Bit of both XIII

A brief look back through the archives and I’ve cobbled together a team compiled of players who represented both clubs over the past 40 years. I’m sure you’ll have your own opinions so if so let us know what kind of line-up you’d put together.

Steve Hampson

Joined Wigan in 1983 and was a fantasic fullback for Wigan. A important member of the Wigan team During his Wigan career, he made 296 starts (plus 8 subs bench appearances), scoring 55 tries, 48 conversions and 3 drop goals, a total of 319 points. Wigan reached the Challenge Cup Final eight times while Hampson was at the club, but he missed the first three Challenge Cup Finals (in 1984, 1985 and 1988) due to 

injury.

He played for Illawarra Steelers in 1989 and played along side another Salford and Wigan great Andy Gregory scoring one try. 

After leaving Wigan in 1993 he was part of the Salford side that ended Wigans unbeaten challenge cup run in 1996.

Known for his ability to jump high to catch high kicks this skill was practiced by training on Trampolines.

Phil Ford

Phil Ford was one of a famous rugby l He played Rugby League Wigan between 1984 and 1986 and scored 16 try's. He was a great try scorer and tough as nails too and finished his caeeed Salford scoring 50 tries between 1992 to 1995.

He won honours for Wales and Great Britain. He was a member of the Great Britain team that won the third test in Australia in 1988.

Chris Hesketh

The centre made 452 Salford appearances scoring 128 tries for the club in an illustrious career of which he spent twelve years at Salford we signed him for £4000 from his hometown club of Wigan in June 1967.

Hesketh was part of the last Salford side to play at Wembley in the Challenge Cup final back in 1969l Hesketh helped the Red Devils win two Championship titles, a Lancashire Cup and a Floodlit Trophy.The iconic Red Devil didn’t just impress for Salford but on the international stage, also. He was a member of the Great Britain side that won the World Cup in France in 1972. However, his career highlight came in 1974 as he was named as captain of the 1974 Touring Side alongside a handful of fellow Salford players.

Chris Sadly passed away last week but he will always be remembered for being a rugby league great.

Ged Byrne

Ged signed for Salford in 1981, the utility back was a force for Salford during that time registering 84 tries during his 6 years at Salford. 

He joined Wigan in 1987 and recorded, league title, challenge cup and World club challenge victories up until 1990.

Martin Offiah

The legendary wingman had electric pace, He scored 501 tries during his rugby league career, making him the third-highest try scorer of all time. A outstanding player for Wigan  and a key part of their success in the 1990s best remembered for in a Salford shirt for beating a young Brian Carney over 100m at the willows to score a try and scoring his 500th try away at London.

Steve Blakeley

Steve was nicknamed the king during his time at Salford, he had it all as a standoff. Signed from Wigan He went on to be 3rd highest points scorer in Salford history A accurate goal kicker with pace and a amazing step.

Andy Gregory had a trial at salford and played as A trialist in a A team game. Unfortunately Salfords loss was Widnes's gain. Andy went on to have a amazing career with Wigan, Warrington and Leeds in England and finished his Career at Salford.

He coached Salford to great success with successive 2nd division championship wins, ending Wigans challenge cup unbeaten run in 1996, a mid table finish in 1997  a semi final challenge cup appearance in 1998.

He left Salford in 1999 but will be remembered as one of Salfords best coaches.

Andy Coley

Andy Coley was a classy forward, deceptively quick and powerful he was the star of Salfords pack from the point he signed from Swinton.

He spent 6 years at Salford, playing for England who he scored a hatrick for against Russia and Lancashire.

He signed for Wigan in 2008 fans were not happy but he was rewarded when Wigan beat Leeds in the challenge cup final in 2011.

Wayne Godwin

Wayne Godwin is one of Rugby leagues great characters, he played for Wigan in 2005 for a couple of years where he became a England A international he had two spells at Salford the 1st from 2011 to 2013 where he scored 6 tries in 52 games.

He had a 3 game spell on loan in 2015 

Terry O’Connor

Current Sky Sports presenter Terry Started his his career at Salford in 1991.  A strong running prop showed plenty of potential he chose Salford as his childhood hero Steve O'Neill was part of the coaching team, along with Kevin Tamati . He was awarded Salford's young player of the year in 1991. He played in the Regal Trophy quarter-final against Wigan and was awarded the MOM he  sighed for Wigan in 1994. 

He spent the next 10 years at Wigan as the main stay of Their pack gaining international honours.

Harrison Hansen

Harrison Hanson is a local lad turned good, following in his Dads footsteps to wear the Salford shirt with pride and captain the club. He started at Wigan During his time with Wigan, he won two Super league grand finals  and two Challenge cups.

Gareth Hock

Gareth Hock played of Wigan for 10 years and was a amazing talent. A England international which could have achieved much more. He signed for Salford 2014 and showed glimpses of class. Unfortunately discipline and loss of form and injury Gaz Moved on to Leigh 

Bobbie Goulding

Bobby Goulding was a incredible talent he started his career at Wigan in 1988 scoring 11 tries and kicking 33 kicks and Winning a challenge cup.

At the back end of Bobbie Gouldings career he signed for Salford in the 2001 season modeling the 1+6 shirt. His Salford highlight were a man of the match performance against Castleford single handily securing their 1st win there in a long time in 2001.

A few other “characters” that have put on both the red of Salford and the Cherry and white of Wigan:

Mal Aspey, Phil Ford, David Stephenson, Colin Whitfield, Iafeat Palea’aesina, David Hodgson, Martin Gleeson, Scott Naylor. Nathan McAvoy, Steve O’Neill, Wayne Reid, Martin Foy, Jeff Clare, John Gilfillan, Martin Crompton, Andy Platt, Luke Robinon, Dominic Manfredi, Darrell Goulding, Jack Murphy, Scott Taylor, Matty Smith, Oliver Gildart, Lee Jewitt, Jordan James, Ged Stazicker, Sam Panama, Neil Baynes