GORTON STREET GAZETTE newcomers showed distinct promise". The following Saturday the Eccles 1st XV played at home against Central Old Boys. Conditions were in favour of open play and the home side won by 29 points to 5 points. The Journal reported, "After a lapse of six years, Eccles commenced activities with a game versus Central O.B.”, Now that's what you call a break in play! Our visitors today, West Park St Helens RUFC, were formed in August 1947 at a meeting in the Black Bull pub. In 1948 Eccles RFC moved to Gorton Street and the first recorded match between the clubs appears to be in 1952 when the Eccles Captain was Harry Broomhead. The game at Eccles on 26th January 1951 was cancelled due to weather and West Park had the upper hand in the early encounters of 1st March 1952 West Park 21 v Eccles 5; 1st November, 1952 Eccles 5 v West Park 5. Which brings us neatly to today’s match. Our last league fixture at Gorton Street was on Saturday 4th March 2020 against Glossop. The outbreak of the Coronavirus brought the 2019-2020 season to an abrupt end and the following 2020-2021 season never materialised. Déjà vu. After a postponement of eighteen months, with fixtures now resumed for the 2021-2022 season, we are finally able to look forward to hosting regular competitive rugby once again. It’s been a long time, but thankfully not as long as that caused by the previous national crisis. Sheila Thomas, Eccles RFC historian & Chris Gaffey, Eccles RFC Chairman
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