We know that as far back as 1910 there was a club called Latchford Albion in Warrington. At that time, however, it was a football (soccer) team playing in the Warrington League and later in the North Cheshire League. That club ultimately disappeared but former pupils of Richard Fairclough School formed another football team.

 

In 1945 the club became a Rugby League club and called itself Latchford Albion. The club's colours were decided upon, claret and gold, as we have today.

 

In February 1945 the Works & Junior rugby competition began, promoted by Warrington & District Amateur Rugby League. Junior Rugby meant that a good number of the players had only just started to take up the game including Latchford. Each round was played over the next few weeks at Wilderspool, which had been deprived of the sport for so long due to the war.

 

On 14th April Latchford met A. Monk & Co in the final of the junior section. Poor weather conditions spoiled what would have been an excellent gate. Both teams played well and the draw, 5 points each, was a fair result. The teams agreed to hold the cup for 6 months each.

 

The following season Latchford competed in the Warrington Amateur Rugby Football League and finished in a respectable mid table position.

 

At that time their home games were played at Chester Road until they secured the facilities of the Black Bear Inn and moved to Victoria Park. Thanks to the Warrington Borough Council, the same pitch is used today, although a back-up pitch is used at Loushers Lane depending on weather conditions.

 

The club's headquarters were established at the Black Bear Inn and the team used to change into their playing kit in the barn at the back of the pub. Training has also been at Victoria Park with the use of Richard Fairclough School until its closure when they moved to Sir Thomas Boteler School.

 

Latchford Albion has become one of the best-known clubs in the amateur game. In 1949 the club won their first League title. In the 1950-51 season, while still playing in the Warrington Amateur League, the Albion made history as the first amateur side from the town to reach the first round proper of the Rugby League Challenge Cup. Latchford were drawn to play Leigh, one of the top professional sides.


In the 1953-54 season they became the first Warrington side to achieve the feat twice when they reached the first round again and were drawn against Wigan. Latchford put up a good show at Wilderspool in the first match but at Central Park they faded against a side packed with international players. However, it was a great feat of the Albion to score twenty points against a team like Wigan in the first match. They certainly did not let themselves, or their league, down.

 

The British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA) was formed in May 1973 and almost a year to the day after its formation Latchford Albion appeared in its first National Cup Final, losing narrowly to Leigh Miners Welfare.

Over the years the only trophy to have eluded Latchford Albion is the Lancashire Cup, although they have appeared in the final on several occasions.

 

We began our story winning a Cup Final at Wilderspool and it's fitting that in 2001 the Albion won another by beating Rylands in the Carlsberg-Tetley Cup.