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ARTICLE FROM THE LEAGUE EXPRESS ... Sent from Fred Parkinson. (Thanks Fred)

On Saturday 29th November 1947 Lancashire rivals Leigh and Warrington fought out an 11-11 draw at Kirkhall Lane.

Making his debut in the Leigh pack that day was Charlie Pawsey, a tough second row forward who had been signed from Langworthy, the Salford based junior club.

Pawsey developed into a fiery forward who enjoyed many brutal confrontations, not only in domestic competition, but also on the international stage. He was a member of the British pack which was involved in a vicious clash with New South Wales in 1954, when that infamous fixture was sensationally abandoned because of brawling. (see memorable matches No3, NSW-v-Great Britain SCG 1954 )

During his eight years with Leigh, Pawsey made 216 appearances and scored 27 tries. He was a member of Leight teams which lost Lancashire Cup Finals to Wigan in both 1949 and 1951 before assisting Leigh to lift the trophy with a 22 -5 victory over St Helens in 1952.

Those were the only finals in which Charlie Pawsey appeared, but he did enjoy success at representative level. He made five appearances for Lancashire, enjoying County Championship success in the 1952-53 campaign.

Pawsey was also a member of the England squad which won the International Championship in 1953 - 54. In total he made eight appearances for England, and he also played in seven Test matches for Great Britain, three against France and twice against both Australia and New Zealand during the 1954 Britishi Lions tour.

That tour marked the end of Pawsey's representative career. He missed out on the inaugural World Cup three months later, and the following season he moved from Leigh to Huddersfield.

Pawsey's stay in Yorkshire was bried and covered only eight matches. He later enjoyed a spell at Swinton coaching at "A"team level.

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Voice of Reason wrote about Charlie.

Charlie was born in Salford and signed for Leigh from Langworthy Jnrs and toured in 54.

A gentleman off the park but once he took the park something else came alive, one of the toughest 2nd rows ever.

In the 54 series his endearing moment was when taking out the so called Aussie hardman Collinson. He knocked Collinson fairly over the touchline with a typical big hit, had a quiet word in his ear about what he was going to do to him next time and put the water bucket over his head, Collinson wasnt seen again that game

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Re Charlie Pawsey - think it was 1953 last 8 RL cup at Leigh. Gullick the hardman centre for the Saints tackled Joe Egan, Charlie stamped on what he thought was Gullicks leg, but it was Egan's his team mate, I was stood right there, you could hear the leg break. He didn't need to do that because he's in the first 3 of the hardest men i've ever seen.

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First I did hear about a test against you bludgers at Swinton.

GB had been on the end of a battering from one of the Roo's, so Charlie waited for his moment and tackled him on the halfway line adjacent to the tunnel.

He then ran him up the tunnel and appeared several seconds later alone.

What happened to the Aussie player is open to conjecture and possibly a closed fist.

Don't know if it's true but it's a great story.

Secondly I used to work with his son also named Charlie.

I'll see if I can contact him.

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I was taken to Headingley Leeds for my fisrt match of rugby on St Patrick's day 1951.My team was playing Fetherstone Rovers which we lost by the way.I was only 3 at the time but got the rugby bug.

I have watched the now Leeds Rhinos eversince.55 years of glory.

Charlie Pawsey is i think an uncle of mine but not quite sure as we live in Yorkshire and he lived in Lancashire.My dad said he was a distant relation.

My brother married a lady called Anita McTigue who's uncle was Brian McTigue who played for Wigan and toured Auss with G.B.

I have seen all of our cup victory's in the Challenge cup from 1957 until the last time we won in 1999.

Some of the great Auss players that have worn the Blue & Amble of Leeds i have seen include Ken ( bucket ) Thornett.I think he was one on the best full-back i have ever seen.

Eric Grothe,What a big winger he was.

I have got a photo of our captain Keith McLennon with the cup at Wembley in 1957.We beat barrow 9-7.

I think my best memory was in 2005 when we Knocked the shit out of the Canterbury Puppydogs in the World Club Challenge.This made us the WORLD CHAMPIONS.

Hope to here from you soon
John Pawsey

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In the aftermath of the match, the NSW delegates were inferring that Oxford had abandoned the game to early, the three players were cautioned and the fiery meeting came to an end when the Great Britain Captain for the match, Charlie Pawsey offered an apology on behalf of his team. The League then dropped the matter.

It was reported that players from both sides attended the South Sydney's Annual Ball the night of the game, there they all had a good laugh about the game and were very apologetic.

It was the last game the Referee Aub Oxford officiated in as he quit rugby league for good.

READ THE FULL STORY - MEMORABLE MATCHES No3.

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I have spoken to my father on many occasions in regard to his memories of games he has played, and it is not very often that a story I have read or heard matches that of my father.

For example,take the Great British Lions match against New South Wales in 1954,the Lions were badly hit with injuries to the backs and so had to field forwards in the backline,this included a prop forward on either wing.

In 1954 there was no such thing as the 4 or 6 tackle rule, so the team in possession basically kept the ball until dispossessed, and due to the fact that the Aussies had more backs on the field it became difficult for the forward laiden Brits to get possession of the ball.
My father said that this led to a certain amount of "Mickey taking" from the Aussies which I'm sure you can understand did'nt go down to well with the lions players.

This meant that when the Lions players got thier hands on an Aussie he was subjected to a "roughing up",ultimately this led to large brawl which resulted in a lot of 'Horizontal' Australians.My Dad as captain on the day was asked by the Lions management to formally apologise to the Australian board of control, which he did,but to this day he resents the fact that no representative from the NSW team was called to apologise for the part they played in the fisticuffs.I'm sure someone could have wheeled at least one of the hospital beds to the hearing?

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