NORTH STAND RE-NAMED IN HONOUR OF PAT PRICE

[josie andrews]

Widnes Vikings are proud to announce that the Halton Stadium’s North Stand has been officially renamed in honour of the Club’s greatest ever supporter, Pat Price. This will officially be launched at tomorrow’s derby home fixture against Warrington Wolves (kick off, 8pm).

The stand now proudly bears the name of Pat Price, along with the phrase ‘Widnes ‘Til I Die’ – a sentiment that the life-long Widnes Vikings supporter truly represented. Pat is memorialised in two iconic photographs, showing her warmly welcoming young supporters in the stand, as well as taking to the field at the 2013 Grand Final at Old Trafford, where she was named the Vikings’ Brut Fan of Pride.

To mark the occasion, members of Pat’s family have been invited to lead Widnes Vikings out onto the field in tomorrow’s huge fixture. There will also be a tribute and minute’s applause at 7.50pm, with supporters being advised to be in the stands early to support this celebration of her life.

Pat had been a life-long supporter of Widnes, cheering the Club on from the 1950s until the time of her passing in 2014. She became an iconic and beloved figure amongst both Widnes Vikings supporters and the wider Rugby League community, for her passion for the Club and the game.

Pat made her first trip to Naughton Park as a young girl, and immediately fell in love with the team that became a major part of her life. She went on dedicate herself to supporting her Club in any way that she could – from making breakfast for the players to selling the matchday programme, arranging coaches to away games to planning tours to Australia.

Incredibly, Pat missed only two games during her life as a supporter, when she struggled with a knee injury. She was there in the glorious era of the Cup Kings and was unwavering in her support through challenging times for the Club too.
Pat followed Widnes to Wembley no less that nine times, with her own personal highlight being Widnes’ win over Hull KR in the 1963-4 season, after a long wait for silverware. Naturally, Widnes’ famous 1989 World Club Challenge victory over Canberra Raiders came a close second.

The affection felt for Pat amongst the Vikings supporters cannot be understated, with chants of ‘Pat Price is a Legend’ often ringing out during games. In her time, she was the Brut Fan of Pride, graced the cover of the Vikings matchday programme, and was captured in several famous photographs passionately cheering on her team – she was a true icon of the game.

When she passed away in 2014, there was an outpouring of affection for her from across the town – with the Stadium filling with flowers, flags, scarves and jerseys. Players, coaches and supporters all shared their sense of loss, with tributes coming from across the world of Rugby League.

Fittingly, the Vikings took on local rivals Warrington Wolves in their first game after her passing, in a fixture that they won. Supporters of both teams cheered her name and stood for a minute’s applause – a reception deserved of a legend of the game. Pat will surely have the same passionate response

James Rule, CEO of Widnes Vikings, says: “We are very proud to officially rename the North Stand to The Pat Price Stand, a fitting tribute to someone who was the lifeblood of this Club. Everyone who met Pat has fond memories of her. I remember her as being a passionate advocate for her hometown and team, who lived and breathed the Vikings.

By naming the stand after Pat, we will cherish and preserve the memory of someone who represents the best of this Club. We will never forget what she meant to the Vikings, and what the Vikings meant to her. I am delighted that members of Pat’s family can join us at the derby game against Warrington Wolves, leading the team out onto the field. I hope that they enjoy this moment and feel rightly proud of this tribute.”

The original ‘Pat Price Stand’ banner, generously donated by supporters, will now be proudly displayed within the Pat Price Stand Concourse.



http://www.widnesvikings.co.uk/article/ ... -in-honour