Wigan Album

An English youth team in France?

young man, far left ,front row, as a look of a young john carleton

Definitely looks like a GB representative team

England schoolboys circa 1969. Jackie Melling extreme right, back row?

I also think it looks like John Carlton and there are fifteen of them.

It does look like a rugby league team but I also thing the player on the front row left looks like John Carlton and there are 15 of them.

we came up with jackie melling

I emailed this photo to Dave Ruddy (St Pats coach)as I know him pretty well. This is what he replied to me

"its England schoolboys from 1969ish. The reason I know is that Jackie Melling,Billy’s older brother(and my cousin)is on the back row,last on right.I remember him getting selected from Thomas More and I think the coach was Dennis McHugh".

dave ruddy,s a good freind of mine from golborne pit . hav,nt seen him for quite a while granddad .

the lad on the front row third left looks like a young Geoff aspinall who went on to play for Wigan in the 70's

Definately Great Britain u 19s rugby league team in Avignon around 1970.

Definately Kevin Sullivan front row six from the left.

This info from K Sullivan:France v Gt.Britain under 19s 8th March 1970 Avignon France:Team in playing order 1.D.M Collins(Halifax)2.M.Thornthwaite(Maryport)3.K.Sullivan(Wigan)4.D.G.Johnson(York)5.J.Melling.(Wigan)6.J.Blair(Oidham).7.A Walker(Whitehaven)8.W.Webster(Lowton).9.M.Bainbridge(Hensingham).10.J.P.Whitfield(Knottingley).11.J.Doherty(Warrington).12.J.Cunningham.(Barrow).13.G.Rayson.(Egremont).Subs14.D.Redfearn(Batley).15.J.Rreynolds(Leigh).France 15 Great Britain 3. Doherty was Captain. Penalty Count France 17 GB 3 French Ref.

this great Britain u19s team played france/in Avignon 1970 lost 15-0 3 wigan players-w Webster 7th back row jacky melling 8th back row-mick Sullivan-and from leigh jimmy Reynolds-1970 march.

The winger on the back row far right is indeed John Melling Billy's older brother.