History of HALTON FARNWORTH HORNETS arlfc [Part ONE]... Inception to 1991
Halton Farnworth Hornets arlfc
'THE History'
(from Inception to 4th May 2006)
31 years ago!
Can you remember and think all the way back to 1975, can you remember? Widnes won the Challenge Cup beating Warrington at Wembley, tumble dryers cost £60.00, a large loaf 13p, 4oz Nescafe coffee was 36p,and a bottle of Whiskey cost £3.45. Yes those were the good old days and most importantly it was 31 years ago that Halton Hornets were founded by our late president of the club Mr David Walsh and recently recruited fund raising officer (welcome home) Mr David Oldham.
It was decided to hold the clubs meetings (well of course where else but in a pub) in a pub called The Castle Hotel in Widnes. From this a team of U12's were formed and began to play friendly's in and around Widnes in that early spring/summer of 1975.
Widnes schoolboys played Wigan schoolboys at half time to entertain the spectators at Wembley and four players in Barry Dowd, Mike Martin, Mike Buck and Ray Nevit, represented the Hornets.
Hornets played their friendly's against teams like the Tigers, Ditton Dragons, Hough Green Rovers, West Bank, Appleton and Bankfield in fact all these teams formed the first U13's League in Widnes (1976/77).
[By the way, Mal Aspey (Widnes centre) raised £3,000 for a then record testimonial for any Widnes player.]
Halton Hornets were now well on their way, with this team joining the U13's League and in its first season won the Builder and Trades Sevens and became runners up in the Joe Preston Trophy and the Len Hutton Cup. The following season 1976/77 saw a second team formed of U14's and the new U13's team won all the silverware in the town that year.
Training was ongoing and professional players were helping out such of the likes of Jim Mills (Widnes), George Nicholls (St Helens), Jimmy Nulty (Wigan) and the late Mick Naughton (Professional Referee and founder member of Widnes Tigers). Two coaches were also brought in; Tony (Tosh) Karaulius, pro at Wigan and later player coach at Leigh Professional Club, and Bob (Bow) Goulding who was playing for Huyton Professional Club. The main parents who contributed and helped out the most were John McPartland and Mr McKenna.
The name Halton Hornets came about from the idea of the two rugby posts on the field the two "H's" and the connection with Runcorn, from where the club sometimes trained and also had a good number of players originating from. The connection "HALTON" (Widnes had Halton View and Runcorn had Halton Castle) became the evident name to be called. Now, what about the Hornets you may well ask? Well that came from Rochdale Hornets. So this famous club was now named and incorporated under the title HALTON HORNETS.
The committee in those early days consisted of Dave Walsh, Dave Oldham, Alan Littler, and his wife Katrina, Keith Littler (Treasurer) and Tom Littler. Even way back then there was a Runcorn connection. Now you may well ask how did Hornets decide what colours to adopt? Well this was yet again decided for them.
There was a second hand kit available in the colours green and with this kit also being the colour of Australia it was bought and used (first official playing kit was all green with white collars). A couple of season's later New Zealand was touring Great Britain and the Hornets were invited to play a curtain raiser. This occurred when New Zealand came to Naughton Park to play against Widnes. So a special all black kit was purchased from Whites of Warrington Market and the Hornets played in all black that season hence the black and green were now the official colours of Halton Hornets.
1977-1978
Jimmy Reader (scout for Warrington) joined the club and he also became Club Secretary and coach of the U13's, who yet again won all the trophies in the town.
The U14's also had a couple of players who later turned professional for Widnes - David Hulme and Keith Newton. We also saw Ste Hayes (his son Darren currently coaches the U7's) and Aiden Connor joined the coaching staff.
Jimmy Reader graced the Hornets for 10 years and his son Paul, also played for 5 years. Jimmy achieved many successes with the Hornets and at one time or another did about everything at the Hornets one man could ever possibly do. He was ably assisted with the help of other dependable members, in particular the likes of John Roberts, Mally Cowan, Charlie Henshaw, and Alan Roberts. Thank you Jimmy your constant endeavour and spirit will not be forgotten at the Hornets.
1979
Saw the clubs first success in the North West Counties League with our U16's, coached by the late Harry Currier, win the League Championship and finish runners up in the cup.
1980
There were now five teams at the club U11's, U12's, U15's, U16's and U17's and this was quite a hectic and exciting time for the club.
1981-1982
It was another very successful one with the new U9's winning the League; the U16's broke all records in the North West Counties League by winning all their 28 matches and doing the 'double' by winning the cup as well. Also that season, the U16's played a curtain raiser at Cardiff before the First Round of their Challenge Cup-tie against Widnes. They were outclassed their opponents, Cardiff Colts, by winning the match 48-0 with Paul Hulme scoring a hat trick of tries.
1982
Another two teams formed namely the U13's and the U14's. Coaches were Alan Roberts and Charlie Henshaw respectively. Five more players joined the professional ranks in the form of Barry Dowd (to Widnes) and Peter Halpen (to Warrington). Both players were from the U19's. The other three players were from the U17's and they were Paul Hulme and Andy Currier (to Widnes) and Brian Carbutt (to Warrington).
That same year there was also a BARLA U19's tour to New Zealand and John Allen was selected to go while Mike Rice was picked as standby in case of injuries to any of the squad. John Allen later turned professional for Swinton.
1983
The first visit of the French club ENTRAIGNES from the southern province, to play our U17's and U19's. Hornets' captains were Stephen McConnell and John Allen respectively. Hornets returned ENTRAIGNES visit six weeks later with Tour Captain, Karl Strettle. The Tour Coach was Alan Houghton, a schoolmaster at Bankfield. Mark Knight who went on this tour later turned professional with Warrington and the player of the tour was Ste Flanigan.
1984
The U14's and the U15's took the trip across the channel to Entraignes with the tour captain being Neil Gatcliff. Five matches were played in total with Hornets winning four of them. All the Matches were played in Avengion, and Jimmy Reader was tour coach.
1985-1986
Tom Bebbington join the club and he was instrumental in taking the club forward and in securing Crow Wood Park. He changed it into playing fields for the Hornets to use as a base and he also donated three playing strips in the name of B. H. Services over a three-year period. Tom was influential along with Dave Walsh in a total resurgence of Halton Hornets.
He was also responsible for bringing in and welcoming over the next five years, many very valuable colleagues to the club. Names like John Birmingham (1985), Alf Sherratt (1986), Peter Finney (ex Secretary 1988), Ian Yates (1985 current Secretary) Peter Woods (ex Treasurer), Billy Burns (both Aug 1988- 995), Frank Hyland (1985 awarded Vice President, 15th June 1992), John Yates, Pat Baxter 1986 (and current Treasurer since 1991) and Ian Foster (Referee 1989) of who are all top class coaches.
Then of course there was the ever-dependable duo of Helen and Brian Cook (Vice President awarded 1989 -1990) who has done everything at the Hornets a couple could ever do and Joe Cavanagh (1988-1995 ex Secretary awarded Vice President March 7th 1995).
Tom left in the spring of 1990 to pursue and sow the seeds of Rugby League elsewhere in the town and at present he is coaching at Widnes Rugby Union club (a girls team), Wade Deacon 5th year and Cronton 6th Form college.
Well-done Tom and a big 'Thank You' from Halton Hornets - we wish you all the best.
[The submission below was added 18/08/2006. Thank you Frank Hyland for this contribution.]
Hornets 9's won the Northern Diaries Milk Challenge Cup beating Widnes St Maries at Brentfields.
Coaches were Alf Sherratt and helping was Frank Hyland who was making his debut appearance for the Hornets.
This was a 'one-off' game sponsored by Northern Diaries.
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