A salute to Warrington Wolves' last Championship winners 70 years ago today
IT was 70 years ago, today, that The Wire celebrated arguably their finest hour.
Winning a league title is tough enough, but to retain it is something very special indeed.
And that's what Cec Mountford's men did on May 14, 1955, when they beat Oldham in the Championship Final at Manchester City's former Maine Road home.
Wire celebrating the 1955 Championship success at Maine Road. From left to right, are Danny Naughton, Len Horton, Tom McKinney, Gerry Helme, Bob Ryan, Eric Frodsham, Syd Phillips, Harry Bath, Jim Honey, Jim Challinor, Brian Bevan, Gerry Lowe
It was the third and final time Warrington have been crowned champions, and the only time they did so having also finished top of the table at the end of the league campaign, edging out Oldham on points difference.
Heroes of the era like Harry Bath and Brian Bevan remain household names, not only in this town but in their Australia homeland too.
The Wire became champions for the first time 77 years ago.
In those days, like now, a play-offs system resulted in determining the champions, rather than the title going to the team that finished top of the table.
On May 8, 1948, The Wire overhauled Bradford Northern 15-5 at Maine Road in Manchester.
In Chris Brockbank's 12th year as manager, skipper Harold 'Moggy' Palin received the trophy off Lord Derby and lifted it for his hometown club in front of 69,143 spectators.
That day, Bevan scored a record-breaking 57th try in a season while Stan Powell and Albert Pimblett also crossed the whitewash, with Palin kicking three goals.
The 1948 Championship Final winning team above and below.
Back row, from left, Brian Bevan, Bryn Knowelden, Bill Riley, Dave Cotton, Bill Darbyshire, Albert Pimblett. Middle row, Stan Powell, Les Jones, Harold Palin, Bob Ryan, Jim Featherstone. Front, Jack Fleming, Gerry Helme
Warrington, who had finished second to Wigan in the table, knocked out Huddersfield 17-5 in the semi finals.
That was the first of five Championship finals in eight years, two more of which were to be celebrated as victories in what was a golden era and included the club's first Wembley Challenge Cup triumph – 19-0 against Widnes in 1950.
Warrington won the title again after locking horns with Halifax in the 1954 Championship Final, just three days after their never-to-be forgotten Challenge Cup Final replay at Odsal in front of a world record crowd.
Again at Maine Road, this time attended by 36,519, four penalty goals from Bath defeated the Yorkshire outfit 8-7 on May 8.
Just like at Odsal, deputising captain Eric Frodsham lifted the trophy, due to Albert Naughton being sidelined for the last five games of the season with a calf injury.
That was Warrington's only league and Challenge Cup double to date - and they won the Lancashire League that season too for a smashing treble!
The homecoming after the 1953/54 league and cup double
The Wire had finished second to Fax in the table while they accounted for St Helens 11-0 in the play-off semi finals.
The Wire then made it back-to-back league titles in the 1954-55 campaign, with Ally Naughton this time being on the field to share in the glory of it all.
In fact, Naughton had scored two of the tries in the 17-9 win against Halifax to reach the final, with Syd Phillips getting the other.
In almost monsoon conditions, The Wire were marvellous in the mud as Oldham were marooned 7-3.
Bevan's 61st try of the season and two Bath penalty goals steered the ship home in front of 49,434 spectators.
Of course, it takes the efforts of a full season to be able to go on and win a Championship Final - or a Grand Final as it is now.
Twenty-five players contributed to the 31 wins and two draws achieved from the 40 matches played in all competitions during the 1954-55 season.
Frodsham was the only man to play in every game that season, though Gerry Lowe (38), Bevan (37), Albert Naughton (36), Bath (35), Jim Challinor (33), Danny Naughton (33) and Gerry Helme (30) were prominent throughout.
Only two other players joined Bevan in reaching double-figures in the try-scoring. They were Ally Naughton (26) and Challinor (19).
Bath was The Wire's main goal-kicker, banging over 118 that season. Frodsham chipped in with 10 and Austin Heathwood just the one.
Barrow, Halifax, Widnes, Bradford, Leigh and Wigan (twice) were the only sides that managed to topple the champions elect in one competition or another.
Championship winning Wire teams:
1948: Les Jones; Brian Bevan, Albert Pimblett, Bryn Knowelden, Stan Powell; Jack Fleming, Gerry Helme; Bill Derbyshire, Dave Cotton, Bill Riley, Jim Featherstone, Bob Ryan, Harold Palin.
1954: Eric Frodsham; Brian Bevan, Jim Challinor, Ron Ryder, Stan McCormick; Ray Price, Gerry Helme; Danny Naughton, Frank Wright, Gerry Lowe, Harry Bath, Bob Ryan.
1955: Eric Frodsham; Brian Bevan, Jim Challinor, Albert Naughton, Len Horton; Jim Honey, Gerry Helme; Danny Naughton, Tom McKinney, Gerry Lowe, Harry Bath, Syd Phillips, Bob Ryan.
Note that Bevan, Helme and Ryan played in all three Championship winning teams.
Brian Bevan
Gerry Helme
Bob Ryan
Sadly, all 13 members of the Wire side that won the Championship Final in 1955 have since died but we salute each and every one of them as Wire heroes.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Chris Wilder's future as Sheffield United manager in doubt before board meeting
Chris Wilder's future as Sheffield United manager is in doubt, with the club's American owners set to discuss his position at a board meeting. It is thought the recruitment strategy has been a significant factor in pushing Wilder's future towards a crossroads. The US-based consortium COH Sports, led by Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy, completed a takeover last December. Advertisement The 57-year-old, in his second spell in charge of his boyhood club, led United to the Championship playoff final last month, which they lost to Sunderland, after missing out on automatic promotion. United are keen to press ahead with more 'data-driven' recruitment, which includes the use of artificial intelligence. This week United signed the Nigerian winger Ehije Ukaki from the Bulgarian club Botev Plovdiv, a move made by the winger Christian Nwachukwu, 19, in January. In the same window United signed Jefferson Cáceres, 22, from the Peruvian club FBC Melgar but neither Nwachukwu nor Caceres has made a first-team appearance. The Blades are one of several Championship clubs searching for a manager, with Middlesbrough, Queens Park Rangers and Bristol City also seeking to fill vacancies. On Wednesday Hull City appointed Sergej Jakirovic as their head coach on a two-year contract, and this month West Brom appointed the former Tottenham coach Ryan Mason on a three-year contract.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Door open' as Salford's Macdonald takes unpaid leave
Nene Macdonald, who also spent time at Oldham on loan this season, missed Salford's most recent game because of illness [SWPix] Salford Red Devils centre Nene Macdonald has taken unpaid leave from the financially troubled club to spend time with his family. The 31-year-old Papua New Guinea international joined from Leeds Rhinos from last season and was an influential figure in the side, helping them to a fourth-place finish and a Super League play-off spot. Advertisement He was also named their supporters' player of the year and was nominated in the Super League Dream Team. Because of salary cap restrictions, with financial challenges affecting the Red Devils' season, Macdonald only made five Super League appearances for the club this term. "In a bizarre situation, the rules imposed upon our club meant his loyalty and desire to not leave was to his detriment, and he was left in limbo for several months which was very a difficult situation for him," head coach Paul Rowley said. "The club and Nene have agreed that it's in his best interest to go back home and enjoy some time with friends and family. "We will continue to talk, and Nene remains registered to our club for a return in the future. The door will remain open and he leaves with all our love and understanding."
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Brentford identify highly rated coach as first-choice Thomas Frank replacement
Brentford want first-team assistant coach Justin Cochrane to replace Thomas Frank, if he remains at the club. Frank is set to be appointed by Tottenham Hotspur and is trying to persuade the highly rated Cochrane to join him in north London. Advertisement Cochrane, 43, arrived at Brentford in 2022 to become their head of coaching, and in March joined Thomas Tuchel's backroom staff at England. Brentford, who also looked at Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, believe Cochrane is ready to take the next step in his coaching career and succeed Frank - in what would be his first lead role at a senior side. The former England youth international was previously head of player development at Manchester United and has held numerous coaching roles within youth development at England. Frank is set to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham after the club moved to dismiss the Australian after he won the Europa League but finished 17th in the Premier League. Advertisement Frank, 51, has been at Brentford for seven years, taking the club from the Championship and establishing themselves as a Premier League side. Brentford had considered a move for McKenna after Ipswich's relegation from the Premier League but they believe the 39-year-old has bigger aspirations within the Premier League. You can sign up to DAZN to watch every Club World Cup game for free