Quote: Itchy Arsenal "I've been racking my memory on that three quarter line and for the life of me I couldn't remember all of them even though my owd feller went on about as if it was the greatest backline of all time. I remembered all of them except for Miller and if I'm honest I could have tried for days to try and recall the name but I wouldn't have so I'm grateful for your posting as I was trying to think of them prior to your post.
I know that there are other issues planned for the anniversary so I'd love it if they got Bilko to go through the history of the club extracting details/data on players long forgotten but who are in essence are the club. I don't know Bilko personally but I do know his historical knowledge of the club is legendary and when he commentates on Wigan TV I really enjoy his enthusiasm and professionalism.
My old feller was born in 1903 so I was brought up on tales of The Threequarter Line, Sullivan (the "one and only"icon_wink.gif, Johnny Ring, Alf Ellaby (his scoring exploits were ridiculous), Van Rooyen, Van Heerden (I think he was famous for never wearing a hat whilst not playing), Ring (so good I've listed him twice), Syd Abram, Martin Ryan (the first "modern" fullback), Ted Ward, Jack Hilton, Cec Mountford,Tommy Bradshaw (one of my old fellers particular favourite), Ken Gee (I believe his mam was harder than him and the Aussies were terrified of Ken!), Joe Egan, Billy Blan, Brian Nordgren, Jack Cunliffe, Eric Ashton, Billy Boston (the greatest ever winger), Mick Sullivan (he'd be permanently banned in today's game), Dave Bolton (one of the fastest ever HB and had the strongest Wigan accent ever), Brian McTigue (the player who I would have loved to have seen live playing for us or GB), Roy Evans, Alan Davies (Jehovah's Witness but as hard as nails).
In more "recent" years we'd discuss the talents of Gregory and Edwards and he really rated both players (and both players fathers) but his "dream" HB pairing would have been Bradshaw & Bolton.
My owd feller used to on a part basis work in/run the Central Labour Club which was located just outside Central Park.
When I was a kid he would tell me tales about the players who went in for a pint after the game. His particular favourite was Ken Gee for tales on and off the pitch. At the very first scrum in the game Ken would ask the opposing front before they packed down "are we feyting or playing rugby today lads? Just let me know and I'll join in". Aussies were terrified of Ken but my owd feller always said Ken was more terrified of his old mam.
After one game Harry Bath (Australian second rower and quite a hardknock) was in the club and he had been sent off in the match earlier in the afternoon for biting Ken Gee. My dad was surprised and asked Bath if indeed he had actually bitten Gee. He confirmed that he did and it was the only way he could stop Gee from strangling him in the headlock that he had him in. When Gee came into the club Bath bought him a pint and they both laughed their heads off.
I know my old feller would embellish the tales (just as we all do, particularly after a few pints) but they started my love of the club and its history.
As supporters we have been extremely fortunate to have such a rich history albeit, I've seen as many bad teams/seasons as brilliant teams/seasons.'"
I gre up on stories just like these, told by my grandad, featuring the same characters. I started watching live games in 1966. After that years cup final, he wore a black armband and wouldn’t open the curtains for a week to show he was in mourning. Brian McTigue lived close by and was very quietly spoken , like many real hard men. I met Mick Sullivan at a game after he retired and he stood with me and explained, with a lot of humour, the finer points of the game. I was very proud when, after his death and obituary The Times printed a short piece by me on what a top bloke he was. Nostalgia comes easy, but Wiganer have lots of rugby memories to get nostalgic about.
