AS 2023 comes to a close, we’re taking a month-by-month look at the sporting year that was in Warrington.
Today, we look at May – a month that will never be forgotten in one part of town…
THE beginning is a very good place to start our look at this year’s fifth calendar month, especially if you’re a Warrington Town fan.
May 1, 2023, is a date that will forever be etched into club history as the day they secured promotion to the National League North in dramatic fashion.
Despite going down to 10 men in their play-off final against Bamber Bridge when skipper Josh Amis saw red, Isaac Buckley-Ricketts’ injury-time winner sparked scenes of jubilation at Cantilever Park.
A crowd of 2,550 packed into the ground to set a new attendance record for the club, with some even sneaking a peek from the Transpennine Trail than runs along the Manchester Ship Canal.
It was certainly quite a month for football, with two of the town’s junior teams lifting national titles.
Great Sankey High School’s year seven side became the first team from Warrington to lift a Playstation Schools Cup crown, capping a memorable run to the final by beating Shenfield High School of Essex at West Bromwich Albion’s Hawthorns home ground.
Warrington Rylands’ under 15s also emerged as the country’s best in their age group after emerging victorious at the Junior Premier League’s Champions Tournament having won through local, regional and national rounds.
Meanwhile, May was a largely successful month for Warrington Wolves, with home victories over Wakefield Trinity and Hull KR steadying the ship before another win in Perpignan, with Matty Ashton’s last-gasp try securing a Challenge Cup smash-and-grab against Catalans.
However, the month ended with a defeat at neighbours Leigh Leopards that proved damaging in many respects, with Josh McGuire again in hot water in what proved to be his final game for the club.
Speaking of water, Warrington Rowing Club’s Lucy Glover shone in Team GB colours – the former Lymm High School pupil combined with Georgie Brayshaw, Lauren Henry and Hannah Scott to bring home the women’s quadruple sculls bronze medal from the European Rowing Championships in Slovenia.
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