Former Rochdale Hornets attend annual dinner for former rugby players in Warrington

Left to right- Back: Tommy Warburton (Oldham), ‘Big’ Jim Mills (Widnes, Bradford, North Sydney), John Warlow, Tony Pratt, Eric Banner (guest), Glyn Shaw (Widnes, Wigan, Warrington), Tony Gourley, Frank Hope, Bill Sheffield, Colin Tyrer (Leigh, Wigan), Mark Roberts (Warrington), Kel Coslett, Bob Welding, Alan Hodkinson, Paul Machen Front: John Stapleton, Joe Chamberlain, Willie Aspinall, Ken Tighe

Former rugby players from Rochdale Hornets attended an annual dinner by former Warrington players on Sunday (6 May).

Over 250 former players and guests from several clubs attended, including Rochdale, Bradford Fulham, Leigh, Oldham, St Helens, Swinton, Whitehaven, Widnes, and Wigan.

Former players in attendance from Rochdale were John Warlow (also Widnes and St Helens), Tony Pratt (also Swinton and Whitehaven), Tony Gourley (also Fulham), Frank Hope, Bill Sheffield, Kel Coslett (also St Helens), Bob Welding (also Oldham), Alan Hodkinson (also Wigan), Paul Machen (also Fulham), John Stapleton (also Swinton), Joe Chamberlain, Ken Tighe (also Swinton) and Willie Aspinall (also Warrington).

The whole afternoon was hosted by Malcolm Lord and the speaker was Adrian Morley, who spoke about his career in the UK and Australia.

Mr Pratt said: “During the course of the year Rochdale Hornets Ex-Players attend several of these dinners, this at Warrington is amongst the best.

“Adrian was superb, whilst there was an extra sting in the tale from comedian John Gillan who gave us all his rendition of Nesson Dorma which was excellent, and Rochdale’s own Malcolm Lord never fails to impress with his unique laid-back humour.”