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Wigan v Wakefield Trinity - Wembley Challenge Cup Final 1946
Wigan v Wakefield Trinity - Wembley Challenge Cup Final 1946
Photo: Keith
Views: 433
Item #: 35803
A b/w photo that I’ve colourised of the Challenge Cup Final between Wigan and Wakefield Trinity at Wembley. It was Saturday 4th May 1946 and the game was won by Wakefield in front of a crowd of 54,730.
The Wigan team was 1 Jack Cunliffe 2 Brian Nordgren 3 Gordon Ratcliffe 4 Ernie Ashcroft 5 Stan Jolley 6 Reg Lowrey 7 Tommy Bradshaw 8 George Banks 9 Jack Blan 10 Frank Barton 11 Harry Atkinson 12 Eddie Watkins 13 Billy Blan
I’ve used their shirt numbers to try and identify them. I’m fairly confident they are correct but I have to admit that numbers 5 and 6 are an educated guess,

Comment by: Irene Roberts on 28th May 2025 at 10:23

Keith, that is beautifully coloured and I have to say your way of putting numbers on photos with corresponding names underneath, be it to denote people, (as above), or places on maps is such a great help. The simplest ideas are most certainly the best, as this proves. Thankyou so much.

Comment by: Keith on 28th May 2025 at 12:36

Thank you Irene, I very much appreciate your kind comments. I’d like to add a personal note here that in 2006 my wife and I had the good fortune to visit New Zealand, after our retirement. We met, in Hamilton (it was pre-planned) Brian Nordgren (no.2 on the photo). He had played in the same team as my father but in 1946 my father was in the Forces serving overseas so was not available. However, I delivered some personal photos to Brian from my father of the “old days” which he liked very much. At the time Brian was in his eighties and had undergone serious operations, but was still a practising Lawyer (New Zealands’s oldest). Despite having a case the very next day he insisted that he take us to a local, ‘British type pub’ for brunch. What a gentleman he proved to be, not only had he been a great player but was considerate, charming and courteous. It was a stand out memory for us from a wonderful holiday.

Comment by: Irene Roberts on 28th May 2025 at 16:34

That is certainly a lovely story and a very happy memory for you. Thankyou for sharing it with us.

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