A Widnes And Northwich Rematch
Fri 27th December 2013 | Widnes | By Ian Templeman
The only NWCFL game to be played this Saturday 28th December, between Widnes Vikings and 1874 Northwich, has an interesting link to the past, despite both clubs only having joined the League in the summer.
Browsing through some history books, Vikings Secretary Bill Morley found details of a Widnes club that began as a cricket club, but in their first fixtures played rugby and football matches against Northwich Victoria.
Bill explained: “The Farnworth & Appleton Cricket Club was formed in 1871 and four years later the members decided to embrace the burgeoning football code.
"At their fourth annual evening party in the Drill Hall, Widnes, in November 1875, club Chairman Henry Lea "gave a short account of the club since it commenced about four years ago, and indicated that they had now started a football club in connexion (sic) with it, and hoped all would join".
“The first known game for the new Farnworth and Appleton FC was in Widnes in January 1876, played under rugby rules against Northwich Victoria. A few weeks later a return match was played at Drill Field, Northwich under soccer rules. Vics won both games, and these are the only two known fixtures in that truncated first season.
“It’s a bit of a coincidence that both ourselves and 1874 Northwich joined the North West Counties Football League at the same time, and that this weekend we can turn back time to have a rematch between a Widnes club and a Northwich club after 137 years”.
A Widnes And Northwich Rematch
Fri 27th December 2013 | Widnes
By Ian Templeman
The only NWCFL game to be played this Saturday 28th December, between Widnes Vikings and 1874 Northwich, has an interesting link to the past, despite both clubs only having joined the League in the summer.
Browsing through some history books, Vikings Secretary Bill Morley found details of a Widnes club that began as a cricket club, but in their first fixtures played rugby and football matches against Northwich Victoria.
Bill explained: “The Farnworth & Appleton Cricket Club was formed in 1871 and four years later the members decided to embrace the burgeoning football code.
"At their fourth annual evening party in the Drill Hall, Widnes, in November 1875, club Chairman Henry Lea "gave a short account of the club since it commenced about four years ago, and indicated that they had now started a football club in connexion (sic) with it, and hoped all would join".
“The first known game for the new Farnworth and Appleton FC was in Widnes in January 1876, played under rugby rules against Northwich Victoria. A few weeks later a return match was played at Drill Field, Northwich under soccer rules. Vics won both games, and these are the only two known fixtures in that truncated first season.
“It’s a bit of a coincidence that both ourselves and 1874 Northwich joined the North West Counties Football League at the same time, and that this weekend we can turn back time to have a rematch between a Widnes club and a Northwich club after 137 years”.
