Wigan Album
Wigan Rugby Team
8 Comments
Photo: Keith
Item #: 14877
Was it Prescott Street? 1900-1901, Springfield Park? 1901-1902 or possibly their first season at Central Park 1902 - 1903?
The background is some sort of clue, has anyone any ideas?
The photo is also of interest in that it shows the player who was the first one to score points at Central Park, namely Jimmy Barr.
The team was, back row left to right, E Prescott, H Ball, W Yates, J Brown, J Hilton, J Blears, R Collier, G Rigby
Middle Row, E Yates, J Downs, R Rothwell, J Nelson, B Rouse, J Macauley, A Webster
Front, W Halliwell, J Barr, T Eckersley.
It can't be 1902-03 because Prescott did not play that season.
I remember meeting the great Harry Ball, and getting his autograph in about 1964. He signed it Captain WRFC 1903-04 I think.
Hi Phil, I completely agree Prescott didn't play that season. I remember seeing Harry Ball several times, unfortunately I was in the car and he was always walking into Wigan, very smartly dressed with a very upright gait, well into his eighties, I always regret not asking dad to stop and have a word.
Definetly Central Park, Calderbanks scrap yard at the back,I lived a few hundred yards away and could allways recognise the scrap yard chimney.
Thank you very much Gerry, I hoped someone would know. Looks as if it must be the 1902-03 season their first at Central Park.
Can anyone tell me exactly which one is J Hilton on the back row? The names show him as being the 5th one out of 8 names, yet there only appears to be 7 players in their kit! He is a old relative of mine.
Hi Marlene, I understand the confusion, but since I know for sure that Harry Ball is 4th person in from the left on the back row, then I can tell you that J Hilton is 7th person in from the left on the back row, or if you like 4th person in from the right on the back row.
Dear Marlene, this apology is 9 years overdue for which I sincerely apologise. So much for my "sureness" - Harry Ball is the third person in from the left on the back row, this makes your relative Jack Hilton (with moustache) is the 6th person in from the left, not 7th as I said some 9 years ago. Jack played 138 games for Wigan between 1898 and 1907, scoring 8 tries and kicking one goal.
Hello,
I am pretty certain that Jack Hesketh is the young chap standing with the towel. It if is E. Yates sitting middle row then the time frame could be at the turn of the year 1901 - which puts it down to Springfield Park.
Hesketh joined as 1901 became 1902 and E. Yates was transferred, or swapped, to Swinton for W.H. Jones, a three-quarter back.