A BOOK which chronicles the rich history of The Wire has been released to tie in with the 140th anniversary of the club.

Warrington Wolves have been celebrating the birthday all year and now club historian and finance manager Neil Dowson has written 140 Years of The Wire.

Complete with hundreds of pictures, it tells the history of the club from its humble beginnings in the 19th century right up to the Grand Final defeat to Wigan in October.

And Neil, who has worked at the club for the past 19 years, says it has been a ‘labour of love’.

While it has taken around a year to put the book together, the 62-year-old says compiling much of the information has been even longer in the planning.

He added: “It has to be a labour of love doesn’t it?

“I have had the basis of it for quite a number of years, especially with all the work done on the heritage wall (which runs along the South Stand).

“So a lot of that is in there but I have tried to use lots of pictures of games and memorabilia with stories about the different eras.”

His research has also revealed just how central the club has always been to the town.

The current home is the furthest north Warrington have played, Wilderspool is the furthest south while a pitch sited where the Harvester restaurant is on Riverside Retail Park is the furthest eastern location and a plot of land off Slutchers Lane is the furthest west.

“We have a blue plaque at Wilderspool and I think it would be lovely to have them in the other locations. It shows just how central to the town the club has been and is,” said Neil, originally from Culcheth but now living in Westbrook.

Another fascinating revelation is where the club first met, St Paul’s Sunday School. His research took him to sites around the town centre before the final location is revealed in the book.

Club chairman Steven Broomhead said he was impressed by the work.

He added: “This is a wonderful, meticulously researched book with some stunning images that captures the history of The Wire and the social history of our town.

“I felt privileged to read this and the contribution of the players over the years and also humbled given my minor contribution to the club since 1999.

“As we are reminded in the book, ‘those who drink from the well should remember those who dug it’.

“Every time we celebrate at the club we should remember this and those who played such an important part in our 140 year history.”

  •  140 Years of The Wire is out now priced £25.

It is available in the Official Club Store at The Halliwell Jones Stadium and soon online at warrington wolves.com.