GORTON STREET GAZETTE Eccles appear to have the edge in these early encounters- 22nd Nov 1947 Eccles 1stXV 7 v Old Aldwinians 1stXV 6, and 9th Oct 1948 - Eccles 1stXV 9 v Old Aldwinians 1stXV 5 was actually one of the first games played at our new Gorton St ground. The match report for that game reveals the pitches were originally orientated the other way around "Mayor won the toss and made use of a stiff breeze in attacking the Winton end" . Eccles v Old Aldwinians continued to be a regular fixture all the way through the 1950s but the continuity stopped in the 1960/61 Season. Eccles also has a long playing relationship with our 2XV visitors today from Altrincham Kersal RUFC. Kersal Rugby Football Club were formed in 1897, the same year Eccles Rugby Football Club were re-established following the great Northern Union upheaval of 1895. Kersal played in Prestwich until 1922, when they moved to Stretford, then Flixton and ultimately to their present ground at Stelfox Ave, Timperley in 1968 when they adopted ‘Altrincham’ into their name. There are numerous reports of Eccles v Kersal fixtures throughout the early 1900s, the earliest we’ve found is November 1909 Eccles 5 v Kersal 12 and November 1911 Eccles 4 - Kersal 1. The first game after WW1 recorded is October 1920 Eccles 3 v Kersal 3, played at Stott Lane Salford, with "Kersal kicking off towards the hospital" an indication of the position of the pitch. Committee minute book - 70 years ago 7th Jan 1952 - Club Treasurer Mr. Gilbody remarked that the marking out of the ground was deplorable and that we should be getting reported by the Union referees. It was agreed that members should make a greater effort to carry out the marking before the game. 14th Jan 1952 - Irwell Sports club is to be written to by the Secretary informing them, that as they intend to be a Rugby League club, we can have no dealings with them concerning the use of our ground. 21st Jan 1952- The Rugby Union instructional film is to be shown on Tues. 22nd Jan. An invitation to attend has been received from Old Salfordians. Sheila Thomas (with Chris Gaffey chipping in) // Eccles RFC Historian
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