Station Road, Swinton

Station Road was a stadium in Pendlebury, near Manchester, England. It was the home of Swinton Rugby League Club between 1929 and 1992 and was widely recognised as one of the finest grounds in the Rugby League.

Station Road

Australia perform their "war cry" before the 2nd Test, 9 November 1963
Full name	Station Road
Location	Station Road, Pendlebury
Coordinates	53.51504°N 2.3344°W / 53.51504; -2.3344
Owner	Swinton RLFC (1929–1992)
Capacity	60,000
Record attendance	44,621 - Warrington v Wigan, Challenge Cup Semi Final, 7 April 1951
Surface	Grass
Construction
Broke ground	1929
Built	1929
Opened	1929
Expanded	References
Closed	1992
Demolished	1992

Swinton moved to Station Road when they were at their peak, having won all four major trophies ("All Four Cups") the previous season, one of only three clubs (the others being Hunslet and Huddersfield) ever to do so. The decision to purchase the land, which stood alongside the railway line and Swinton railway station, was made after a breakdown in negotiations with their existing landlord at their Chorley Road ground, their home since 1887.

International venue

In its heyday it boasted a capacity of 60,000, although with a record attendance of 44,621 for Warrington v Wigan in the 1951 Challenge Cup semi-final this was never really tested. All in all 19 internationals (including 15 test matches), 5 Championship finals, 17 Lancashire County Cup finals, 4 Premiership finals and 30 Rugby League Challenge Cup semi-finals were played at the ground. In addition two World Cup matches were played at Station Road.

The biggest win in any international match at Station Road was when Australia defeated Great Britain by 50-12 in the second Ashes test during the 1963 Kangaroo tour. Played in front of 30,843 fans, the match became known as the "Swinton Massacre" as the Kangaroos ran riot. Winger Ken Irvine crossed for 3 tries giving the British fans (and his opposite, Lions winger Mick Sullivan) a taste of his legendary speed, while other stars for Australia were Reg Gasnier and Peter Dimond who crossed for 2 tries each, and Gasnier's Centre partner Graeme Langlands scored 2 tries and kicked 7 goals. After winning the first test 28-2 at Wembley, the victory saw Australia regain the Ashes they had lost to the Lions at home in 1962.

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1960 Rugby League World Cup

1 October 1960

Great Britain	33–7	France

Station Road, Swinton Attendance: 22,923 Referee: Edouard Martung

Britain's comprehensive victory over the French at Swinton was marred by the first double sending-off in World Cup annals, France's skipper Jean Barthe and Britain's second-rower Vince Karalius being despatched by Edouard Martung, a police inspector from Bordeaux.

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1970 Rugby League World Cup

31 October 1970

Great Britain	27–17	New Zealand

Station Road, Swinton Attendance: 5,609

Britain eliminated New Zealand from the tournament, cruising to victory with five tries to three.

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List of Great Britain matches played at Station Road

Date	Result	Competition	Attendance
6 November 1948	Great Britain 16–7 Australia	1948–49 Kangaroo tour	36,354
10 November 1951	Great Britain 20-19 New Zealand	1951 Great Britain vs New Zealand Test series	29,938
8 November 1952	Great Britain 21–5 Australia	1952–53 Kangaroo tour	32,421
8 October 1955	Great Britain 25–6 New Zealand	1955 Great Britain vs New Zealand Test series	21,937
15 December 1956	Great Britain 19–0 Australia	1956–57 Kangaroo tour	17,542
17 October 1959	Great Britain 14–22 Australia	1959–60 Kangaroo tour	35,224
4 November 1961	Great Britain 35–19 New Zealand	1961 Great Britain vs New Zealand Test series	22,536
9 November 1963	Great Britain 12–50 Australia	1963–64 Kangaroo tour	30,843
23 January 1965	Great Britain 17–7 France	1965 Great Britain vs France Test	9,959
25 September 1965	Great Britain 9–2 New Zealand	1965 Great Britain vs New Zealand Test series	8,497
9 December 1967	Great Britain 3–11 Australia	1967–68 Kangaroo tour	13,615

Also seven England internationals were played at Station Road

Date	Result	Competition	Attendance
4 January 1930	England 0–0 Australia	1929–30 Kangaroo tour	35,000
7 October 1933	England 4–0 Australia	1933–34 Kangaroo tour	34,000
16 December 1933	England 19–16 Australia	1933–34 Kangaroo tour	10,990
13 November 1937	England 13–3 Australia	1937–38 Kangaroo tour	31,724
8 November 1947	England 7–10 New Zealand	1947 Great Britain vs New Zealand Test series	29,031
23 February 1946	England 16–6 France	1945–46 European Championship	20,500
12 October 1946	England 10–13 Wales	1946–47 European Championship	20,213

Station Road also saw Swinton playing various Australian international touring sides.

Game	Date	Result	Attendance	Notes
1	30 November 1929	Swinton def Australia 9–5	9,000	1929–30 Kangaroo tour
2	4 November 1933	Swinton def Australia 10–4	13,341	1933–34 Kangaroo tour
3	24 November 1937	Swinton def Australia 5–3	4,113	1937–38 Kangaroo tour
4	17 November 1948	Australia def Swinton 21–0	5,849	1948–49 Kangaroo tour
5	18 October 1952	Australia def Swinton 31–8	10,269	1952–53 Kangaroo tour
6	25 November 1959	Australia def Swinton 25–24	5,021	1959–60 Kangaroo tour
7	23 November 1963	Swinton drew with Australia 2–2	11,947	1963–64 Kangaroo tour
8	25 November 1967	Australia def Swinton 12–9	5,640	1967–68 Kangaroo tour

Vandalism and closure

Fire damaged the disused Main Stand including offices and function rooms in July 1992, this was the last in a series of vandalism before the club moved out of Station Road. Station Road was sold at the end of the 1991–92 season by the club's directors to David McLean Homes for property development, part of the deal involved sponsoring the Lions in their first season post Station Road. The last match to be played at Station Road was a local derby versus Salford on 20 April 1992 with 3,487 witnessing Salford winning 26-18 and Ian Pickavance of Swinton scoring the last try. The site is now a housing estate.

External links

• Photos of Station Road