T'Other Side: Widnes Vikings

 

 Head Coach: Allan Coleman

Allan Coleman took over as head coach at Widnes at the end of 2023 following on from Neil Belshaw who had been acting in a caretaker capacity since John Kear was sacked in June.

Allan Coleman joined Swinton as assistant coach in 2019 having previously coached Leigh Miners Rangers in the3 National Conference League and the English Community Lions.

In July 2021 he was made caretaker head coach following the departure of Stuart Littler and, just a month later, was confirmed as head coach.

Last season he guided Swinton Lions to second place in League One and promotion to the Championship after beating Doncaster 16-10 in the play-off final.

We have no record of Allan Coleman having played in the professional ranks.

 

Captain: Jack Owens

 

Jack Owens made his professional début with Widnes in 2011. In 2015 he played one game for Whitehaven on dual reg and then he joined St. Helens in 2016 playing 28 games in his first year.

After a few games for Saints at the beginning of 2017 he went on loan to Sheffield Eagles in May and signed for them in late July (in order to be able to play for them in the Championship Shield). He spent 2018 at Leigh and returned to Widnes in 2019.

In 2011 he played for the England Academy.

He usually plays at fullback but he has also played on the wing and as a halfback. In 2013 he played four games for Workington on dual reg.

Whilst at St. Helens he played two games for the England U18 team.

Loans and Dual Registration

 

2024 has seen a huge number of players moving on loan which makes us doubt that all our data is accurate. According to our best knowledge, Widnes currently have the following 4 players on loan:- from St. Helens, Brett Bailey (forward), from Leigh Leopards, Keenan Brand (centre), Louis Brogan (loose forward) and Tom Nisbet (centre).

They have dual registration agreements with Warrington Wolves and North Wales Crusaders.

Warrington players who have played for Widnes this season are Zac Bardsley-Rowe (centre), Joe Bullock (prop), Lucas Green (prop), Tom Whitehead (loose forward) and Max Wood (loose forward).

Widnes player, Liam Bent (prop) has played for North Wales.

 

The Fev Connection

Widnes and Fev have been together in the professional ranks since 1921 but we have only found 29 players who have appeared for both clubs.

 

Danny Craven was a Widnes player all the way through from making his professional début in 2010 until the end of last season. He played a total of 188 games for them, scored 69 tries, kicked 43 goals and 6 drop goals for a total of 368 points. During his time at Widnes he had short loan spells with Workington (2013), Halifax and Whitehaven (2015) and then came to Fev on a season long loan in 2016 during he played 24 times, scored 8 tries, kicked 5 goals and 1 drop goal.

After his 14 seasons as a Widnes player, he has joined Oldham this year.

 

A hard, no nonsense, prop forward, Gareth Hock played for Wigan (2003-2009), Widnes (2013), Salford (2014-2015), Leigh (2015-2017 and 2019) and Fev (2018). At Widnes he played 18 games, scored 10 tries and kicked the only goal of his career. For Fev he played 20 times and scored 5 tries. He also played for England, Great Britain and England A.

 

Loz Wildbore mainly played as a fullback but occasionally played at stand-off. He began his career with Hull KR in 2004. In 2007 he joined Doncaster but in May of that year he transferred to Fev. Over two seasons he played 42 games, scored 13 tries and kicked 7 goals and 2 drop goals. He scored a hat trick for Fev at Keighley in 2007. Rovers signed Ian Hardman for 2009 and Loz moved on to Widnes where he played 14 games and scored 5 tries before being released in May whereupon he signed for Dewsbury and then, after a very short stay there finished the season at York. His career ended with three seasons playing for South Wales Scorpions (2010-2012).