Widnes Vikings
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| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Widnes Vikings Rugby League Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | The Chemics The Vikings |
| Short name | Widnes Vikings |
| Website | widnesvikings.co.uk |
| Colours |
 White and Black |
| Founded | 1875 |
| Current details | |
| Ground(s) |
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| Chairman | Steve O'Connor |
| Coach | Denis Betts |
| Captain | Joe Mellor |
| Competition | Super League |
| 2016 season | 7th |
 Current season
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| Records | |
| Championships | 3 (1978, 1988, 1989) |
| Challenge Cups | 7 (1930, 1937, 1964, 1975, 1979, 1981, 1984) |
| World Club Challenges | 1 (1989) |
| Other honours | 22 |
| Most capped | 591 - Keith Elwell |
| Highest points scorer | 2,195 - Ray Dutton |
Widnes Vikings R.L.F.C. is an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire which currently plays in the Super League, the top tier of European rugby league. The club plays its home matches at the Select Security Stadium.
Founded as Widnes Football Club, they are one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895, making them one of the world's first rugby league teams. The club enjoyed a period of success in the 1970s, 80s and early 90s, and were frequently described as "Cup Kings" reaching the Challenge Cup final 7 times in 10 years between 1975 and 1984. In 1989, after winning their third Rugby League Championship, Widnes became the first official World Club Champions by beating the Australian champions Canberra Raiders 30-18 at Old Trafford.
Their traditional nickname is "The Chemics" after the main industry in Widnes, but the club also use their more modern nickname, "The Vikings". They have a strong local rivalry with Warrington Wolves, and matches between the two clubs are often prolific encounters
The Farnworth & Appleton Cricket Club was formed in 1871 and four years later the members decided to embrace the burgeoning football code. At their fourth annual evening party in the Drill Hall, Widnes, in November 1875, club Chairman Henry Lea "gave a short account of the club since it commenced about four years ago, and indicated that they had now started a football club in connexion (sic) with it, and hoped all would join". The first known game for the new Farnworth and Appleton FC was in Widnes in January 1876 played under rugby rules against Northwich Victoria. A few weeks later a return match was played at Drill Field, Northwich under soccer rules. Vics won both games. These are the only two known fixtures in that truncated first season.
By May 1876 the club had changed its name to Widnes FC and the cricket side of the organisation had disbanded, presumably to concentrate on football activities. By the late 1870s the club was being referred to as "The Chemicals"—subsequently shortened to 'The Chemics'.
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