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.
Swinton moved to Station Road when they were at their peak, having won all four major trophies the previous season, one of only three clubs 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, 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. er Ken Irvine crossed for 3 tries giving the British fans 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 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.
----
1960 Rugby League World Cup
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.
----
1970 Rugby League World Cup
Britain eliminated New Zealand from the tournament, cruising to victory with five tries to three.
----
List of Great Britain matches played at Station Road
DateResultCompetitionAttendance
6 November 1948 16–7 1948 Ashes series36,354
10 November 1951 20-19 1951 Great Britain vs New Zealand Test series29,938
8 November 1952 21–5 1952 Ashes series32,421
8 October 1955 25–6 1955 Great Britain vs New Zealand Test series21,937
15 December 1956 19–0 1956 Ashes series17,542
17 October 1959 14–22 1959 Ashes series35,224
4 November 1961 35–19 1961 Great Britain vs New Zealand Test series22,536
9 November 1963 12–50 1963 Ashes series30,843
23 January 1965 17–7 1965 Great Britain vs France Test9,959
25 September 1965 9–2 1965 Great Britain vs New Zealand Test series8,497
9 December 1967 3–11 1967 Ashes series13,615

Also seven England internationals were played at Station Road
DateResultCompetitionAttendance
4 January 1930 0–0 1929–30 Ashes series35,000
7 October 1933 4–0 1933 Ashes series34,000
16 December 1933 19–16 1933 Ashes series10,990
13 November 1937 13–3 1937 Ashes series31,724
8 November 1947 7–10 1947 Great Britain vs New Zealand Test series29,031
23 February 1946 16–6 1945–46 European Championship20,500
12 October 1946 10–13 1946–47 European Championship20,213

Station Road also saw Swinton playing various Australian international touring sides.
GameDateResultAttendanceNotes
130 November 1929 Swinton def Australasia 9–59,0001929–30 Kangaroo Tour
24 November 1933 Swinton def Australia 10–413,3411933–34 Kangaroo Tour
324 November 1937 Swinton def Australia 5–34,1131937–38 Kangaroo Tour
417 November 1948 Australia def Swinton 21–05,8491948–49 Kangaroo Tour
518 October 1952 Australia def Swinton 31–810,2691952–53 Kangaroo Tour
625 November 1959 Australia def Swinton 25–245,0211959–60 Kangaroo Tour
723 November 1963 Swinton drew with Australia 2–211,9471963–64 Kangaroo Tour
825 November 1967 Australia def Swinton 12–95,6401967–68 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.