Halliwell Jones Stadium
Encyclopedia
Halliwell Jones Stadium is a rugby league
stadium in Warrington
, England that is the home ground of Warrington Wolves
. It has also staged Challenge Cup
semi-finals, the European Nations Final
and the National League
Grand Finals' Day.
had become decrepid and unfit for purpose, and so the club looked to move to a new stadium. Before settling on the site which had formerly housed the Tetley Walker brewery, a site in Burtonwood
was considered but these plans were rejected. The last competitive game at Wilderspool (after 105 years at the ground) was played on 21st September 2003, when Warrington beat Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
52-12.
, due to his desire to plan expansive rugby.
The official capacity of the stadium is 14,206, although this has been reduced to approximately 13,024 after overcrowding trouble plagued the stadium's opening match where Warrington took on Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
on 21st February 2004, with Warrington winning 34-20. Nathan Wood
had the honour of scoring the first try at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The match was a sell out and was not deemed safe, with many fans locked outside the stadium.
The stadium has already enjoyed several memorable moments, perhaps most notably Andrew Johns
' debut for Warrington against Leeds Rhinos
in a 33-16 victory on 10th September 2005.
During the Co-operative Championship grand final rugby league game between Featherstone Rovers
and Halifax
on 26 September 2010, a fire beneath the terraced West Stand broke out, forcing all of the fans housed in the stand to be evacuated onto the field, holding up the game for around 45 minutes. Following a safety inspection the spectators were eventually allowed back in. However, when the smell of smoke failed to disperse, there was a further hold up as the fans were moved to the East Stand. The game resumed with no further interruptions. The fire is being treated as arson.
On 3rd Match 2011, the club announced that the corners of the East Stand at the stadium will be filled in to create a further 2,000 spaces made up of seating and terracing, taking the stadium capacity to around 15,500. The work will take place over the summer of 2011 and be ready in time for the 2012 season. The club also have further plans to increase the stadium's capacity to around 18,000 should the need to do so arise.
Two monuments to Australian winger and world record try scorer Brian Bevan
, who played for Warrington RLFC 1948–62 (scoring 740 tries for the Wire), are featured at the stadium. One, a statue of him, had previously been placed in the middle of a roundabout (known as Brian Bevan island) close to Wolves' old Wilderspool ground. This was moved to the Halliwell Jones Stadium with the team. The other, a mural showing Bevan's face made from 'Primrose and Blue' bricks, the traditional Warrington colours was created specifically for the location.
·The stadium is built on the former site of the Walkers of Warrington brewery.
·The stadium was used in July 2010 to film the BBC
comedy drama Candy Cabs
, when it was made to look like a football stadium for the wedding of one of the football team's players.
·Halliwell Jones Stadium is also home to the Warrington Conference Centre.
National League
Grand Finals:
Challenge Cup
Semi Finals:
Four Nations
:
Internationals
:
Football
Music events
TV Events
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
stadium in Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
, England that is the home ground of Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
. It has also staged Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
semi-finals, the European Nations Final
Rugby League European Nations Cup
The European Cup is a rugby league football tournament for European nations that was first held in 1935. The tournament was first started in 1935, with England, Wales and France each playing each other once...
and the National League
Rugby League National Leagues
The Championship, known as Co-operative Championship due to sponsorship by The Co-operative Group, is a professional rugby league competition based in the United Kingdom. It is currently contested by ten teams from England. It acts as Europe's second-tier competition below the Super League, and has...
Grand Finals' Day.
Move from Wilderspool
By the late 1990's, Warrington RLFC's spiritual home Wilderspool StadiumWilderspool Stadium
Wilderspool Stadium is a rugby league stadium located in Warrington, England. The ground was Warrington RLFC's old ground before moving to the Halliwell Jones Stadium. It holds just over 9,000, after substantial decreases for crowd safety...
had become decrepid and unfit for purpose, and so the club looked to move to a new stadium. Before settling on the site which had formerly housed the Tetley Walker brewery, a site in Burtonwood
Burtonwood
Burtonwood and Westbrook is a civil parish in the outermost suburbs of Warrington in Cheshire, England. Historically within Lancashire, the name Burtonwood is known worldwide as the location of the former RAF Station Burtonwood military camp. Burtonwood village itself is a few miles away from the...
was considered but these plans were rejected. The last competitive game at Wilderspool (after 105 years at the ground) was played on 21st September 2003, when Warrington beat Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
52-12.
The stadium
The stadium was notable for bucking the common trend of modern stadia by including terracing areas rather than being an all-seater stadium. There were originally 4 stands in the stadium – the North Stand (reserved seating), the East Stand (originally unreserved seating but later became reserved seating), the South Stand (home terracing), and the West Stand (visitors' terracing and overflow of home terracing). It also has enormous pitch dimensions of 120 m x 74 m, as requested by Warrington's head coach of the time, Paul CullenPaul Cullen (rugby league)
Paul Cullen is an English professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the head coach for the Widnes Vikings of the Co-operative Championship. Cullen previously coached the Warrington Wolves as well as the England national team...
, due to his desire to plan expansive rugby.
The official capacity of the stadium is 14,206, although this has been reduced to approximately 13,024 after overcrowding trouble plagued the stadium's opening match where Warrington took on Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
on 21st February 2004, with Warrington winning 34-20. Nathan Wood
Nathan Wood
Nathan Wood is an Australian former professional rugby league player. Wood played in almost every position during his career, from fullback to second-row.-Playing career:...
had the honour of scoring the first try at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The match was a sell out and was not deemed safe, with many fans locked outside the stadium.
The stadium has already enjoyed several memorable moments, perhaps most notably Andrew Johns
Andrew Johns
Andrew Gary "Joey" Johns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. He was heralded as the world's best halfback for a number of years...
' debut for Warrington against Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
in a 33-16 victory on 10th September 2005.
During the Co-operative Championship grand final rugby league game between Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...
and Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
on 26 September 2010, a fire beneath the terraced West Stand broke out, forcing all of the fans housed in the stand to be evacuated onto the field, holding up the game for around 45 minutes. Following a safety inspection the spectators were eventually allowed back in. However, when the smell of smoke failed to disperse, there was a further hold up as the fans were moved to the East Stand. The game resumed with no further interruptions. The fire is being treated as arson.
On 3rd Match 2011, the club announced that the corners of the East Stand at the stadium will be filled in to create a further 2,000 spaces made up of seating and terracing, taking the stadium capacity to around 15,500. The work will take place over the summer of 2011 and be ready in time for the 2012 season. The club also have further plans to increase the stadium's capacity to around 18,000 should the need to do so arise.
Brian Bevan monuments
Brian Bevan
Brian Eyrl Bevan was a legendary rugby league winger who scored a world record 796 tries for Warrington RLFC...
, who played for Warrington RLFC 1948–62 (scoring 740 tries for the Wire), are featured at the stadium. One, a statue of him, had previously been placed in the middle of a roundabout (known as Brian Bevan island) close to Wolves' old Wilderspool ground. This was moved to the Halliwell Jones Stadium with the team. The other, a mural showing Bevan's face made from 'Primrose and Blue' bricks, the traditional Warrington colours was created specifically for the location.
Stadium trivia
·Halliwell Jones, which holds the naming rights for the stadium, is a large BMW and MINI motor group owned by Phillip Jones - a successful businessman from the North West·The stadium is built on the former site of the Walkers of Warrington brewery.
·The stadium was used in July 2010 to film the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
comedy drama Candy Cabs
Candy Cabs
Candy Cabs is a comedy drama series shown on BBC One in April 2011. The plot revolves around a group of friends who set up a female-only taxi company in a seaside town in Northern England...
, when it was made to look like a football stadium for the wedding of one of the football team's players.
·Halliwell Jones Stadium is also home to the Warrington Conference Centre.
Events at the Halliwell Jones Stadium
Rugby LeagueRugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
- Super LeagueSuper LeagueSuper League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
– Warrington WolvesWarrington WolvesWarrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
National League
Rugby League National Leagues
The Championship, known as Co-operative Championship due to sponsorship by The Co-operative Group, is a professional rugby league competition based in the United Kingdom. It is currently contested by ten teams from England. It acts as Europe's second-tier competition below the Super League, and has...
Grand Finals:
- 2006 – Hull KRHull Kingston RoversHull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
v Widnes VikingsWidnes VikingsWidnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
, Sheffield EaglesSheffield EaglesSheffield Eagles RLFC are an English rugby league club based in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Their home games are played at Bramall Lane after leaving Don Valley Stadium in late 2009....
v Swinton LionsSwinton LionsSwinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:...
, Hemel StagsHemel StagsHemel Stags are a rugby league team based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire playing in the National Division of the Rugby League Conference.The club has played in a number of leagues over the years, from the London League, MASWARLA, National Conference League and the Alliance League...
v Bramley BuffaloesBramley BuffaloesBramley Buffaloes is a rugby league club from the Bramley area of West Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. Previously known simply as Bramley RLFC, the club is a famous name in rugby league, having existed prior to the formation of the Northern Union in 1895... - 2008 – Salford City RedsSalford City RedsSalford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
v Crusaders RL, Barrow RaidersBarrow RaidersBarrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria....
v Oldham RoughyedsOldham RoughyedsOldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
, Crusaders Colts v BramleyBramley BuffaloesBramley Buffaloes is a rugby league club from the Bramley area of West Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. Previously known simply as Bramley RLFC, the club is a famous name in rugby league, having existed prior to the formation of the Northern Union in 1895... - 2009 – Barrow RaidersBarrow RaidersBarrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria....
v Halifax RLFCHalifax RLFCHalifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
, Keighley CougarsKeighley CougarsKeighley Cougars are a professional rugby league club from Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. As of 2012 they will play in Co-operative Championship having won the Co-operative Championship 1 play off final 32-12 against Workington...
v Oldham RoughyedsOldham RoughyedsOldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
, Bramley BuffaloesBramley BuffaloesBramley Buffaloes is a rugby league club from the Bramley area of West Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. Previously known simply as Bramley RLFC, the club is a famous name in rugby league, having existed prior to the formation of the Northern Union in 1895...
v Huddersfield Underbank RangersHuddersfield Underbank RangersHuddersfield Underbank Rangers are a rugby league team based in Holmfirth near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They play in the National Division of the Rugby League Conference. The club also competes as Underbank Rangers in division 4 of the Pennine League. They also have an Underbank Rangers A... - 2010 – Featherstone RoversFeatherstone RoversFeatherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...
v Halifax RLFCHalifax RLFCHalifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
, York City KnightsYork City KnightsYork City Knights Rugby League Club is a British professional rugby league club hailing from York. They play at the Huntington Stadium, situated to the north of York city centre...
v Oldham RoughyedsOldham RoughyedsOldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
, Warrington WizardsWarrington WizardsWarrington Wizards are a British rugby league team. They play in the National Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:Warrington Woolston Rovers, a National Conference League team were invited to be founder members of the new National League Three, the 4th tier of British rugby league in...
v Huddersfield Underbank RangersHuddersfield Underbank RangersHuddersfield Underbank Rangers are a rugby league team based in Holmfirth near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They play in the National Division of the Rugby League Conference. The club also competes as Underbank Rangers in division 4 of the Pennine League. They also have an Underbank Rangers A... - 2011 - Featherstone RoversFeatherstone RoversFeatherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...
v Sheffield EaglesSheffield EaglesSheffield Eagles RLFC are an English rugby league club based in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Their home games are played at Bramall Lane after leaving Don Valley Stadium in late 2009....
, Workington TownWorkington TownWorkington Town is a professional rugby league club playing in Workington in West Cumbria. They play in the Championship 1. Their stadium is called Derwent Park, which they share with Workington Comets, a speedway team....
v Keighley CougarsKeighley CougarsKeighley Cougars are a professional rugby league club from Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. As of 2012 they will play in Co-operative Championship having won the Co-operative Championship 1 play off final 32-12 against Workington...
, Huddersfield Underbank RangersHuddersfield Underbank RangersHuddersfield Underbank Rangers are a rugby league team based in Holmfirth near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They play in the National Division of the Rugby League Conference. The club also competes as Underbank Rangers in division 4 of the Pennine League. They also have an Underbank Rangers A...
v Kippax KnightsKippax KnightsKippax Knights are a rugby league team based in Kippax, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the Rugby League Conference National Division.Kippax Knights play at the Long Dyke Lane ground also used by Pennine League club Kippax Welfare.-History:...
Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
Semi Finals:
- 2004 – St Helens v HuddersfieldHuddersfield GiantsHuddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
- 2007 – WiganWigan WarriorsWigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
v Catalans DragonsCatalans DragonsThe Catalans Dragons are a French professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales. They currently play in the Super League, and are the only team in the competition from outside of the United Kingdom... - 2009 – St Helens v HuddersfieldHuddersfield GiantsHuddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
- 2011 - WiganWigan WarriorsWigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
v St Helens
Four Nations
Rugby League International Federation
The Rugby League International Federation is the world governing body of rugby league football. It was formed in 1998 in Sydney, Australia. Its purpose is to, "foster, develop, extend, govern and administer the game of Rugby League throughout the world". Its headquarters are in Sydney, Australia,...
:
- 2011 - New Zealand v Australia
Internationals
Rugby League International Federation
The Rugby League International Federation is the world governing body of rugby league football. It was formed in 1998 in Sydney, Australia. Its purpose is to, "foster, develop, extend, govern and administer the game of Rugby League throughout the world". Its headquarters are in Sydney, Australia,...
:
- 2007 – Northern Union v All Golds Centenary International
Football
- Liverpool Reserves
- Women's 2005 Euro Championship2005 UEFA Women's ChampionshipThe 2005 UEFA Women's Championship, also referred to as WOMEN'S EURO 2005 , was a football tournament for women held from 5 June to 19 June 2005 in Lancashire, England. The UEFA Women's Championship is a regular tournament involving European national teams from countries affiliated to UEFA, the...
Music events
- Autumn Pops Concert with Three Sporting Tenors
TV Events
- Candy CabsCandy CabsCandy Cabs is a comedy drama series shown on BBC One in April 2011. The plot revolves around a group of friends who set up a female-only taxi company in a seaside town in Northern England...
– Filming at the Stadium during July 2010. The series aired in April 2011 on BBC OneBBC OneBBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
.