15/05/08 - Another Cup tie, another trip down memory lane
As a kid in the 80s, Widnes away was always a big one, and a tough one. And it seemed a million miles from home – alien and intimidating.
You only got to see snippets of the action back then because of the pillars holding up the old stand and the scaffolding that supported the TV rigging, but I vaguely remember a couple of great wins (followed by what was then the obligatory pitch invasion), a low scoring draw and plenty of heavy defeats, usually featuring Chariots Offiah running in about four tries.
And on top of all that, in around 1989, a match postponed within an hour of kick-off on a bitterly cold mid-winter day. Huddled outside the ground with the twenty or so Hull fans remonstrating with a Widnes club official it all seemed like a laugh to me and my mates, carefree teenagers that we were.
But the Italian bloke from Pizza Peepers on Spring Bank West – who never missed a match in those halcyon days – was furious; forming his own conspiracy theory based on the injury crisis that the Chemics were struggling with at the time. “The ground will freeze until the players are fit!” he proclaimed several times, gesticulating wildly as he played up to his audience. If Julius Caesar had supported Hull FC and turned up to Widnes only to find the match was off, I’m sure that this is how he would’ve sounded.
Anyway, it was shirt sleeved order for the Cup tie on Sunday in which a disappointing Hull side never threatened to defy the 20.5 point start that I’d secured about a dogged Widnes outfit that did themselves proud.
The set-up at what I think is now called the Stobart Stadium is pretty impressive these days, and Tez and his lovely wife Jane laid on what I can only describe as a brilliantly entertaining afternoon.
Jen – who would take gossiping and drinking white wine in a private box above actually watching the match every single time – enjoyed every single minute of gossiping and drinking with the wags in the box. My highlight, meanwhile, was listening to Widnes great Eddie Cunningham and Hull legend Dave Topliss reminisce about the 1982 Challenge Cup Final and subsequent replay.
Eddie – who I hadn’t realised was Kieran Cunningham’s elder brother – spoke about the lung bursting effort that he’d put into the frenetic first match at Wembley. So exhausted was he at the end that despite having being named Lance Todd Trophy winner, Eddie actually thought Hull had won the game for several minutes after the final hooter had sounded.
Apparently Widnes won the Premiership Final against Hull in between the two Challenge Cup matches. I’m sure I must’ve been there – elevated by the little brown stool that my Dad used to take for me back then – but that one escapes me.
Toppo scored a great try in the replay at Elland Road, won the man of the match award, and as captain picked up the famous old trophy. And that one I do remember.
Great days.
