Spirit of '55

How Warrington Wolves Regained Their Bite

Rob Watson

• Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd
• eBook ISBN:
  9781909178588
• Year: 2013

In 2009, Warrington RLFC reached the nadir of their long-term, chronic underachievement, prompting one fan to write to the local newspaper questioning the players' commitment. He signed the letter 'Spirit of '55' - a reference to the year the club were last champions. Results began to improve dramatically, with back-to-back Challenge Cup wins followed by a League Leader's Shield - but still no championship. Spirit of '55 follows Warrington's quest to become champions in 2012, as seen through the eyes of their most passionate fan. But are the team cursed by the town's expectations, and the ghost of '55? Laced with terrace humour and tempered by the expert eye of a professional coach, the team's record of failure and the 'curse of hope' will strike a chord with all sports fans. The book builds to the climax of the play-offs where one team will achieve glory. But will it be Warrington?

Table of contents

• Cover
• Shattered Dreams
• The Secret
• Player Profiles
• Match Reports
• History of Rugby League
• Broken Sporting Curses - Boston Red Sox
• Match Reports
• Broken Sporting Curses - Manchester United
• Match Reports
• Fleeting Triumphs and Near Misses
• Broken Sporting Curses - Europe in Ryder Cup Golf
• Match Reports
• Broken Sporting Curses - Lancashire County Cricket Club
• Match Reports
• Life As A Wire Fan
• The Letter
• Sporting Curses Broken - Australia Win The 1983 America’s Cup
• Match Reports
• Lies, Damned Lies and
• Sporting Curses Broken - Spanish National Football Team
• Match Reports
• The Play-Offs
• Last Year’s Play-Offs
• Sporting Curses Broken - England Win Cricket’s Ashes in 2005
• This Year’s Play-Offs
• Match Reports
• The Last Chance
• Sporting Curses Broken - Leeds Rhinos Win The 2004 Grand Final
• The Final Curtain