Wigan Album

Wroung date 57/58

1952 Barry ? Tony Rossi played a total of 4 times for Wigan all in 1957. As your photo clearly states 1957-58.

Rees Thomas played 102 times for Wigan scoring only 5 tries,which i think is a poor return for a scrum half, compared say with Frankie Parr, who scored 95 in 301.

Sorry Barry, your comments hadn't appeared when i posted mine.

Lovely to see a photo of my wonderful cousin Bill Bretherton who, sadly, passed away last year.
Thank you for posting this, Barry.
I have no male cousins left now.
R.I. P. Bill

Photo taken before the home match v. Rochdale 11 Jan 58? That was the only time the team lined up with these 13 players: Griffiths,Boston,Ashton,Sullivan,O'Grady,McGurrin,Thomas,Bretherton,Sayer,Rossi,Cherrington,McTigue,Evans. Some top players there! and 6 (?) Wiganers.

Fred ( Punchy ) Griffiths my boyhood hero could kick goals from anywhere.

Bernard McGurrin,Kay Burley's uncle.

Roy Evans father had a butchers' shop in Spring View. In about 1953. As a schoolboy, he played both soccer, and rugby league for Spring View Secondary Boys' School. When an adult, as well as playing for Wigan, he played for Lancashire, and his country. I believe he toured Australia on a couple of occasions.

Albert,on Schools Spring View,Football Team Roy Evans is stood on Right back row.Used to go in his Dad's Shop for free bones for our Dog.Great Rugby Player.

Roy,
Andy Gregory only scored 17 tries in 182 appearances ( 176+6) in his last season he scored 1 in 35 appearances so tries to games isn't a good guide to how good as scrum half is.

Spot on Broady - scrum halves are makers not takers. Even if Andy were to try and make it to the line once tackled there's no point in him reaching out for the line he'd never make it with those short arms - but what a player, one of the very best.

I realise that Broady, but that is still a poor return. I have watched Wigan all my life and still do, although it pains me to say this, one of the best scrum halves i have ever seen is/was Alex Murphy, he played in the same era as Rees Thomas and scored tries for fun, 175 in 320 games for SH and 217 in all the 505 club games he played in.

Jimmy.I see mentioned in one of the comments, under the photograph, that Roy passed away at an early age. May he "Rest in Peace"

Albert, sadly not many of these lads are still with us: happily, Billy B, Mick Sullivan, Bernard McGurrin are of course, but unfortunately I think most of the others have gone. Toni Rossi's real name was Toni Danielli and he died about 5 years ago.

John. If your estimation is correct, and ten out of the thirteen may no longer be with us, to me that seems to be extraordinarily strange, taking into account the extreme fitness they must all have been in at that time. I suppose the eldest would have only been about thirty years of age, and most, younger.

There was "awareness" in the game even when my father played, some 80 years ago now, that the physical effects can take their toll. I remember my father saying that one reason he didn't want to continue playing past the age of 34 was that he was told every extra season after a certain age will take away some 7 years at "the other end" - of course it's nonsense - but was it? I wonder where that "belief" came from.

My Uncle Billy Barton told me the same thing many Years ago after he finished playing for Huddersfield.

An old sportsman, was a wise sportsman. Many a truth may lay in the assumptions they made. It would probably require a thorough analysis to come to a reasonable conclusion.

I hasten to add that dad was one month short of his 94th year before he died and he'd enjoyed a full life right to the end. However, I also remember when he used to have his hair cut in Darlington Street East (by McFarlane?) - that the barber used to comment that he cut a lot of ex-Wigan RL players hair and dad appeared to be the only ex-player who seemed to be "in one piece" - his words not mine. Dad only made 150 appearances for Wigan (3 years lost serving in the Forces).

I WONDER WHY TRISH? also Bill Bretherton was my cousin too!

Ball is in your court.

very sad to hear you are suffering from Alzheimer's or was going to the grammar school to much pressure and made you forgetful .The last time I checked my family tree guess what ? I am unfortunately your last male cousin which from my point of view is nothing for me to be proud off!

@akagoldenbear your last comment about my Auntie Trisha is untrue, spiteful and uncalled for.