Inside iconic rugby stadium destroyed by arson and eventually demolished still abandoned 20 YEARS after final match

IT was the year the first six was hit in Test cricket.

And on the other side of the world another piece of sporting history was also aiming to break new boundaries.

AlamyWilderspool Stadium first housed Warrington in 1898[/caption]

AlamyWarrington switched from Wilderspool to the Halliwell Jones Stadium in 2004[/caption]

Warrington RLFC moved into the Wilderspool Stadium in 1898.

And the venue became one of the finest in rugby league.

Seven rugby Tests were held at Wilderspool from 1953 to 2003, including two World Cup clashes – England’s 22-16 defeat of Wales in 1975 and New Zealand’s nail-biting 25-24 win over Tonga 20 years later.

But having survived a stand being destroyed by arson in 1982, the ground was finally demolished over the autumn of 2014, with Warrington moving to their current Halliwell Jones Stadium a decade later.

Now the iconic Wilderspool arena lies empty – amid plans for a very different future.

Latchford Rovers Rugby Club were its first inhabitants.

But Warrington switched there when houses were built on their previous ground.

That was 126 years ago – which, among many things, was also when Aussie Joe Darling smashed a six out of the Adelaide Oval against England Down Under.

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PA:Press AssociationWarrington bowed out in the most spectacular way possible, with a 52-12 Super League win over Wakefield in September 2003[/caption]

Before 1898, hitting the ball over the boundary only got you five runs, not six.

Back in the Northern Hemisphere, Warrington settled into Wilderspool on a 10-year lease.

And between the two World Wars it was modernised so effectively that it became one of the sport’s top venues.

The supporters’ club played a huge part in that – providing covered accommodation in 1925 and a scoreboard a year later.

The venue was requisitioned in the Second World War as a storage depot.

And as Britain slowly adjusted back to peace time, Warrington racked up their record crowd of 34,304 in the 1948-49 season.

Floodlights came in 1965 – and although fire hit the ground 17 years later, the Brian Bevan stand was built as a replacement.

Meanwhile, Warrington had become used to facing star-studded tourists in the shape of Australia and New Zealand – with 24 such matches from 1907 to 1994.

‘UNIQUE AND EMOTIONAL’

Time moves on, however, and early this century Warrington made plans to move on.

But what a send-off!

Needing victory to reach the Super League play-offs for the first time, they walloped Wakefield 52-12 in front of 9,261 fans.

Wolves’ coach Paul Cullen said at the time: “It was a performance that does justice to the great players that have honoured this club throughout its entire history.

“Today’s atmosphere was unique and went beyond anything we have witnessed before.  It was very emotional and personal and the players handled it well.”

Warrington switched to the Halliwell Jones Stadium the following year.

And in contrast Wilderspool has sat unused and unloved ever since.

However, it’s likely to be transformed later this decade – albeit into housing.

Warrington Council have approved plans for 160 homes on the 5.4-acre site.

The scheme includes 20% affordable housing.

Nothing like its previous life of course – but once again Wilderspool could take a prime role in the community.