Over the next three weeks we will be bringing you a new feature to the website which will eventually sit on its own page called ‘All-time Stats’.
In this first week we’ll be looking at the players who have made the most league appearances for Preston Grasshoppers 1st XV since records began back in 1987. It should be noted that there are players such as Roy Dransfield, Graham Cox and Keith Brierley from prior to 1987 who will have made more appearances than those featured here. Unfortunately the club only has accurate statistics from 1987 onwards.
Dave Chadwick sits top of the table with 229 appearances with 94 made from the replacements bench. Russell Flynn holds the record for the most starts with 191 to his name. In terms of longevity current Chairman of Rugby, Michael ‘Bill’ Bailey, edges it with 188 appearances made across 16 seasons.
Next week we’ll be bringing you the records for the leading league points scorers in a Hoppers shirt followed by the leading try scorers the week after. Can you guess who’s top in each category?
Thank you to club historian and archivist Mike ‘Digger’ Forshaw for his hard work in putting these statistics together.
Name | Career Period | Seasons Played | League Appearances | |
1 | DAVE CHADWICK | 1995/96-2010/11 | 15 | 229 (including 94 as replacement) |
2 | RUSSELL FLYNN | 1999/00 – 2011/12 | 13 | 218 (including 27 as replacement) |
3 | RICHARD MORTON | 2002/03 – 2014/15 | 13 | 199 (including 41 as replacement) |
4 | JOHN CHESWORTH | 1990/91 – 2002/03 | 13 | 195 (including 10 as replacement) |
5 | MICHAEL BAILEY | 1988/89 – 2003/04 | 16 | 188 (including 11 as replacement) |
6 | WAYNE STEEL | 2004/05 – 2012/13 | 9 | 186 (including 8 as replacement) |
7 | RICHIE SANDS | 2004/05 – 2012/13 | 8 | 175 (including 20 as replacement) |
8= | NEIL ASHTON | 1991/92 – 2003/04 | 11 | 171 (including 3 as replacement) |
8= | PAUL BAILEY | 2000/01 – 2007/08 | 8 | 171 (including 4 as replacement) |
10 | GLYN DEWHURST | 1993/94 – 2009/10 | 8 | 161 (including 13 as replacement) |