Rugby League
Your Stories

(21-10-06) Billy Boston one of the Legends of Rugby League gave www.narlvi.co.uk a 1.5 Hour interiew and this is a clip from that interview. In this snippet of the interview BB discusses the 1954 Abandoned Game between NSW and the touring GB team
To view just click the Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f4RJYbJfDA
A short video documenting some of the greatest times witnessed by the much missed Central Park, the former home of Wigan RLFC Features some great film of Boston in action
To view just click the Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZZsrxOkjwQ .

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Billy was a sensation when as an 18 year old he was called up for national service and was posted to Catrick in North Yorkshire. He scored 126 tries in that season and attracted the attention of league scouts. His mother asked for 3000 pounds thinking Wigan wouldn't be interested then but they produced the money and in 1953 Billy signed on for the famous Wigan club. The rest is history.

In his last season I saw him play for Wigan against my team Hull Kingston Rovers at Craven park. He was on the right wing as usual and when he got the ball he was gang tackled by several defenders. In the second half Wigan hot on attack dropped the ball and a HKR player picked it up and sent out a pass to the left. The KR left winger got the ball on the outside of Billy as he had come in to take the center. This winger, Mike Blackmore was no slouch, a former England union trialist, he pinned his ears back and made for the Wigan line.

Billy had to turn around and at his age, 34, and with about 16 stone on board in those days I thought he had no chance. However he too put in the effort and dropped Blackmore like a stone with a copybook tackle around the knees on or around the 25 yard line. I couldn't beleive it, he certainly would have been lethal 10 years earlier.

My favourite story about Billy and there are plenty, was from a Wigan v Saints local derby game. Wigan got away and were heading for a big win. Right on time the ball went to Billy who cut in and made his way up the center of the pitch. Only the Saints full back Austin Rhodes stood between him and the try line. Billy looked like he was going straight so Rhodes went to his left or right, and Billy went through untouched for a try.

Back in the changing rooms the Saints coach gave them the bird and asked Rhodes why he didn't make an attempt to tackle Billy for that last try. Rhodes said, Tackle him, Blimey I only just managed to get out of his way.

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They don't make them like Billy any more. Wigan invited him to lead them out at the cup final at Cardiff this May.

I saw him at the Boulevard former home to hull FC, and he jumped off the pitch onto the terraces looking for the person who called him a black B. no one was putting their hand up I can tell you.

My mate saw him at Salford, having a rest on the wing eating a meat pie someone had given him. Things like this just wouldn't happen these days.

He once said that he owed a lot to Eric Ashton the Wigan center who made many tries for him. He got 571 in his career.

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Players name for story - Brian McTigue

My Dad who is still alive, thankfully, slightly knew MAC. My Dad used to work at Central Park, Wigan. He said that Mac was a very quiet unassuming man. But on the field was devastating. He saw Jim Sullivan, Billy Boston and Ces Mountford amongst them all. His favourite though was MAC.

SULLY used to give lollypops to the kids before matches, even though he knew they could not afford to attend.My Dad was one of those !

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It could have been Billy Boston's last game for Wigan against Bradford Northern at Odsal and Billy may have scored the try (I can't remember).

I do remember they gave him the ball to kick the conversion towards the end of the game which Wigan won convincingly.

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Brian McTigue was my uncle (my mums brother). I remember him coming to my nans for his sugar and butter cake and current loaf she used to make for him every Sunday. Spoilt!!

I recently met up with Billy Boston through work (I work for the local newspaper Wigan Courier) and Billy told us a few stories from the old days.

It was a great afternoon remenising.

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