Town's first game ever

As a 15  year old lad I attended Town's first game around 20 August 1945 against the once famous Broughton Rangers.  I don't have an original programme, but I do have a photo copy. I wonder if any of my supporter friends, for a bit of fun name the Town team and the score?  

1 hour ago, old un said:

As a 15  year old lad I attended Town's first game around 20 August 1945 against the once famous Broughton Rangers.  I don't have an original programme, but I do have a photo copy. I wonder if any of my supporter friends, for a bit of fun name the Town team and the score?  

Score was 27-5 for town , can't give you the team tho

I thought that there may have been a bit more interest in this subject, however 1945 Town Team first game ever:       1.

It’s strange that a lot of places list Gus Risman as Town’s first coach but he didn’t join the club until 1946 and we played in 1945.

My understanding is that our first coach was in fact Ike’s uncle, a former pro player from Maryport called Fergie Southward, who was never “officially” given the job and so isn’t listed anywhere. But it explains how we seem to have gone a year without a coach at our inception.

• Sorry!   Town 27 Broughton Rangrs 5
• 1.  DIXON 
• 2.  ASKEW            3.   McGILVRAY       4.    RODGERS       5. Armstrong
• 6.  JEPSON           7.    IRVING capt.
• 8.   HAYTON. J      9.    BARKER            10.  PATTINSON
• 11.   CAVANAGH    12.   STUDHOLME
• 13.   HAYON. S
•         BLAIR Reserve   

Hi, I was always under the impression JJ McKeown played for Town in their first game and also played for Haven in their first game v Hull in Aug 1947.

On 02/02/2024 at 14:01, old un said:

As a 15  year old lad I attended Town's first game around 20 August 1945 against the once famous Broughton Rangers.  I don't have an original programme, but I do have a photo copy. I wonder if any of my supporter friends, for a bit of fun name the Town team and the score?  

Amazing, where was the game played. Was it Lonsdale park

 Town's first game was played on Borough Park. 

The first coach, or one of the first coaches I believe was an ex Swinton retired prop forward who had a pub on the Dearham,  lower cross roads corner.  I forget his name.  An early favourite player was retired full back from Maryport, was Tommy Hagan. I think ex

Warrington. Some others were Jock Carr, Hedley Rogers, Pop Shearman, Roy Carr, Kitty Stephenson.

Come on Keith Tomlinson, you have a better memory than me.

John McKeown's first game was with Town, but Gus Risman was settled in at full back so John went to Whitehaven.

6 hours ago, old un said:

John McKeown's first game was with Town, but Gus Risman was settled in at full back so John went to Whitehaven.

John McKeown played twice for Town in their first season (1945-46)......Both being on the left wing. Firstly versus St.Helens , away, on 22/12/45. Then v Barrow at home on 26/12/45, he scored a try in that match. Therefore both, and his only Town appearances, were actually before Gus Risman joined Town.

J.J. McKeown eventually joined Whitehaven in 1948, after two seasons with an amateur club.

Towns most regular fullbacks in their first season,1945-46, were Messrs.Holding and Inglesfield. Then Gus Risman came to Town the following season.