Wigan Album
Billy Boston
5 Comments
Photo: Keith
Item #: 34750
It was a triumph, Billy broke the try scoring record for a Tour of Australia and New Zealand, scoring 36 tries in 18 games, including four tries against New Zealand in the First Test. He later recalled that he was so inexperienced he was taught how to “play the ball”, while onboard the ship taking them to Australia.
As a teenager l would watch Billy play at Central Park, it was spine tingling, he could achieve feats l felt, that no other player was capable of replicating. Personally, in over 60 years of watching, l don’t think l’ve witnessed a more thrilling player nor a greater sense of elation when it seemed 30,000 spectators, rose as one, in the excitement he created when he received the ball. Just my opinion.
We had a holiday on Cyprus many years ago and in the same hotel was a chap by the name of Frank Snow. Frank got chatting about his playing days for Whitehaven back in the late 1950s once facing Billy. He said that he found it impossible to stop Billy, the great man's speed and ability to side step would leave most opponent's for dead. Frank also said that he could still feel those crunching tackles and still had the scars. He did say that without doubt Billy was the best player he ever came up against.
Great man, great rugby player, pride of Wigan. Doesn't he look so young and fresh in this picture. What a legend.
I love those comments, it sums Billy up exactly.
My first sight of Billy B was around 1956 ,when my late father took me to Central Park for the very first time . I was only a young kid but what i saw that day has stayed with me until today. Now age 76 yrs i look back on those many memories that the famous winger gave to me and hoe very grateful i am too. Some i recall are at Keighley in a Challenge Cup round he got the ball just inside half-way and when going over in the corner there were 4 other players on his back , also one Easter Monday away at Salford i still have a photo of him scoring and hinest there were 6 men on him yet he still scored in at the corner, Finally what i really enjoyed was when the opposition had the ball and were passing it out along the line ,,All of a sudden when their centre was about to recieve it ,THIS RED & WHITE TORNADO WOULD COME FLYING IN AND FLATTEN HIM GREAT !!!!The try at Headingly were he scored from his own line and went thro half the Leeds side , then in 1960 Championship Final at ODSAL against Wakefield T, were again yet another SIZZLER!!!!As you can tell many,many wonderful memeories all i will finish with is this,,
""THANK YOUVERY MUCH WILLIAM.JOHN . BOSTON( BILLY B)
A more humble man you’d be hard pushed to find but I believe Billy, at some point, when asked, mentioned that his tries against Leeds, on a heavy muddy pitch, which he ran from well inside his own half, were some of the best he’d scored. Despite his heroic efforts Wigan lost, 13 - 11 to Leeds. It was played on February 9th 1957 at Headingley. I can confirm that was a great try he scored in 1960 at Odsal against Wakefield. I along with a crowd of 83,190 were privileged to watch as Wigan won the play off final.