Absolute classic that

I am just off to pick my lad up from training at .......

St. John Fisher!

I have not read the times article but the thing that annoys me ,is that it's always St John Fisher that get the credit when the press pick up on RL in Wigan.There are other schools in the town that produce a lot of talent , in fact if i'm not mistaken St Peters in Orrell won the Yr11 National cup last season and quite a few of that team have gone on to sign contracts at Wigan and Saints,St Eddies in Ashton also produce a large number of RL players that Wigan /Saints and other teams have signed up a few over recent years.
I know this is about St John Fisher but whilst i'm on [ my soapbox] i feel i have to mention st Pats, they also get credited with producing the 'best' talent in the Town , in fact historically Pats have always poached players from other clubs when they reach 15,16 yrs old and then get credited.. there are other clubs in the town such as St Judes, St Cuthberts,Ince RB, and 2 clubs who are very close to my heart Orrell St James and currently one of the top[fact] clubs in the country Hindley, all tehse clubs have produced a fair amount of talented players many of whom you can see playing in SL week in week out...end of rant....


Oh yes 1 last question ...which Amateur club in the town did not field a team at u16's last season?...guess!!

Yes you've got it Wigan St Pats......

Well my fellow toffee you make some good points there.

I need to pick you up on your last point though about St pats under 16s. I asked an official of St Pats on Saturday why the 16s folded and the reason given was that Wigan had taken half the team!

When other schools produce 6 players on the same day for the national teams of the two codes of rugby you might have a point.

Fisher and Pats are our elite breeding grounds for rugby talent in the town and have been for a long time.

Josh Charnley is credited as a product of St Pats but actually started out at Chorley and moved to Pats later on. His best friend still plays for Chorley and he regularly watches them.

I went to Spring View School (late sixties early seventies) I was, and still am "John Fisher"
never ever been a "Saint" though

There are a load of urban myths about Pats "poaching" from other clubs. Given their history and reputation some lads with potential and their parents see Pats as a better springboard to professional clubs and look to move there if possible.

It must grate on other clubs when they've had them from 8s-14s and then they go to Pats and get referred to as a St Pats lad by Ray French.

And he was asked to join saints a few times as they have a junior coach within the Chorley coaching staff. Hence why Saints have a few Chorley lads in the ranks.

players do get poached at younger ages but personally i don't see the problem with it, its well known a lot of scouts hang around and watch st pats juniors regularly and its the best club to be picked up. The young players who have a lot potential naturally end up at the best clubs anyway.

I went to St Cuthberts (Pem) and St Peters (Orrell).

They were more 'footie' orientated at St Peters at that time in the mid 1960's.

He left Saints a few years ago but is still head coach at Chorley. (think he does a bit of scouting for Saints now and then) Worked alongside Mike Rush.

The difference is the very long pedigree that SJF has. Stretching back to Edwards, Mike Gregory, even Ged Byrne (ok Im stretching things) and even before when Steve McCleod was the teacher. But for every Edwards and Gregory there were several others as good or better that didn't follow the pro rugby route (I wont name names).

As for St Pats and the U16s. If you are heavily involved in the amateur game, you will know what turbulence happens at 16 and 17. Its also true that lads travel from far and wide (north Lancashire) twice a week to try and make that step up. That is their choice, and while their clubs suffer, they are happy for the progression to be made. Maybe its wrong they automatically think Pats is the answer. But that's where the game is at. its mostly choice in my limited experience rather than poaching.

all in the same match? did u win?