Swinton and Wales.jpg, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Swinton_Lions_players&oldid=1001160526, This page was last edited on 18 January 2021, at 14:00. On 2 October 2022, Swinton achieved promotion from League 1 back to the championship after beating Doncaster 16-10 in the playoff final. Martyn Sadler We will see how things go during the remainder of our pre-season and then sit down with Joe ahead of the start of our league campaign., Heywood Road, Sale, M33 3WB | info@swintonlionsrlfc.co.uk | 07932 500 731, Copyright Swinton Lions 2023 | Privacy Policy, Created by Rugby League World Cup England 2021. Started December 20, 2022, By Does anyone have a head and shoulders pic of him or team pic with him on please? 6 Ben Stead Joe Lycett shreds 10,000 after David Beckham ignores his ultimatum MEN Frontpage Sport Rugby League Rugby League Swinton Lions to build new stadium at Agecroft and finally return home. LIONS In 1888 the first ever tourists to Australasia included four Swinton players, of whom Robert Seddon was named captain. 5 Callum Dunne Valentine's finest hour came when he led his Lions to a Challenge Cup Final success over bitter rivals Salford at Fallowfield in 1900. Peter Roe quit as coach of Swinton Lions in September 2003, after less than a year in charge. As for Valentine he was incredibly killed by lightning whilst on holiday at Barmouth in 1904. In 1996, Swinton officially added Lions to their name. Powered by Invision Community. The Falcons compete in the Queensland Cup and have an affiliation with Melbourne Storm. 28 Callum Hughes I know it's a long shot but any help given will be gratefully received. Such was the Lions' success that by the mid-1880s Swinton had become recognised as a national force and were considered the strongest team in Lancashire. 24 Myles Harrop A proposal in 1960 to create a Manchester rugby league club at the former White City Stadium on Chester Road, Old Trafford, Stretford, received strong opposition from Salford and Swinton. http://www.swintonlionstales.co.uk/index.php/site/view_gallery/8. DOB. In 1900, led by Jim Valentine, they won the Rugby League Challenge Cup defeating Salford at Fallowfield, Manchester. He played at representative level for Lancashire, and at club level for Swinton, and in Australia for North Sydney and Manly-Warringah (Heritage 207), as a scrum-half, i.e. Swinton were saved from liquidation by a consortium headed by former chairman Malcolm White in January 1993. The Lions are in the process of offering a trial to Joe Lowe who is set to get some game time in our upcoming pre-season friendlies. The war took the lives of 13 Swinton players, but back home the Lions played on throughout in a desperate attempt to stay afloat. However, what it also had was a staggering number of local junior teams from which the club drew its talent. By the end of the 1970s the club had hit rock-bottom, even though Station Road continued to host semi-finals and finals. Started January 11, By Contents 1 History 1.1 Early years 1.2 Inter-war period 1.3 Post-war Lions' directors managed to call upon the support of local businessmen. The only sad aspect being that this team never received the credit it deserved simply because ill-fortune ensured that they never appeared at Wembley. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Where not all appearances are available, figure is displayed in a light grey colour. is a professional rugby league club in St Helens, . 99 : Alan . Crowds in excess of 20,000 were commonplace at Chorley Road. On the field it was realised that season 2016 was going to be extremely tough and so it proved. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s the Lions strove unsuccessfully to repeat former glories and often flattered to deceive, but the appointment of Welshman Cliff Evans as coach signalled a renaissance. This week we look at the 1960s. The Willows, Salford (2011) Although the Lions won a fourth and final Lancashire Cup in 1969 the die was cast, and by the time two divisions were introduced in 1973, Swinton found themselves out of the top flight. Financial crisis followed financial crisis and only the sale of the main stand saved the club from closure during 1917. Matt Welham then went close for the visitors before Myles Harrop added the next Lions try in the corner, but this went unconverted. The path from rugby league to American Football is, if not well-trodden, perhaps more trodden . 8 Brad Clavering 18 Liam Cooper Gigg Lane, Bury (1992-2002) Of these, perhaps the most worthy were stand-off Billy 'Daz' Davies, scrum-half Peter Kenny and 2nd-rowers Rod Smith (ex-Workington Town) and the highly respected Bill Holliday (ex-Whitehaven, Hull Kingston Rovers, Cumberland and GB). The Lions looked to be heading for a one-point defeat until a Ben White drop-goal rescued the game with just 12 seconds left. LIONS More. 2 Mike Butt Started January 10, By 5, Johnny Stopford Appearances: 298 Tries: 195 Goals: 1 By the end of the 1970s the club had hit rock-bottom, even though Station Road continued to host semi-finals and finals. Swinton went on to win promotion to the Co-operative Championship as Champions of Championship 1. Season 2017 followed a similar path on the field, but it was also punctuated by a significant financial crisis off it. 12, John Allen Appearances:180, Tries:62, Goals:49 Goals: Gregson 6/8 1 Dan Abram (NU) [13], Updated: 13 December 2021Source(s): 2022 Squad Numbers. Shortly afterwards, Swinton were forced out of Gigg Lane by the financial problems of their landlords, Bury F.C.[4]. This list may not reflect recent changes. 10 Kenny Baker View all Lachlan Swinton news. Joe still has family in the Wigan area, and was looking to develop his immediate rugby career in England, and having done his research felt that the Lions were a potential fit for both himself and the club. Appearances:152, Tries:12, Goals:0 Swinton Lions Head Coach Allan Coleman, said, Joe approached the club last month from where he was based in Australia to ask about an opportunity for 2023. The first 13-a-side international Rugby League match took place on this tour, with Wales winning 9-8 against the All Golds before a crowd of 20,000 at Abedare. Another Hurricanes error on sixteen minutes presented the Lions with a chance to score and they took it when Anthony Dyne crossed in the left corner and again Gregson converted. But other than an annual challenge against the local rifle volunteers the only games played in those early days were amongst the clubs own membership. Still, as always, there were many Lions who continued to battle for the club with pride. But following a difficult start, a sequence of five straight wins gave the Lions a degree of comfort. 13 Liam Welham Initially under Frank Myler, and then under Jim Crellin, the Lions briefly threatened a revival during the 1980s. In its heyday it boasted a capacity of 60,000, although with a record attendance of 44,621 for a cup semi-final in 1951 this was never really tested. Hurricanes then had a chance from a Lions error at the restart but lost the ball on the second tackle. The most famous of the Lions Victorian sportsmen was Jim Valentine, still arguably the most famous Lion that ever lived and who served Swinton for 21 years from 1883. Dyne then added his second before the break after another good passing movement and Gregson converted to give his side a good lead at the break. IAN RIGG Heywood Road, Sunday Swinton had remained a major force, as evidenced by their club-record four players - Buckley, Stopford, Gowers and Dave Robinson - on the 1966 tour to Australia and New Zealand. Three new signings to debut for Hull KR against Featherstone Rovers as Willie Peters names squad, London Broncos Matchday Experience in 2023. By Calum is 27 years old and has been a stand-out performer for the Ince Rosebridge club in the National Conference League Division 1 over recent seasons. This new era saw some notable Welshmen in the Lions' ranks such as Rees Thomas, Ralph Morgan, Frank Osmond, Dai Moses, Ron Morgan and Graham Rees. Sadly Seddon would drown in a boating accident on the River Hunter in New South Wales. Initially under Frank Myler, and then under Jim Crellin, the Lions briefly threatened a revival during the 1980s. Player . Concentrating on a youth policy and training methods beyond his era, Evans began to model an exiting, young Swinton team. In 1878, the club ventured into Yorkshire, and was soon travelling throughout England taking on opponents including Oxford University. 21 Jonny Openshaw 12 Mitch Cox [11], In the 2021 Championship season, Swinton finished bottom of the table and were relegated after winning only two matches for the entire year. Before 1996, the club was known simply as Swinton . It was in the October of that year that members of Swinton Cricket Club (which had just completed it's first season) decided tokeepthemselves amused during the winter months playing "football". He was immediately replaced by former player and assistant coach Stuart Littler. The highlight during this period was a run to the Championship One play-off final in 2006, following epic victories at Featherstone Rovers and Celtic Crusaders. Cas Stadium Revelopment - could it be this time? 3, Bob Fleet Appearances: 329 Tries: 87 Goals: 0 No. 9 Elliott Windley He comes to us highly recommended, and Head Coach Allan Coleman will be looking to assess his capabilities ahead of our league opener against Newcastle Thunder on 5th February. 10 Kenny Baker 3, Paul Topping However, the Lions found a friend in Sedgley Park RUFC at Park Lane, Whitefield, which enabled the club to enjoy a semi-permanent home from 2004 to 2010. 22 Andrew Badrock Explore. HURRICANES Gav Wilson DOB. (Merged Threads), The five greatest rule changes in Super League history. Jack Spencer (born December 21, 1990) is a Rugby League footballer for Wests Tigers in the NRL. 1908 The sale of Station Road because of bad debts and the move to Gigg Lane,Bury in 1992 did not prove the success the management had imagined and the forced departure from Bury in 2002 broughtthe club back to within one mile of the Swinton and Pendlebury border, when home games were played at Moor Lane home of a local amateur football club Salford City. Gary, a teacher at Harrop Fold School in Walkden. All Matches. In October 2014 the club announced its intention to return to Park Lane, home of Sedgley Park RUFC as its home base for season 2015. He has since proved to be a popular lad amongst the squad, and has demonstrated that hes got the potential as well as the skills and temperament to play both full-back or half-back. Moor Lane, Salford (2002-2004) Although the Lions won a fourth and final Lancashire Cup in 1969 the dye was cast, and by the time two divisions were introduced in 1973 Swinton found themselves out of top flight. This record would stand for ninety years but three months later when the Lions visited Pontefract they lost 50. The official name of the club would remain Swinton Lions but the branding and presentation would all become Manchester. 7 Richard Wilkinson 13 Louis Brogan However, some critics saw this as an apology for overlooking him when the previous tourists were chosen in 1962, when many believe he was easily the most outstanding player to wear a full-back's jersey in the British game. They followed this with their first-ever Championship in 1927, and then in 1928 the team reached its zenith securing all five available trophies a feat unique in the history of the sport. Appearances:52, Tries:8, Goals:0 Throughout the 1920s the Lions got better and better until at last they won their Lancashire Cup in 1925 before recapturing the Challenge Cup in 1926. He previously played for Folly Lane ARLFC [1] (in Pendlebury), and Salford City Reds in the Super League, his choice of position is either Prop, or Second-row. Ken Gowers, John Speed, Bobby Fleet, Alan Buckley, Johnny Stopford, George Parkinson, Graham Williams. Appearances:216, Tries:49, Goals:3 The new ground could accommodate much larger crowds and the staging of a couple of County matches added to Swintons growing reputation. numbers 11, 12 or 13 during the era of contested scrums. Sin-bin: Moran (70) Interference Amazingly his all-time club record haul of 300 tries still to this day beats his nearest challenger by over a hundred. 2 Mike Butt SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0,12-0,18-0,22-0,22-6,28-6,32-6,32-10,38-10,44-10. 23 Chris Cullimore Peacetime brought about the shrewdest of gambles by the Lions' directors who had managed to reign in the support of local businessmen. Other than an annual challenge against the local rifle volunteers the only games played in those early days were amongst the club's own membership. In March 1929, a 22,000 thousand crowd saw the Lions defeat Wigan in the first match on new turf. Where not all appearances are available, figure is displayed in a light grey colour. Subs (all used) A 1965 semi-final defeat to Wigan proving the closest Swinton came. This meteoric rise in stature was made all the more remarkable by the fact Swinton at this time was nothing more than a tiny colliery village with a few cotton mills. When two divisions were reintroduced in 1973, Swinton were out of the top flight, and have struggled to regain their former glories ever since. Learn how and when to remove this template message, Rugby Football League 2nd Division Championship, Rugby Football League 2nd Division Premiership, Rugby Football League League 1 Championship, "Rugby's pounds 87m deal gives Murdoch transfer veto", Reborn Lions happy to walk into Wigan's den, "Swinton Lions to share Leigh Sports Village next season", "Swinton Lions appoint Gary Chambers as head coach", "Swinton confirm Manchester Lions name change", "Swinton Lions: Board resign over objection to Manchester name change", "Swinton Lions board wanted to become Manchester Lions - now they've all resigned", "Championship side announces they are going full-time", "Swinton Lions secure promotion back to the Championship", Rugby Football League Championship Second Division, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swinton_Lions&oldid=1123383601, Articles with dead external links from August 2021, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from February 2014, All articles needing additional references, Rugby articles with insufficient color contrast, Articles needing additional references from November 2019, Articles needing additional references from September 2017, Articles needing additional references from January 2021, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 1926-27, 192728, 193031, 193435, 196263, 196364, 1924-25, 192728, 192829, 193031, 196061, Most goals in a match: 15 by Dan Abram vs, Most points in a match: 38 by Dan Abram vs West Wales, 13th August 2022, Most points in a season: 338 by Ian Mort, 2011, World record distance for a penalty goal, 77 yards by, Biggest victory: 960 vs [West Wales |LLaneli]], 30 January 2021, Station Road: 44,621 for Challenge Cup semi-final, Leading Try Scorer: Martin Ainscough (16 Tries), This page was last edited on 23 November 2022, at 12:39. 14 Jack Dawson Concentrating on a youth policy and training methods beyond his era, Evans began to model an exiting, young Swinton team. They were coming strong again and once again ball handling let them down at the last tackle, but Wilkinson kept probing to get his side over the line. Such was the Lions success that by the mid-1880s Swinton had become recognised as a national force and unquestionably they were the strongest team in Lancashire. His plans were to include a 3,000 capacity stadium for the Lions on the site of the old school playing field, alongside new housing, restaurants and a hotel. Appearances:47, Tries:6, Goals:0 In its heyday it boasted a capacity of 60,000, although with a record attendance of 44,621 for a cup semi-final in 1951 this was never really tested. 23 Joe Lowe Throughout the late 1940s, and the 1950s the Lions strove unsuccessfully to repeat former glories and often flattered to deceive, but the appointment of Welshman Cliff Evans as coach signalled a renaissance. Not to mention a second promotion and a Divisional Premiership title at Old Trafford under the guidance of Bill Holliday and Mike Peers. Wild, Stephen (1999). Bedfordshire Bronco Joe still has family in the Wigan area, and was looking to develop his immediate rugby career in England, and having done his research felt that the Lions were a potential fit for both himself and the club. 11 Sam Bowring In doing so, he was following in the footsteps of his two brothers who also played for Leigh. MATCHFACTS 393 talking about this. and please provide some great stories and. Unfortunately Salford City FC would not grant Swinton the ten year lease which was required to enable much needed funding to bring the ground up to standard. On 18 March 2013 the club announced the appointment of Gary Chambers as head coach. Appearances: 91, Tries: 10, Goals: 94, International Rugby Wallabies star Lachlan Swinton set for French series after escaping suspension despite red card. 8 Gavin Bennion Swinton Lions 2023 Official Kit Launch Swinton Lions RLFC - Official Site 19:14 21-Dec-22. As Swinton coach in the late 1960s/early 1970s, Albert Blan guided the team to a fourth and final Lancashire County Cup success in the 196970 Final against Leigh by 112 at Central Park, Wigan. Station Road, Swinton (1929-1992). Since then a new Board of Directors has been assembled, which has subsequently taken ownership of the company. Buckley was. A favourite decade for many of us of a certain age! The southern teams in particular came in for some severe punishment, and Ian Mort created a club record of 48 individual points in an annihilation of Oxford. In June 2014, Ian Watson left to join Salford and John Duffy replaced him as head coach in July. On 26 September 2010, former Barrow coach Steve McCormack was confirmed as the head coach for the 2011 season with Ian Watson and Marlon Billy continuing in their roles as assistant coaches. Their opponents in the final were a talented Hunslet side that were coached by Leeds legend David Ward and included the likes of Sonny Nickle. [1] The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. Tries: M.Welham (28), Appiah-Kubi (56) 9, Gary Ainsworth Late 2019 also saw plans to rebrand as Manchester Lions hit significant opposition from supporter groups, in the wake of which chairman Andy Mazey resigned along with five other directors. 11 Rhodri Lloyd Note:Promoted 3 times in 1985, 1987, 1991, No. In 1878 came the clubs first ventures into Yorkshire, and fairly soon the club was travelling the length of breadth of the country taking on such illustrious opponents as Oxford University. The club have made nine new signings, whilst retaining 17 from 2021. The 1980s, the decade when we emerged from the doldrums to become a top end Second Division side, inter-dispersed with a fair share of memorable triumphs! Appearances:198, Tries:26, Goals:5 Calum is 27 years old and has been a stand-out performer for the Ince Rosebridge club in the National Conference League Division 1 over recent seasons. Heywood Road, Sale, M33 3WB | info@swintonlionsrlfc.co.uk | 07932 500 731, Copyright Swinton Lions 2023 | Privacy Policy, Created by Rugby League World Cup England 2021. Allan Coleman replaced Stuart Littler as Head Coach, and began overhauling the squad in an attempt to win promotion back to the Championship in season 2022. Station Road itself was also recognised as one of the finest grounds in the Rugby League. The sale of Station Road because of bad debts and the move to Gigg Lane, Bury, in 1992, did not prove the success that the management had imagined. 8 Gavin Bennion Started January 10, By