West Park St Helens - 1950s - 1970s

1970s

Playing records were improving all the time, but notoriety was achieved by West Park's first trophy won at the Caldy Sevens in 1953 and, even more significantly, as runners-up at both the Birkenhead Park Sevens and Manchester Sevens tournaments. Season 1953/54 saw the first fifteen unbeaten throughout and in 1957/58 membership was opened to all instead of limitation to 'Old Boys of West Park School' and 'Invited Guests'. Although many players moved on to senior clubs to gain county and, in the case of Martin Regan, international honours, David Griffiths became the first serving West Park player to be selected for Lancashire.

As frequent tourists over the years, West Park's inaugural trip was to Éire where they gained victory in the Kildare Sevens tournament. Enjoying frequent success in Sevens during the next few years enhanced the club reputation.

The appointment of Don Gullick as team coach in 1968 was another significant development in the club's fortunes, as players of that era will testify. Gullick's imaginative approach was very much in keeping with West Park's natural style of play. In 1962, the first Colts team was formed and this proved to be a useful source of players to supplement the regular intake from West Park School, which was to cease in years to come with the school closure. Although the Colts have figured intermittently over the years, in recent seasons Neil Ashurst, Martin Strett and Sean Fletcher all gained international honours at this age group. Veteran Fifteens took to the field for several seasons as membership expanded and, more recently, a vigorous and highly successful Junior Section was formed for age groups from under-9s up to under-16s, plus a Youth Section including both Junior and Senior Colts teams.