RYLANDS Amateur Rugby League Club will still be celebrating - even if they have missed their centenary!

For many years Rylands' open age section have produced a weekly newsletter or programme that has indicated that the club had been established since 1903.

For the past two years, a special committee has been planning centenary celebrations during this current season.

But Rylands president Mike Clarke, who is also an ex-player and ex-committee member, has been delving into the archives at Warrington Library and came across match reports which date back to 1896.

This means that the club has been in existence much longer than 100 years and has missed its centenary year.

However, as matches were not played during the war years, it is likely that 100 years of actual playing rugby is almost accurate.

During the late 19th century, many works teams within the Warrington area played Rugby League against each other.

Most of these have not survived the various financial depressions and change in work patterns.

Crosfields, another Warrington team who were established through the works which is now known as Lever Faberge, is one of these teams and it is not unfeasible to think that the two clubs have been rivals for all this time. Crosfields have already celebrated their centenary.

Rylands started off this season with a function at their base and plan many more sessions of varying types before the final celebration in May next year, when it is planned to reunite as many past, present and future players as possible.

Rylands Sharks, the junior section, plan to celebrate in their own way on August 18. Watch this space for details.

In the meantime, any clubs who play Rylands for any reason this season are likely to receive a pennant celebrating their 'more than centenary'.

For details of any further events, contact secretary Hilary Steel on 489719.

At the moment, Rylands are attempting to put a few names to faces. The adjacent Rylands team picture, from season 1948/49, was supplied by Jackie Parr, who is sat in the middle.

If you know any of the other players, contact Mike Clarke on 493945.