Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan
Album Contents
Album Contents
Wigan Album
Jack Bennett Wigan RL
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Jack Bennett, a Wigan RL player and Australian Tourist
Photo: Keith
Photo: Keith
Views: 1,976
Item #: 23794
Item #: 23794
This is Jack Bennett who originally came from Whelley. He had a remarkably long and very successful RL career.
Played for Whelley Schoolboys, the Wigan Maoris and then Pemberton Rovers, a top local side at that time, who in 1911 - 12 won 4 cups including the Lancashire Junior Cup, Jack was the captain.
Played for Rochdale Hornets in 1913 but during the Great War played for Wigan before returning to Hornets and in 1922 helped them win the Northern Union Cup and in 1924 played in all 3 Tests against Australia down under.
Wigan, with their persuasive Chairman Harry Lowe, signed him in 1925 and 4 years later in 1929 he played in the first Wembley RL Challenge Cup Final for Wigan, at 35 he had gained another Cup medal.
They talk about local lads who made good, Jack is certainly in that category.
Played for Whelley Schoolboys, the Wigan Maoris and then Pemberton Rovers, a top local side at that time, who in 1911 - 12 won 4 cups including the Lancashire Junior Cup, Jack was the captain.
Played for Rochdale Hornets in 1913 but during the Great War played for Wigan before returning to Hornets and in 1922 helped them win the Northern Union Cup and in 1924 played in all 3 Tests against Australia down under.
Wigan, with their persuasive Chairman Harry Lowe, signed him in 1925 and 4 years later in 1929 he played in the first Wembley RL Challenge Cup Final for Wigan, at 35 he had gained another Cup medal.
They talk about local lads who made good, Jack is certainly in that category.
Comment by: AB on 13th August 2013 at 09:55
Well done Keith As a 15 year 0ld lad I worked in the same workshop as Jack in 1950 A quiet unassuming man with whom I enjoyed listening to his reminisces ,and seem to mean more now than then.
Comment by: Keith on 13th August 2013 at 16:26
Thanks for your comment AB, I was rather hoping you'd find the posting. 1950 the year my own father started a new career as a publican, by taking over the Crispin Arms, Birkett Bank - just a year after finishing his RL career - it seems a long time ago and yet those memories stay so clearly in mind don't they. I'm sure Jack's memories of Wembley and Australian Test matches of 30 to 40 years earlier were just as clear to him when you worked together.
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