Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan
Album Contents
Album Contents
Wigan Album
CHALLENGE CUP FINAL 1944
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Challenge Cup Final (Wartime) 1944 Wigan v Bradford Northern played at Odsal.
Photo: Keith Bowen
Photo: Keith Bowen
Views: 3,178
Item #: 11176
Item #: 11176
A fairly rare action shot of a Wartime RL match showing the second leg of the 1944 Challenge Cup Final on April 22nd between Wigan and Bradford Northern at Odsal in front of some 24,000 spectators. Wigan had won the first leg 3- 0 but lost this one 8 - 0. However, four years later, these two teams met again at Wembley in the 1948 Final with Wigan winning 8 - 3. Four of the same local lads who played in this Wartime final also faced Bradford at Wembley, they were, Egan, Gee, Ashcroft and Ryan.
Comment by: Keith Bowen on 11th July 2009 at 21:28
Wigan played in their second strip of blue jerseys and left to right the Wigan players are, Hector Gee, hidden behind the person he's trying to tackle, Bradford Northern's Eric Batten, who is kicking the ball over the Wigan player Ernie Ashcroft, then there's Ken Gee leaning forward, Eddie Watkins, Jack Bowen standing directly above Joe Egan who is sitting on the ground with Jack Blan about to topple forward and Jimmy Featherstone at the back. Apart from Eric Batten two other great Bradford players were Welshmen Frank Whitcombe and Trevor Foster seen between Wigan players Eddie Watkins and Jack Bowen, who were also Welsh.
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