A CELEBRATION to say farewell to Pilkington Recs’ historic home saw a few ‘old heads’ roll back the years on Saturday afternoon.

Hundreds joined in the fun at City Road where a festival of rugby league brought down the curtain on sporting links with the ground that dates back to the late 19th century.

The amateurs will play their home games at Ruskin Drive from next season after their City Road base was destroyed by fire in June.

The celebration was to mark an end of era and allow the red, amber and blacks to give their ground a fitting send off. Landowners Pilkington Ltd has planning permission to develop houses there.

A series of games involving junior, youth and open aged players took place before a host of past players enjoyed a run out in a game played under the Rugby Football League’s masters’ rules.

Denis Litherland, the former Saints and Pilks winger, ex-first team skipper Craig Burrows, former centre Andy Traverse, and ex-coaches John Ledger and Eric Frodsham were among those who joined in.

Litherland, 52, said: “It was a great way to see off the old place and good to see some of the old players like Geoff (Jethro) Phillips down there.

“It was a sad day which marked a new beginning. In many ways we had been hanging on there for so long and the facilities were going downhill, so we look forward to our new home at Ruskin.”

The club sold more than 120 limited commemorative jerseys to mark the last games at City Road.

John Rees, club captain, who organised the event with A team assistant coach Paul Cresswell, added: “We made sure everyone left City Road with a few laughs and some good memories.

“The masters game was terrific and through the day we raised about £2,000 which will go some way to replacing the kit and equipment that went up in flames.

“DHL have agreed to match what we raised and so we’re really grateful for their generosity.”

Pilks Recs will host a sportsman’s dinner on Friday, August 19 to raise money for the club’s open age and junior teams, with Sky Sports rugby league pundit Barrie McDermott, the headline speaker.

Tickets are £30 per person for the evening that takes place at Ruskin Drive’s Percival Room and there are also a range of corporate packages.

To sponsor the event will cost £150, with a package including four tickets, a company name on the dinner programme and Pilkington Recs website.

A table sponsor will cost £250, which includes 10 tickets and a company name or logo, on the Recs website.

For tickets contact Billy Dillon on 07879 662940.