Nick names

[Henson Park Old Firm]

We all know the nicknames used by clubs for instance Leeds Rhino's, Huddersfield Giants, Hull Sharks, Catalan Dragons and Bradford Bulls.

 

So my question is, dose anyone remember or know the nick names clubs were considering but never went with it and why, during the Super League transition?

[spanishknight]

Halifax - Blue Sox thought that was bad and so did their fans.

[Ackroman]

Funny I was thinking about this myself this morning but more about the nick names clubs used to have or still have even though they have a newer moniker.

Wire for example, or The Gallant Youths. Steam Pigs, etc

[Henson Park Old Firm]

6 minutes ago, Ackroman said:

Funny I was thinking about this myself this morning but more about the nick names clubs used to have or still have even though they have a newer moniker.

Wire for example, or The Gallant Youths. Steam Pigs, etc

Oldham Bears was a classic

[Harry Stottle]

9 minutes ago, Ackroman said:

Funny I was thinking about this myself this morning but more about the nick names clubs used to have or still have even though they have a newer moniker.

Wire for example, or The Gallant Youths. Steam Pigs, etc

Leigh, were locally known as "The Comics" presumably because inevitably the season would turn into a laughing stock?, I know this goes back a long way I am aware it was used in the 50's but I never learned the correct reason why.

Sits back awaiting the explanation from the useual suspects whenever Leigh is mentioned on these pages.

[sweaty craiq]

17 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Leigh, were locally known as "The Comics" presumably because inevitably the season would turn into a laughing stock?, I know this goes back a long way I am aware it was used in the 50's but I never learned the correct reason why.

Sits back awaiting the explanation from the useual suspects whenever Leigh is mentioned on these pages.

Much earlier than 50's, the name came from Leigh providing numerous comedians on the club circuit

[northamptoncougar]

I think the Steam Pigs is an excellent name, it could have had some brilliant marketing around it in today’s world 

[sentoffagain2]

  Widnes were known as The Chemics i remember one TV game when all other matches were frozen off they emptied drums of chemicals on the pitch to melt the ice.It did the trick the game was played but after quite a few of the players had skin problems through contact with it.I don't think they did it again.

[Whippet13]

As is well known, Huddersfield were known as Fartown, their fans still use it of course. Never heard them chant Barracudas though for some reason, even when I used to go to games at Arena 84 as a student in the late 80s.

Wigan were known as the Wasps for a period in the 19th century, in their RU days. Pre SL it was the Riversiders, rubbish name that I cant recall anyone using other than the supporters club. York were also Wasps of course until they became defunct and reformed as the Knights.

As soa2 says above, Widnes were the Chemics. I seem to recall a Wigan player (Adrian Shelford?) getting lime from the pitch markings at Naughton Park in his eyes and going half blind for a while.

 

 

[Live after death]

Cas were the Glassblowers but that hardly ever got used, only one glass factory in Cas but 3 in near by Knottingley and the modern glass mouldings were invented by the post master in Ferrybridge.

Fev Colliers, but more known as The Flat cappers, which was originally an insult/slurr but now reclaimed by the Fev fans. 

[PREPOSTEROUS]

Titans Trojans were just two of the alternatives to the god awful Wildcats. So glad the latter has been dropped. The original 'nickname' for the club pisses on all of the above. 

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

15 minutes ago, PREPOSTEROUS said:

Titans Trojans were just two of the alternatives to the god awful Wildcats. So glad the latter has been dropped. The original 'nickname' for the club pisses on all of the above. 

Never quite sure of the correct spelling for Wakefield's original and still well known nickname.  Dreadnoughts or Dreadnaughts but have also seen old photos with Dreadnowts on banners.

[BJW]

Fulham briefly had 'The Bears' in early/mid 80s for maybe half a season at time Chicago Bears/The Fridge were big name in NFL.

[PECETTO]

6 hours ago, Henson Park Old Firm said:

We all know the nicknames used by clubs for instance Leeds Rhino's, Huddersfield Giants, Hull Sharks, Catalan Dragons and Bradford Bulls.

 

So my question is, dose anyone remember or know the nick names clubs were considering but never went with it and why, during the Super League transition?

TO were toulouse spacers at the beginning of the 2000’s 

[Red Willow]

Salford reverted to their original name of Red Devils. I seem to recall the story was that SL didn't like the Devil icon or imagery.

[GreenAndGold]

17 hours ago, Red Willow said:

Salford reverted to their original name of Red Devils. I seem to recall the story was that SL didn't like the Devil icon or imagery.

I was glad to see this come back with Koukash iirc?
For what it’s worth Northern Suburbs RLFC in Brisbane has a really classy version of the Devils as their logo/badge.

[Old Frightful]

Happily, Hull FC seem to have reverted back to the "Airlie Birds", from listening to radio and tv commentaries. This nickname obviously stems from their home ground being the Boulevard from 1895 until 2003 which was situated down Airlie Street.

I always thought it would be nice for Rervers to adopt a nickname with a link to the lane that their ground is alongside.

[Wigan Riversider]

6 hours ago, Old Frightful said:

Happily, Hull FC seem to have reverted back to the "Airlie Birds", from listening to radio and tv commentaries. This nickname obviously stems from their home ground being the Boulevard from 1895 until 2003 which was situated down Airlie Street.

I always thought it would be nice for Rervers to adopt a nickname with a link to the lane that their ground is alongside.

Airlie Birds takes me back to Airlie Street (?), Kemble, Ah Kuoi, Leuluia, O'Hara, Sterling, Schofield, Crooks etc...

Wonderful memories.

My own team then played down by the Riverside...need I say more 

[bentleyman]

Think Halifax were thinking changing  to Halifax Bombers but not pc

[Clinton Baptiste]

13 hours ago, Old Frightful said:

Happily, Hull FC seem to have reverted back to the "Airlie Birds", from listening to radio and tv commentaries. This nickname obviously stems from their home ground being the Boulevard from 1895 until 2003 which was situated down Airlie Street.

I always thought it would be nice for Rervers to adopt a nickname with a link to the lane that their ground is alongside.

Perhaps Hull FC might want to revert back to the very popular Sharks nickname.Rumour has it that new signing Kane Evans thought he was signing for the Hull Fight Club

[Fevrover]

On 30/10/2021 at 16:14, Live after death said:

Cas were the Glassblowers but that hardly ever got used, only one glass factory in Cas but 3 in near by Knottingley and the modern glass mouldings were invented by the post master in Ferrybridge.

Fev Colliers, but more known as The Flat cappers, which was originally an insult/slurr but now reclaimed by the Fev fans. 

Tried Pirates but never really took off even though we had a Pirate mascot.

[Live after death]

6 hours ago, Fevrover said:

Tried Pirates but never really took off even though we had a Pirate mascot.

Thought the mascot thing was a “rover” rather than pirate 

[Scubby]

IIRC Huddersfield changed their name to Barracudas in the early 1980s and Fartown was renamed Arena 84 

[Phil]

15 hours ago, bentleyman said:

Think Halifax were thinking changing  to Halifax Bombers but not pc

Fax fans were asked to pick a name in the early super league era, irc they chose “bombers” by a fairly convincing margin.

Nigel Wood put the kibosh on that and came up with the awful “blue sox” name 

[oiseau]

Toulouse were The Spacers for a few years as they joined forces with another association. Happily they changed back to Olympique after seeing sense. Toulouse volley ball team is still called The Spacers.