Wigan Album

Great photo.

Actually there's some fine looking young men there, not a cauliflower ear in sight...plus I don't think they would have had the money to spend that the players have these days.

Veronica, cauliflower ears were "quite common" at one time in the Rugby League fraternity, amongst the front row forwards. In this photo we have mainly backs who tended to avoid the "rough stuff" and those ears. Today if you see cauliflower ears it tends to be from the cousin sport of Rugby Union, who still insist on having properly contested scrums - will they ever learn?

In other words the 'backs' were smarter George! I see what you mean about the difference with the Rugby Union as you only have to look at Mike Tindall these days with his nose bent to one side - not very attractive I must say, although 'looks' aren't everything, well they won't have to be in his case! ;thanks ;o))

Not sure about "backs" being smarter Veronica - I will readily admit they were generally faster. It's on record, in years gone by, that Wigan backs were paid more than forwards (but that would be a decision made by the Directors) - that's rich when one considers generally it's the forwards who determine whether or not you win the game. The backs realising the worth of their forward colleagues are also on record as chipping in to supplement their wages.

Not sure if you know this Veronica but Mike Tindall was a back - he was smart though, look who he married.

They used to say that John McDernott would pick St patrick's rugby team by watching the lads in the playground, if they ran through the puddles he played them in the forwards, if they ran round the puddles he played them in the backs.

It wasn't very fair really Keith , they should have all had the same pay. Bet that wouldn't happen nowadays. But just goes to show the loyalty they felt by ' chipping in' like a band of brothers- that's how they were though in those days.
George, that Mike Tindell certainly landed on his feet- he's made for life. And the money they make by just being 'consultants' for various sporting organisations and the like. They'll never be short of a bob or two! ( he'll always have a bent nose though!)

I always remember Mr McDermott in the school playground, watching the lads playing football. One year in the summer months he had us girls playing cricket! He always involved boys and girls dancing in the dinner hour as well in the school hall.

Veronica ; reference players behaviour and pay from years ago. My late dad whose best mate at St.Josephs school was Martin Ryan . My Dad also worked at Central Park many years ago too. Anyway, he told me one story of a major dispute regarding pay with Wigan players. It centred on the New Zealander Brian Nordgren, who was paid much more than some others. One player, Ernie Ashcroft, refused to pass the ball to him in matches, it was that serious. Ashcroft was Nordgrens centre, Nordgren played on the wing then in the 1940's.

Just imagine if Ernie had passed to "Noggie", he might have become even higher in the rankings of tries scored per game. He's 3rd on the all time list.

cherry n white hoops on the posts - nice - and a rectangular section crossbar !!! Fntastic

A belated correction, “Harold Caldwell” ( who played in the 1940-41 season) is incorrectly identified, it is in fact Vic Johnson, another winger, he left the club in around the 1941/42 season