Episode 7 of an amazing new series featuring a Warrington family's previously unpublished cine film footage of Wire matches and special moments in the 1960s and 1970s
THIS video takes us back to Sunday, August 26, 1973, and a quite remarkable story.
Warrington sent Leeds packing 10-4, with full-back Derek Whitehead landing two successful penalty goal attempts in his famous toe-end bullet style and player-coach Alex Murphy kicking three drop-goals that were still worth two points each that season.
Derek Whitehead
There is a heated moment in the second half when Brian Brady runs in the ball with elbows high, which David Ward takes exception to and throws a punch.
A fire had occurred in the new leisure centre that had replaced the Popular Stand and the damage can be clearly seen.
A Wire team picture of the era. How many of these players can you name?
Fans are chased on the pitch at one point and there is a mass invasion at the end before Cecil Waller, the man behind these amazing cine film videos along with his son Mike, makes a guest appearance.
> Episode 6: Watch Mal Thomas dive over for a spectacular try
The remarkable story, however, only unfolds in the closing seconds.
Cecil and his son Mike used to creatively add the scores of matches to their videos, usually hanging from the garden shed that the latter says is still in situ at the family home in Appleton.
And in this footage it clearly states that The Wire also played Widnes the following day. Surely not?
But a quick check in the records confirms this.
So Murphy's men backed up the Sunday win against Leeds with another league victory at Naughton Park the following day, 19-9.
And NINE players appeared in both matches.
Two games in three or four days were not uncommon around that period, but playing on successive days was fairly rare in the 1970s.
The Wire had also appeared in matches two days running towards the end of the 1971-72 campaign.
Wire team v Leeds (asterisk means they also played the following day): Derek Whitehead*; Dennis Curling*, Wilf Briggs*, Billy Pickup, Derek Noonan; Alex Murphy, Parry Gordon; Dave Chisnall*, Kevin Ashcroft*, Brian Brady*, Brian Gregory*, Mike Nicholas, Barry Briggs*. Sub: Mike Philbin*. Unused sub: Not named in records.
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