Wigan Album

Many thanks for posting Ron and also for all the other Wigan photos which are beginning to form an important visual record of the club in my opinion.
As far as I can tell this is the Challenge Cup (Wartime) match played at Odsal in April 1944 as it seems "identical" in many ways to the previous one you posted which was taken in the centre of the field. However, just two things puzzle me, who are the gents wearing the flat caps standing at either end of the standing players and perhaps others can answer this but I cannot recognise the player standing between Joe Egan and Jimmy Featherstone on the back row, by rights it should be John(ny) Blan but to me it simply doesn't look like him and yet I know he played in this match, perhaps it's just a poor photo of him.
The team:- STANDING players, left to right, Maloney, Joe Egan, John(ny) Blan??, Jimmy Featherstone, Ken Gee, Eddie Watkins, Jack Bowen - FRONT left to right, Ernie Ashcroft, Hector Gee, Johnny Lawrenson, Joe Jones, Jimmy?Belshaw and Martyn Ryan.

Keith, there are 3 more suitcases full of photos.

Keith I would say that's my Uncle Jack Blan on the back row third from right.Ron can't wait to see more great photo's 'as Keith say's of Wigan's past history.Thank's for the post's.

Bring 'em on Ron, this has been the best series of photos for years.

Sorry Keith should be third from left not right44

Thank you for the confirmation Jem, looks then as if this is definitely Odsal 1944, 2nd leg play-off Challenge Cup Final. (Wartime). Great to see my father again in a photo I never knew existed.

Hi Keith If you are interested, I can make you a copy disc with all the photos I've recently put on the site.

That's a very kind offer Ron, I'd be delighted to receive it, thank you.

Keith send me your e.mail address

Thanks to Ron and Kieth for these photos and comments I began Watching Wigan as a 6/7 year old boy in 1941 and the memories are ressurected with these pictures and the comments. I remember Kieth's dad and another 2 Forgotten welshmen on this photo Joe Jones, who went to Barrow and Eddie? Watkins who went to Belle Vue Rangers. From my recollection Jack Bowen was a class player, whose career was unfortunately blighted by the War.

Thank you for those comments AB, very much appreciated.

Hi AB do you want a copy of the photographs? I am doing a disc for Keith so it's no trouble to make another .

Keith, was Belshaw's christian name Tommy, same as Tommy Bradshaw? I believe during the war, he worked with my dad at the Maypole Colliery. One evening we went to his house, and we were shown his international caps.Although only a schoolboy, I remember him as a very pleasant man. Although it is such a long time ago,I seem to recollect his home was in the Hindley area.

Thanks Ron, I hope I can stand the nostalgia. As well as the players,other things come up, for instance,clothing was rationed, but pit drawers were available and we used them as shorts Judging from the photos we were not the only ones

There was a Belshaw played for Wigan during the war. I think it was Billy. He was a Warrington player who ,along with Albert Johnson was a guest Player ( Warrington had no ground during that time) He had a pub near to Ince Station and I remember my Aunt delivering tobacco to there.

Hi Albert and AB, this is what I've come up with re:- Belshaw. He seems to have "guested" for Wigan in the Wartime Cup Competitions of 1943/44 when they lost in the 2 leg Final to Bradford (this is the photo of that match and he's next to Martyn Ryan) and in the 1944/45 competition for Wigan.
William "Billy" Belshaw started with Liverpool Stanley 1935-37 and went to Warrington 1937-45. he had a great career and played in 8 Test matches for England and 6 International matches for GB, he turned out at centre but often at full back. When he played for Wigan, Jim Sullivan was absent "guesting" for another team (those who paid better!) Billy would be the goal kicker.

Thank you Keith,and AB,for that very detailed information,you are both gentlemen, and scholars.

Kieth you are right I saw Billy Belshaw play full back for Wigan on a number of occasions He was a Wigan lad .
I like the implication of Sully playing elsewhere, I actually saw him play for Wigan in 1940/41 He did not do much other than kicking the ball to the opposing full back and waiting for the return, but that was the game then.Martin Ryan changed all that.Sully had a reputation for being "frugal" as regards money

The comment about "Sully" ties in with my father's story - one of the first things he remembers after coming to Wigan was the advice from the great man "Look after your money". He was only too well aware how short life, as a professional, could be - mind you Jim defied all that with the longevity of his career. He was once reported, after he'd heard about the wages being paid to another club's appointment, "if I'd known how much was on offer I'd have walked it there to take up the job". He had a financial advisor and since he'd been player coach since 1932 his wages were probably quite good, mind you Jim was an exceptional talent, he could, it's said, have taken up golf professionally, he played baseball for Wales and could beat anyone at snooker it appears. PS I forgot to mention that Billy Belshaw played as a guest for Wigan in the 1943/44 season.

AB if you want a copy of the disc e.mail me ron@wiganworld.co.uk