Throughout our history, it’s safe to say that those in green have been our arch enemies.
But who else would you consider a geniune rival to Witton Albion? Has it ever been fierce with Winsford, Alty, Macc??
Which games did you older supporters look forward to in the NPL days in the 80s?
Not exactly rivalry but I always look out for Colchesters result and enjoy seeing them lose!
The Vix thing is a strange one becase we’ve only been n the same league for a few years out of the last 30 or so, NPL wise Macc and Hyde were probably the ones we had the most rivalry with (aside from one day in the 70s it was pretty healthy).
For a time winsford were a big rival, and I guess alty and macc at different times were, but there’s only one team to despise and that’s the slimy greens.
In my first season watching th’Albs, Colne Dynamoes were a rival for the title. But then they went bust, we picked up half a dozen or so of their best players, and that was that B)
In my second season watching the Albs, Fleetwood Town were a rival for the title. But then they won it, they picked up our two best players, and that was that! :S
Mossley always had a good side late 70’s early 80’s and runcorn aswell but always v**cs for me no matter what. Saying that all my mums side of the family were greens, thank god I listened to the old chap and decided to wear the red and white with all the wrights a big red and white family
[quote=“Andy Chad” post=48373]Not exactly rivalry but I always look out for Colchesters result and enjoy seeing them lose!
The Vix thing is a strange one becase we’ve only been n the same league for a few years out of the last 30 or so, NPL wise Macc and Hyde were probably the ones we had the most rivalry with (aside from one day in the 70s it was pretty healthy).[/quote]
Colchester is always one I too keep an eye on. One of the best away days I’ve been to, with their fan getting mauled by the police dog after he decided to invade the pitch and head towards our “enclosure”!
Local rivalries for me are of course the green slime and Alty is always a biggy.
Not so much these days but Alty was always a big derby day for me. Enjoyed many good days out against Macc and Winsford too. As for the slime I took an instant dislike to them as a youngster and it just got worse with age. Even just hearing the word V*cs still makes me feel unwell .sick
I worked with a Runcorn fan once who told me Witton were Runcorn’s biggest rivals and he had been brought up to hate us like we had been brought up to hate the shit. Never quite understood it myself, particularly as in my ‘formative years’ (80’s) Runcorn were always in a higher league than us. I suppose if you go back to the Cheshire League days…I certainly had no particular dislike for them even though they played in green. Good that we were able to help them out in fact when it all went wrong for them. I certainly won’t feel the same way if we choose to help the shit of the world out of their creek…
Had some good games against Rhyl, Bangor and Colwyn Bay in the 80’s too. I think the England/Wales thing always gave those games abit of edge. Remember not getting the warmest of receptions in north wales on a couple of occasions!
Just going back to the Runcorn thing now that I have been thinking about it…Was there some incident during a cup match when Witton scored but Runcorn claimed it went through the side netting so they all walked off the pitch? Might be going back to the 50’s but I have a vague memory of someone telling me this story. Maybe that’s why some Runcorn fans hate us…? Over the to club historians…
My Dad has told me the same story, so there must be some truth in it…
I heard about this from my Dad too - it was in the 50s, in the FA Cup, Witton were already winning 1-0 after about 20 mins when Joe Dale scored a controversial second. As you said, Runcorn claimed it went in through a hole in the net, and walked off. The game was abandoned, and subsequently awarded to Witton, possibly the first time this had ever happened in an FA Cup tie. My Dad reckoned that Witton were pleading with the referee to disallow the goal, because they were running rings round Runcorn!
On the subject of rivalries, I still think in terms of our Cheshire League days in the 60s, so it would be the games against fellow Cheshire teams, mainly Vics, Winsford, Runcorn, Alty and Macc.
From ‘Sons of Albion’:
November 1953, The Central Ground, FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round. Att: 5,097
Witton 2-0 Runcorn (Match Abandoned after 29 minutes)
"Witton were already 1-0 up when in the 29th minute, Joe Dale blasted one of his specials from the edge of the box. The visitors claimed the ball had gone through the side netting, but after consulting the linesman and checking the netting, the referee awarded the goal.
When the Runcorn players would not line-up for the kick-off, the game was abandoned. At a subsequent FA hearing, Witton were awarded the tie and Runcorn were fined £50 plus costs."
Albion faced Nelson in the First Round.