Wigan Album

Great photo Bernard maybe it should be in the Rugby League museum in Huddersfield.

You may be interested to know that a few years ago I visited Hamilton's Rugby Museum in New Zealand and amongst their very fine collection of New Zealand memorabilia were quite a number of photos that included your grandfather, one of the game's greatest players.

A few years ago I saw on TV a New Zealand film about their rugby history. One shot showed the New Zealand team walking onto the pitch to play a game against a London club, perhaps Richmond and clearly identifiable was Charlie Seeling, the date was 1905!

A report in the Wigan Observer of around 1910 said "Seeling is a Colonial working man of a stamp, we regret to say, not too frequently met with at home. Ability and modesty go hand in hand with him. He is looked upon as one of Nature's gentlemen"

Thanks for your positive comments guys.Our family are really proud of ''Bronco''.I spent 11 years living in NZ and the old guy ''came to my party'' on several occasions as you might imagine.My wife and 2 brothers[they came over specially]attended his inauguration into the NZ Sports Hall of Fame and my wife and I attended his induction into ths NZ Legends Of League[and he didnt even play League in NZ which speaks volumes about his reputation over there]He was indeed a superb athlete and a gentleman with it.

Hi Bernard, a correction. The New Zealand Rugby Museum I visited was at Palmerston, it was Hamilton where I visited Brian Nordgren another New Zealand Wigan star 30 years on from your grandfather.

Just for the record, in his Wigan career Charlie played 202 games for Wigan and scored 80 tries which is a phenomenal achievement for a front row forward. His son, also Charlie, who played for Wigan from 1933 to 1936, represented the Wigan club on 70 occasions and scored 10 tries and kicked 10 goals.