ANOTHER Wembley milestone has been reached for Warrington schools rugby league.
While Sunday marked the 40th anniversary of the town's first under 11s team to play in the Challenge Cup Final curtain-raiser at the national stadium, 25 years have recently been clocked up for the 1995 generation of young Wire.
The 18 boys, coached by Norman Harrison, Mike McLoughlin and George Taylor, defeated Bradford Schoolboys 30-6 prior to Wigan defeating Leeds 30-10 in the main event.
Again, it was an unforgettable experience for all involved.
"The families fundraised for 12 months to kit the lads out with blazers, shirts, ties, jumpers, even shoes, tracksuits and kit bags," recalls Stuart Wilson, father of the team's captain Matthew Wilson.
READ: Memories of Warrington Schoolboys from the 1980 Wembley curtain-raiser
"All the team also received new boots from a sponsor so they all had the same.
"The boys travelled down and spent two nights in London.
"They won the game 30 points to 6 and the lads returned home to be invited to the town hall for a civic reception by Clr Mike Hannon, the mayor at the time who said he was proud to recognise their achievement."
Warrington Schoolboys under 11s Wembley squad 1995 (school in brackets): Karl Case (Great Sankey), Richard Dutton (Great Sankey), Jonathan Farrell (Stockton Heath), Stefan Flint (Dallam), Michael Hart (Great Sankey), Robert Hayes (Padgate), Ben Heaton (St Anne's), Barry Hutchinson (Stockton Heath), Ian Jones (Bruche), Adam Lester (Bradshaw), Paul Mahoney (St James), Chris Malone (Sycamore Lane), Chris Matthews (Beamont), Chris Morris (Great Sankey), Paul Oultram (Sycamore Lane), Ian Stephenson (Great Sankey), Chris Tasker (Stockton Heath), Matthew Wilson (St Margaret's).
One other Warrington schoolboys under 11s team have represented the town in the Wembley curtain-raiser, that one coming against Leeds in 1987.
Great Sankey High School became Warrington's first team to win the Champion Schools final in the newer-look curtain-raiser at Wembley when defeating Standish High School from Wigan 10-8 last year prior to The Wire defeating St Helens.
Warrington Schoolboys rugby league teams have twice been called on as ball boys for the Challenge Cup Final.
They did their duty in 1978 and 1998.
The 1978 ball boys included Mark Forster, the Warrington Wolves, Great Britain and Ireland wing legend.
Wembley ball boys 1978. Left to right: Chris Hough (Beamont), David Hill (English Martyrs), Brian Paget (Beamont), Ian Charnock and Mark Forster (both Richard Fairclough), John Gordon (Beamont), David Johnson (English Martyrs), Paul Barker (Beamont), Bill Withington (Bewsey), Colin Kelly (Beamont), coach Keith Jones and Warrington League secretary Walter Norris. It is a Warrington Guardian photograph and appeared on the front page in May 1978. The final was between Leeds and St Helens
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