Wigan Album

Superb pictures Ron

Martin Ryan signed for Wigan as you know but the Lad next to him,Ritchie also signed, but he
did not develop as Martin did

What a great photo,i recognised my late Uncle Harry (H Platt) straight away,he was born in 1926 so he,d be 11yrs old. A great bloke and a Rugby fan for all his life.

Jimmy did you spot uncle Harry in the other picture

I have a copy of this pic. It belonged to my Dad who was a contemporary of these lads and a close mate of Martin Ryan and Billy Ritchie. I posted it on the Wigan RL fans board a few years back. It was taken after they won the Daily Despatch shield at Central park in front of a crowd of over 16,000. Yes that crowd is correct.

Regarding the comment above about Billy Ritchie. As I say, my Dad was a friend of his. He said Ritchie was even more skilful as a scrum half than Andy Gregory. But Ritchie fell foul of the Directors at Wigan as he would not agree to the pre-match drinking regime. Apparently, Ritchie said "he wasn't having anyone tell him when he could have a pint". My Dad said he was foolish.

To correct an earlier comment. My late Uncle Harry Platt was born in 1923 and not 1926. Also re comments made about Billy Ritchie, when my parents passed away i found a medal which my uncle had, it has an inscription J W RITCHIE WINNERS 1948 on the back / Front Lancashire County Rugby League Senior Cup. Why my uncle had this i don,t know.

Lived in the same street as harry platt he stood for me and a friend of mine frank brogan when we where confirmed in st st josephs church thephoto used to hang on the wall of his with a couple more

John, The Brogans were related, she told me Wilf Brogan was her cousin and lived with them when he was younger.

Yes james the platts where related to the brogans but i can not remember how they related they lived just around the corner from me ,we lived in Chapel street and the brogans lived in princess street hope i have spelled that right

John, meant to say my mother ( teresa Platt ) told me about the Brogans being related. Her mother was a Brogan before marrying my Grandad.I was too young to live in Wallgate as the family moved to Marsh Green in 1960. Uncle Harry was fond of Rugby. Nice to hear from someone who remembers him.

Yes james i remember the platts very well they only lived a few yards from me and the brogan,s jackie lived in the same street as my grandmother next door but one and wilf lived in the same street opposite jack they lived in vine grove

Billy Ritchie is my cousin, his mother Nellie, nee Pennington, was my Fathers sister, would love to know anything else about Billy, as my Dad said he was a great player.

Hi KEN, re your post, did Billy have a first name that he didnt use, curious that my late uncle Harry Platt had the medal i refered to earlier. They obviously grew up together. i,d like to pass the medal on to the Ritchie family if thats possible.