Wigan Album

I really shouldn’t post so late at night! "Crows" should read crowds.

Flash, Bang, Wallop what a picture, brilliant Keith.
No crowd control in those days, flat caps and baggy trousers seems to be the dress code of the day.

This is becoming even more embarrassing I think I may even have the match details incorrect as well. It could be the Championship semi-final against Bradford Northern, as I said, but on May 11th 1946 a full two years earlier. Morning posts only from now on. Apologies everyone.

Keith - spell check makes some hilarious blunders I love ‘em. Just shows humans are better with language…

Keith, the colouring certainly does bring a black and white photo of people to life, with clothes etc., standing out more. Plenty men home from the war and wearing their demob suits, unless they've all been to the 5 bob tailor.

As Colin mentions there are plenty flat caps, but quite a few Trilby's too in varying shades. The man at the far left has shades of the Gestapo about him with the long leather coat, though he may just have come on a motorbike, and would the man next to him in the short white coat be selling programmes or seafood?

I've seen this one before but it looks good colourised. Is the bicycle the programme vendors' stall or is one of the scallywags trying to sneak one in. Good crowds then in times when you either went to see it live or read about it the day after in the paper. Look how many are already on the ground with these lot waiting to get in. I wonder how many, if any, were turned away ? At the date of this game, Wigan Athletic would have been 14 years old.

Thinking now the man in the short white coat could well have been a Stop Me And Buy One ice cream seller, showing initiative, and hopefully earning quite a few bob selling ice cream to the vast rugby crowds on a sunny May day, before pedalling off to Mesnes Park to try his luck there.

Kieth ,I would dearly like to thank you for this photo ,because my late father who used to take me watching Wigan all over the place inUNSWORTHS Coaches ,goose green ,as for this he could tell me everything about the game again thanks.

Thank you for those interesting comments. Alan, I do research of Wigan RL mainly as a tribute to my late father who played for the club 1938 to 1948, so I understand completely where you are coming from.

Keith, if you have any photos of your father in his playing days, you should send them to Ron to upload onto the Album.

Look at Scholes in the background. How awful does it seem now, but those days were quality. Today, no one talks to one another never mind watch rugby matches. Great historic photograph in colour. Well done!

Thank you all for those nice posts. Colin, I have a few, some I’ve posted, but will try one more.

I’m sure my dad would have been amongst that crowd. I always look to see if I can see him….its impossible though bu5 you never know one of these days…..