The fifteen Wire heroes who brought home the Challenge Cup 50 years ago today

OUR resident Warrington Wolves historian and statistician ‘Stanski’ looks back at a memorable day in the club’s history that is half-a-century old today…

FIFTY years ago, these 15 heroes below won the Challenge Cup at Wembley, beating Featherstone Rovers 24-9.

Recently, the team was honoured at a packed-out Warrington Players' Association dinner when a number of the players were present, along with a live link to Dave Wright in Australia.

Derek Noonan's widow Alison accepted his entry into the Warrington Hall of Fame.

Warrington Challenge Cup team 1974

1 – Derek Whitehead

Played the most games (46) and kicked 162 goals that season. Kicked seven goals at Wembley including a sensational one from halfway. Winner of the Lance Todd Trophy.

Hall of Fame 2008

2 – Mike Philbin

Came back to playing rugby after a knee operation.

Joint second top try scorer, with 15. Scored a try in the Club Championship Final the following week.

3 – Derek Noonan

Scored two tries in the Players No6 Final against Rochdale and the decisive try against St Helens in the Club Championship Final.

Lancashire County player.

4 – Alan Whittle

Signed after a loan period from Barrow when Alex Murphy had got a serious facial injury.

Had "suffered" in being a non-playing sub at Wembley two years earlier when Saints had won the Cup.

Agonisingly tackled short of the tryline, with the ball coming loose for Kevin Ashcroft to pick up and score.

5 – John Bevan

British Lion and Wales RU star and a sensational signing that season from Cardiff RU.

The top try-scorer for the season with 22 who would become a crowd favourite and adopt his famous Bevan fist salute when scoring.

Toured with Great Britain at the end of the season.

Hall of Fame 2009

6 – Alex Murphy

A severe facial injury halfway through the season at Leeds jeopardises his career but he recovers to captain his third different team to Challenge Cup glory (previously St Helens and Leigh).

He scored the last points of his illustrious RL career with his second drop goal, and the last ever worth two points having had five pain-killing injections at half time!

Hall of Fame 2010

7 – Parry Gordon

Scored five tries in a match against Dewsbury – the most ever by a scrum half for the club.

His 15 tries that season was joint-second for the club, but he had to come off at half time at Wembley with a hip injury.

Lancashire County player. Hall of Fame 2006

8 – Dave Chisnall

Missed out on playing at Wembley with Leigh three years earlier when suspended.

He had been on the transfer list at £12,000 earlier in the season but patched up his differences to come good.

Hall of Fame 2009

9 – Kevin Ashcroft

As vice-captain, he had already lifted two trophies (the Captain Morgan & Players No6) earlier in the season.

The drop-goal king with 12 during the season, Ashcroft scored our first try at Wembley, picking up a loose ball close to the line to dive over.

Picked for the Great Britain tour to Australia. Hall of Fame 2010

10 – Brian Brady

This was his Testimonial season – he came off early in the game with a cut to the head but went back on later wearing a scrum cap.

A Lancashire County player who scored a vital try in the Club Championship Final the following week.

Hall of Fame 2012

11 – Dave Wright

Signed as the Queensland player of the year in 1973, Wright had an extended stay whilst Warrington were still in the cup.

And what a way to bow out, with his final game for Warrington being at Wembley!

12 – Mike Nicholas

The agony and ecstasy! He had a great game at Wembley – he fractured his jaw, scored the second try and was very nearly in line for man of the match, then with minutes to go suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament and missed out on a Tour place.

Hall of Fame 2014

13 – Barry Philbin

Signed from Swinton mid-season, he played in the Players No6 Trophy Final in only his second game.

In all his 16 games he played that season, Warrington won every one and he was the Harry Sunderland Trophy winner in the Club Championship Final win over St Helens.

Philbin was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year.

Subs

14 – Billy Pickup

The only Yorkshireman in the team, Pickup played in 46 of the 51 games in that season. A good player to have in the squad as cover.

15 – Bobby Wanbon

Wanbon had been sent off the week before Wembley but was cleared to play. He had had a storming game in the Captain Morgan Final.

Hall of Fame 2012.