B.S. V .S.C. SCRAPBOOK B.S. V .S.C. RUGBY LEAGUE RUGBY LEAGUE RL RL RUGBY LEAGUE B.S. V .S.C. ROAD RUNNERS ROAD RUNNERS RR RR ROAD RUNNERS B.S. V .S.C. BROCKET VISITORS KIWI'S PILGRIMAGE KIWI KIWI KIWI'S PILGRIMAGE B.S. V .S.C. TOUR OF OZ TOUR OF OZ OZ OZ TOUR OF OZ B.S. V .S.C. BEER WALK BEER WALK BEER BW BW BEER WALK BEER B.S. V .S.C. SCRAPBOOK B.S. V .S.C. RUGBY LEAGUE RUGBY LEAGUE RL RL RUGBY LEAGUE B.S. V .S.C. ROAD RUNNERS ROAD RUNNERS RR RR ROAD RUNNERS B.S. V .S.C. BROCKET VISITORS KIWI'S PILGRIMAGE KIWI KIWI KIWI'S PILGRIMAGE B.S. V .S.C. TOUR OF OZ TOUR OF OZ OZ OZ TOUR OF OZ B.S. V .S.C. BEER WALK BEER WALK BEER BW BW BEER WALK BEER

In 1985 someone at the bar of The Brocket Arms Hotel in Wigan suggested forming a rugby league team to play a match against another local hostelry. As ideas like this have a certain appeal around 10.30 p.m. a number of people immediately offered to take part and The Brocket Rugby League Club was born. A practice match was arranged and an impressive turnout of thirty meant there was more than enough for two full teams, a rugby league team having thirteen players. The calibre of player ranged from novice to ex-professional and ages from 17 to 40. All played enthusiastically, some with more enthusiasm than their bodies were used to, and it was decided that anybody who wished to play in the actual match would have a run out. The landlord of the other pub readily agreed to this but was reluctant to set a date. The Brocket team was naturally disappointed and whilst some trained on others lost interest or went to more organised clubs leaving a core of 10 players some of very little experience. When, some three months later, the match was actually played it was obvious why the opposing landlord had delayed. The only place where the score was close was the local infirmary where numbers were about even, on the field it was something of a rout with The Brocket running out easy winners. Having fulfilled it's purpose this should have been the end of the club but the opposition landlord wanted another chance. For the second meeting his team, though not top class, was full of well known local players. Fortunately The Brocket Management, Joe the barman, had not been idle and he also fielded three or four ringers. The match was much tighter than the previous encounter but in the end experience won the day. The Brocket players were still enthusiastic knowing that the opposition had just been too good and the core continued to train. Other matches were arranged against local clubs on a "friendly" basis and there was talk of arranging The Club on a formal footing and entering a league in the 1986/87 season. To this end some small fund raising functions were organised. Unfortunately no useful amounts were raised by these events but it did add another side to The Club which became The Brocket Rugby League and Social Club. During 1986 more rugby matches were played and some games of football (soccer) and in July 1986 another proposition was put to club members; Running The Cromwellian Half Marathon. Although this was not universally accepted as a good idea several players decided to take part along with other locals of The Brocket Arms. This event led to another name change. To enlarge the club and thus its social side by admitting the runners it was decided to change from The Brocket Rugby League and Social Club to The Brocket Sports and Social Club. The cause of the final name change also stemmed from this race. The Cromwellian Half Marathon started at 1pm. Sunday 17th August 1986. On Sundays in 1986 public houses in England closed at 2pm, and this was a problem for some of the more social minded members. Drinking pints of beer before the race did not seem a good idea so a compromise was reached. Instead of several only one pint would be consumed before the start. This was not the end for a few though and during the hour between the start of the race and closing time at 2pm some had only covered a distance of four and one half miles but had managed to call in three pubs and drink a pint in each. After another three races were run in the same manner it was decided that "social" had taken on a new meaning and so was born THE BROCKET SPORTS and VERY SOCIAL CLUB The various disciplines now encompassed by The Club led to its untimely decline as vying between the different sections meant that non could maintain regular fixtures or strong teams and again people left for more organised clubs or simply gave up. The swift decline in The Club's fortunes in 1987 coincided with the production of a T-shirt which proved to be extremely popular with members and non-members alike. Its unique design incorporating beer glasses, rugby ball and running shoes can now be found not only around Wigan but also in Germany, North America, Australia and New Zealand and the legend "ALE BEFORE HONOUR" neatly encapsulates the philosophy behind the club's foundation.