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The Willows, Salford facts for kids

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The Willows
The Willows 2001.jpg
Full name The Willows
Location Willows Road, Weaste, Salford
M5 5FQ
Coordinates 53°29′11″N 2°18′34″W / 53.48639°N 2.30944°W / 53.48639; -2.30944
Owner Iain Watson
Capacity 11,363 with 2,500 seats
Record attendance 26,470 vs Warrington (Challenge Cup), 13 February 1937
Surface Grass
Scoreboard Electronic
Construction
Built 1900
Opened 1901
Renovated 1966, 1971, 1975, 1989
Closed 2011
Demolished 2012
Tenants
Salford RLFC (1901–2011)
Salford United (1906–1936)
Swinton RLFC (2011)

The Willows was a rugby league stadium in Weaste, Salford, England. It had a final capacity of 11,363 with 2,500 seats.

History

In 1900, Salford agreed a 14-year lease on 5 acres (20,000 m2) of land belonging to the Willows Estate Company, named after the abundance of willow trees in the area. They made their debut at the Willows on 21 December 1901, beating Swinton 2–0 in front of 16,981 fans.

In the 1960s, the terrace was flattened at the Willows Road end to make way for the Salford Football and Social Club which was officially opened on 16 June 1966.

The Willows switched on its floodlights for the first time in the match with Widnes on Friday 11 March 1966. On 26 November 1989, Salford unveiled a new £50,000 electronic scoreboard above the Willows Variety Centre.

Salford City Reds moved to the Salford City Stadium in Barton-upon-Irwell at the start of the 2012 season. The last match at the Willows saw them lose to the Catalans Dragons 18–44 in front of 10,146 fans, a record for a Salford City Reds home match in the Super League.

Redevelopment

In 2013, a proposal to redevelop the site for housing was put forward by City West Housing Trust.

Rugby League Test matches

List of international rugby league matches played at The Willows.

Game# Date Result Attendance Notes
1 14 January 1922 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain def. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia 6–0 22,000 1921–22 Ashes series
2 27 January 1932 Flag of England.svg England def. Flag of Wales (1959–present).svg Wales 19–2 8,000
3 7 November 1968 Flag of Wales (1959–present).svg Wales def. Flag of England.svg England 24–17 6,002
4 23 October 1969 Flag of Wales (1959–present).svg Wales def. Flag of France.svg France 8–2 6,189 1969–70 European Rugby League Championship
5 25 September 1971 Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand def. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain 25–24 8,083 1971 Great Britain vs New Zealand series
6 25 January 1975 Flag of England.svg England def. Flag of Wales (1959–present).svg Wales 12–8 8,494 1975 European Rugby League Championship
7 6 November 1975 Flag of Wales (1959–present).svg Wales def. Flag of France.svg France 23–2 2,247 1975 Rugby League World Cup

Rugby League Tour Matches

The Willows also saw Salford and the county team Lancashire play host to various international touring teams from 1908 to 1978.

The Willows, Salford
Pre-match warm ups viewed from the North Stand for Salford and the Leeds Rhinos in 2001 at the Willows
The Willows North Stand - geograph.org.uk - 43344
The North Stand in 2005
Game Date Result Attendance Notes
1 28 December 1907 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg New Zealand def. Redscolours.svg Salford 9–2 12,000 1907–08 All Golds tour
2 17 October 1908 Redscolours.svg Salford drew with Australian colours.svg Australia 9–9 6,100 1908–09 Kangaroo Tour
3 30 December 1911 Australian colours.svg Australasia def. Redscolours.svg Salford 6–3 4,000 1911–12 Kangaroo Tour
4 29 October 1921 Australian colours.svg Australasia def. Redscolours.svg Salford 48–3 9,000 1921–22 Kangaroo Tour
5 3 November 1926 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg New Zealand def. Redscolours.svg Salford 18–10 3,500 1926–27 New Zealand Kiwis tour
6 11 January 1930 Australian colours.svg Australasia def. Redscolours.svg Salford 21–5 8,000 1929–30 Kangaroo Tour
7 21 October 1933 Redscolours.svg Salford def. Australian colours.svg Australia 16–9 15,761 1933–34 Kangaroo Tour
8 30 October 1937 Redscolours.svg Salford def. Australian colours.svg Australia 11–8 12,000 1937–38 Kangaroo Tour
9 30 October 1948 Australian colours.svg Australia def. Redscolours.svg Salford 13–2 16,627 1948–49 Kangaroo Tour
10 26 September 1959 Australian colours.svg Australia def. Redscolours.svg Salford 22–20 11,008 1959–60 Kangaroo Tour
11 11 October 1967 Australian colours.svg Australia def. Lancashire Lancashire 16–7 9,369 1967–68 Kangaroo Tour
12 30 September 1973 Australian colours.svg Australia def. Redscolours.svg Salford 15–12 11,064 1973 Kangaroo Tour
13 10 October 1975 Australian colours.svg Australia def. Redscolours.svg Salford 44–6 5,357 1975 Australian Rugby League World Cup tour
14 14 November 1978 Australian colours.svg Australia def. Redscolours.svg Salford 14–2 6,155 1978 Kangaroo Tour
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