Canal Street (Runcorn): Difference between revisions
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| ⚫ | ''Canal Street |
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| ⚫ | '''Canal Street''' was a sports stadium used by [[Runcorn RFC]] and later [[Runcorn F.C. Halton|Runcorn FC]], in Canal Street, [[Runcorn]], a [[town]] now within the borough of [[Halton (borough)|Halton]] in the [[ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]] of [[Cheshire]], England, and on the southern bank of the [[River Mersey]]. It was also used for other sports. |
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A comment found in an article written by David Sterry entitled Temperance in Victorian Halton, Runcorn and Widnes” and published by The Runcorn and District Historical Society which states “Rugby union was played at Canal Street until 1895, when Runcorn became one of the 22 northern teams to leave the Rugby Union to form a professional rugby league”“<ref>{{cite book|last=Sterry|first=David|title=Temperance in Victorian Halton, Runcorn and Widnes|publisher=The Runcorn and District Historical Society|url=http://www.runcornhistsoc.org.uk/temperance/temperance_merseymission.html}}</ref> |
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=== Association football === |
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| ⚫ | At this point the ground was purchased by a |
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=== Tragedy === |
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A first round FA Cup tie against [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]], attracted a larger crowd than expected (which should not have been the case given that Hull City were at that time in the second tier of English Football and had large home attendances and large away support - apparently over 1000 fans travelled from Humberside). The away supporters gathered in a central position and although the ground attendants tried to split them they resisted. The result was that in order to get a better view of a goalmouth incident and [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]]’s first goal the crowd surged forward and the perimeter wall collapsed. 40 to 50 spectators were trapped and 4 spectators and a police constable were injured – see You-tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8boFY1ihLo- The match was abandoned and replayed the following week at another local ground. |
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| ⚫ | The first owners of the Canal Street ground were [[Runcorn RFC]], a [[rugby union]] club formed sometime before 1886. In 1895 the club were one of the founders of the [[Rugby Football League|Northern Union]], which later became the Rugby League.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sterry|first=David|title=Temperance in Victorian Halton, Runcorn and Widnes|publisher=The Runcorn and District Historical Society|url=http://www.runcornhistsoc.org.uk/temperance/temperance_merseymission.html}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Later in the season, the roof blew off a stand in high winds, and the main stand was gutted by fire. |
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===Football=== |
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| ⚫ | At this point the ground was purchased by a R H Posnett, the owner of a local tannery company and was used by the [[Runcorn F.C. Halton#History|Highfield and Camden Tanneries Recreation Club]], who became known as Runcorn FC from 1918). The club continued to be run under the overall control of the tanneries until the football club became a limited company in 1953.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Runcorn FC/Runcorn FC Halton|url=http://www.runcornlinnetsfc.co.uk/page.asp?HistoryAFC}}</ref> |
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=== The end === |
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===Decline=== |
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A first round FA Cup tie against [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]], attracted a larger crowd than expected. A terrace wall collapsed following a Hull goal causing minor injuries to spectators.<ref>{{cite web |
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| url = https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/football/hull-city-runcorn-tragedy-remembered-2210926 |
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| title = How Hull City fans escaped tragedy with 'mini-Hillsborough' away to Runcorn |
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| last = Buckingham |
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| first = Phillip |
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| date = May 10, 2020 |
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| website = hulldailymail.co.uk |
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| publisher = Reach plc |
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| access-date = September 4, 2023 |
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| quote = }}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Later in the season, the roof blew off a stand in high winds, and the main stand was gutted by fire.<ref>{{cite web|last=Darlington|first=Chris|title=Gone But Not Forgotten: Memories of Canal Street|url=http://www.runcornandwidnesweeklynews.co.uk/runcorn-widnes-sport/other-sports/2008/12/11/canal-street-stories-are-brought-to-book-55368-22448524/}}</ref> |
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===Closure=== |
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| ⚫ | At the end of the 2000–01 season, the football club, struggling with large debts and dwindling attendances, sold the ground and moved to [[Halton Stadium]], home of [[Widnes Vikings]] Rugby League Club, where they stayed for several years before again struggling financially and ground sharing with [[Southport F.C.|Southport]] at [[Haig Avenue]] and [[Prescot Cables F.C.|Prescot Cables]] at [[Valerie Park]], before finally folding at the end of the 2005–06 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Runcorn FC|url=http://www.runcornlinnetsfc.co.uk/page.asp?historyafc}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | At the end of the |
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The ground itself, by now in a dilapidated and a dangerous condition, was sold to developers and is now a housing development, the Linnets Park housing estate |
The ground itself, by now in a dilapidated and a dangerous condition, was sold to developers and is now a housing development, the Linnets Park housing estate |
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== Note == |
== Note == |
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A brief scribbled note on an old programme mentions the name "Pavillions" as being the home of Runcorn RFC. This error is repeated in several books and websites. This ground is not related to Runcorn RFC or Canal Street. |
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It is in fact a recreation area on which sports are played and was used by Runcorn ARLFC, a junior team from the early 2000s, and who moved there from the start of the 2009-10 summer season (their 5th in the Summer Conference). It is on the Eastern end of Sandy Lane (between Western Point Expressway and Picow Farm Road), Runcorn. |
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Prior to that Runcorn ARLFC had played at various grounds including at Moore, and moved to Pavilions from the fields to the rear of [[The Heath School]], off Clifton Road, where they had played the previous season (2008–09). The club website became static during season 2009-10 and the club appeared to fold. |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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[[Runcorn RFC]]<br/ > |
[[Runcorn RFC]]<br/ > |
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[[Runcorn Highfield RLFC]]<br /> |
[[Runcorn Highfield RLFC]]<br /> |
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[[British rugby league system]]<br /> |
[[British rugby league system]]<br /> |
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[[1985–86 Rugby Football League season]] |
[[1985–86 Rugby Football League season]] |
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<br /> |
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== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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{{coord|53.342|N|2.7224|W|scale:5000|display=title}} |
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<!--- Categories ---> |
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[[Category:Articles created via the Article Wizard]]{{England-sport-stub}} |
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{{Category:Defunct rugby league venues}} |
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{{Category:Defunct association football venues}} |
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[[Category:Defunct football venues in England]] |
[[Category:Defunct football venues in England]] |
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[[Category:Rugby league stadiums in England]] |
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[[Category:Sport in Cheshire]] |
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[[Category:Runcorn]] |
[[Category:Runcorn]] |
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Revision as of 10:10, 4 September 2023
Canal Street was a sports stadium used by Runcorn RFC and later Runcorn FC, in Canal Street, Runcorn, a town now within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, and on the southern bank of the River Mersey. It was also used for other sports.
History
Rugby league
The first owners of the Canal Street ground were Runcorn RFC, a rugby union club formed sometime before 1886. In 1895 the club were one of the founders of the Northern Union, which later became the Rugby League.[1]
The club suffered badly during World War I and failed to return to the league after hostilities ended.
Football
At this point the ground was purchased by a R H Posnett, the owner of a local tannery company and was used by the Highfield and Camden Tanneries Recreation Club, who became known as Runcorn FC from 1918). The club continued to be run under the overall control of the tanneries until the football club became a limited company in 1953.[2]
Rugby league returns in ground share
Huyton Rugby League Club moved to Canal Street under a ground sharing agreement with the football club from 1984–85 to 1989–90, changing their name to Runcorn Highfield RLFC.
Decline
The football club had mixed success on the field, but in later years had problems with the ground, which by the 1990s was in need of major works. Disaster struck three times off the field during the 1993–94 season.
A first round FA Cup tie against Hull City, attracted a larger crowd than expected. A terrace wall collapsed following a Hull goal causing minor injuries to spectators.[3]
Later in the season, the roof blew off a stand in high winds, and the main stand was gutted by fire.[4]
With the club's precarious financial position, and the cost of rebuilding their Canal Street home, Runcorn suffered on the pitch, resulting in relegation, which was to be the start of a downhill spiral.
Closure
The last competitive game to be played at Canal Street was on 5 May 2001 and resulted in a defeat 2–1 by Gateshead. Runcorn player Liam Watson scored the club's final goal in this match.
At the end of the 2000–01 season, the football club, struggling with large debts and dwindling attendances, sold the ground and moved to Halton Stadium, home of Widnes Vikings Rugby League Club, where they stayed for several years before again struggling financially and ground sharing with Southport at Haig Avenue and Prescot Cables at Valerie Park, before finally folding at the end of the 2005–06 season.[5]
The ground itself, by now in a dilapidated and a dangerous condition, was sold to developers and is now a housing development, the Linnets Park housing estate
Note
A brief scribbled note on an old programme mentions the name "Pavillions" as being the home of Runcorn RFC. This error is repeated in several books and websites. This ground is not related to Runcorn RFC or Canal Street.
It is in fact a recreation area on which sports are played and was used by Runcorn ARLFC, a junior team from the early 2000s, and who moved there from the start of the 2009-10 summer season (their 5th in the Summer Conference). It is on the Eastern end of Sandy Lane (between Western Point Expressway and Picow Farm Road), Runcorn.
Prior to that Runcorn ARLFC had played at various grounds including at Moore, and moved to Pavilions from the fields to the rear of The Heath School, off Clifton Road, where they had played the previous season (2008–09). The club website became static during season 2009-10 and the club appeared to fold.
See also
Runcorn RFC
Runcorn Highfield RLFC
British rugby league system
1985–86 Rugby Football League season
References
- ^ Sterry, David. Temperance in Victorian Halton, Runcorn and Widnes. The Runcorn and District Historical Society.
- ^ "History of Runcorn FC/Runcorn FC Halton".
- ^ Buckingham, Phillip (10 May 2020). "How Hull City fans escaped tragedy with 'mini-Hillsborough' away to Runcorn". hulldailymail.co.uk. Reach plc. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ Darlington, Chris. "Gone But Not Forgotten: Memories of Canal Street".
- ^ "Runcorn FC".
53°20′31″N 2°43′21″W / 53.342°N 2.7224°W
External links
- History of Runcorn FC Runcorn Linnets
- Canal Street stories are brought to book Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News, 11 December 2008