Orrell & District Quiz League

Delph Tavern,
Tontine,
Orrell,
Wigan
WN5 8UJ

Contact - madelineevans35@gmail.com

This is a new team, taking over from the original Delph team who have sadly had to retire from the league.

This extremely popular hostelry boasts a large comfortable Lounge, Dining Room and traditional Tap Room, the latter catering for the usual pub pursuits of Darts, Dominoes and Pool.

The bar serves Thwaites' cask Bitter together with three guests ales, Boddingtons, Poacher and Trophy keg Bitters, a choice of four Lagers, draught Guiness, draught Cider and an extensive array of bottled drinks. There is also a regular pub quiz every Wednesday evening, starting at 9.30pm.

Food times:
Mon. - Fri. 12.00 - 2.00pm
Saturday 2.00 - 8.00pm
Sunday 12.00 - 8.00pm

The original team entered Division Two in its formative year of 1987 as the Queens Arms Cavaliers. The pub was at that time and had for many, many years previously been known as the Queens Arms. There were, at this time, two teams based at the Queens, the other team being the original 1986 League Champions, a spot they filled again in 1987 before disbanding prior to 1991.

The Cavaliers team stayed in Division Two for three seasons before being relegated to Division Three at the end of 1989, for the 1992 season they changed their name to that of the re-christened Sandbrook Arms; eventually winning the Division Three title in 1994 after a play-off against the Eckersley Arms. The following season they gained promotion once again by winning Division Two and stayed in the top flight until being relegated at the close of the 1997 season, the following year they were spared the indignity of a second successive relegation by league reorganisation that saw the abolition of Division Three; the team since then has consolidated, become solid and performs consistently. The 2002 season brought the team further success when they finished as Runners-Up in the final of the Knockout Plate, narrowly beaten on this occasion by the Charnley Arms.

Over the years there have been many changes in the teams lineup until the current, settled team was arrived at, the present squad is made up of League Chairman Jim Lemin, a member of that Queens Arms team that won the first ever championship; Tom Evans, Gladys Lemin, Sylvia Fairbairn, Jane Hare, and Harry and Lynda Hilton. The close of the 2003 season saw the team repeat the previous seasons feat of finishing as runners-up in the League Knockout Plate competition. Whilst there were no team honours in 2004 for the team, Ged Shaw kept up the Sandbrook's profile by winning the League Knockout Pairs partnered by Jim Prendergast of the Owl Inn, Upholland. 2006 proved to be a traumatic period for this team as the Sandbrook unceremoniously closed on short notice part way through the season, fortunately the licensees of the Britannia Inn, Upholland came to the rescue allowing the team to play the remainder of their home matches there.

For 2007 the team returned to the re-opened Sandbrook and found themselves rewarded for their perseverance and sporting good humour when they were awarded the Ted Owen Memorial Rose Bowl as the leagues most sporting team. One week before the start of the 2008 season the team were forced by circumstances similar to those experienced in 2006 to seek an alternative base, this resulted in the move to their current home. The following year 2009 the Delph enjoyed their first success in six years when they finished as Runners-Up in Division Two. 2010 brought further success in competition when they emulated their 2003 achievement of finishing Runners-Up in the League Knockout Plate, this was added to with the awarding of the Ted Owen Memorial Rose Bowl when they were recognised as the most sporting team in the League for that season. A fine season of awards was completed by the winning of the Knockout Pairs Competition by team member Linda Hilton who partnered Mason Arms Ray Wesley to victory at the event held at Park Lane.

Long term captain and League Chairman Jim Lemin passed away at the end of 2016 and will be sorely missed.

Delph Tavern
Tontine
Orrell 
Wigan
WN5 8UJ

Contact:  Mike Unsworth 

Originally The Robin Hood, the team has moved to the Delph Tavern from Running Horses, and has also changed their name to reflect this.

As Robin Hood, they have been members of the League since 1987 when they took the place of one of the original founding teams called Miners Lamp, the latter having disbanded at the end of that first season. Two of that Miners Lamp team made the move to the Robin Hood and helped form the team that still competes today. Due to ill health, founder member and former Treasurer of the League, Arthur Penny, retired from playing in 2016.

The 'Robin' have, ever since their formation, been a fiercely competitive team. This can be attested to by the fact that they were League Champions no less than three times in the first five seasons since formation. Since then they have continued to add to their list of awards on a regular basis, whilst they have always remained at the more competitive end of the League's membership they have always stayed sociable.  

The close of the 2002 season saw the 'Robin' add to their long list of accomplishment when they finished as Runners-up to the Merrymen', who share the pub as their home base, in the Knockout Cup Final.  This final provided the most exciting climax any knockout competition has ever seen,  with the two teams level from the beginning to the end of the normal eight rounds, it took a further three tie-break rounds before the 'Robin' had to admit defeat. Whilst it may not have done the team members nerves any good it certainly provided enormous entertainment for the considerable group of spectators.  

As with all long serving teams the personnel has changed over the years, the present team consists of the long serving members Roy Atherton, Mike Unsworth; the team was joined for 2007 by Adrian Dance and Joe Keegan formerly of the now defunct St. James' S.C.  Mastermind champion Gary Grant also plays for the team in recent years.

The team's long list of achievements was supplemented in 2003 when Mike Unsworth partnered Mark Anders of Pimbo Pitmen to a notable success in the League Knockout Pairs, a competition that is becoming increasingly difficult to win.  The 2006 season saw the 'Robin' add to their impressive list of honours when they won the League Knockout Plate competition, this being their first success in competition for four seasons. 

On a much sadder note, the team lost one of its long-term members with the demise of Wendy Coulshed who succumbed to illness in early 2007, Wendy was much liked by everyone who knew her and will be sadly missed.  The 2007 season saw the team in the final of the Knockout Plate competition but they were unable to repeat the previous season's success, finishing as runners-up to The Britannia, this after having led the final through six of the eight rounds.