Wigan Album

Is that Jim Sullivan front row holding the ball?.

My old Dad would have named all these players. Well before my time. Just a guess, but the chap to the right of Jim Sullivan would be 'Darkie' Bennett ?

The player exact centre back row could be Tommy Beetham.
I'm not 100% sure though.

Extreme right (front) is Jack Morley who scored 180 tries for Wigan. Next to Jim Sullivan, on his left, is Gwyn Davies.

Front extreme left - Hector Gee?

Back row 2nd from left...Wilson? Would the coloured lad be Bennett?

A clearer photo than the one submitted Item no., 2682
Team Back l to r., Welsby, Wilson, Griffiths, Morgan, Vernon, Houghton, Dixon.
Front, l to r., Hector Gee, Twose (not "Darkie" Bennett), Sullivan, Davies, Howarth, Morley.
The year was 1932, this formation played at home twice in 1932, on October 29th v Bramley winning 49 - 3 and against Halifax on November 26th winning 20 - 11.

I didn't recognize Alf Vernon but I know him very well in my youth. He lived in Abram. A great character.

Hi Keith I didn't realise I had put the photograph on the site before. Thanks for the info.

There is a picture of Twose on the Wellington RU website (Somerset, UK). I don't think this site allows URLs. He doesn't look much like the guy sat to Jim Sullivans right.There is also this comment on a Torquay United fan site; " AV (Rocker) Twose who "went North" for money in 1931. Grandfather, I believe, of Roger Twose who played cricket for New Zealand. Twose enjoyed a certain degree of success at Wigan and later played for Streatham and Mitcham, another of rugby league's occasional missionary clubs in London". I can't find a pic of Bennett. My old Dad said he was a fine player.

There was an interesting article in Wigan Past Forward issue 24 Spring 2000, submitted by the Rev., Roger Taylor who watched the debut of Albert V. Twose against Huddersfield at Central Park on December 19th 1931. Wigan lost 14 - 6, Albert played on the left wing that day. Rev., Taylor wrote “..... yes I’d become a fan of this sun tanned athlete....nippiness and upper body strength enabling him to escape seemingly successful tackles....” Twose was a member of the Wigan side that beat Swinton in the Championship Play off in 1934. Despite being a very able goal kicker (Wigan had Jim Sullivan) and kicking 7 out of 7 in one match he was later transferred to Streatham and Mitcham but the club folded in 1937. In the war Albert joined the RAF. He was, as “peter barker” states, the grandfather of Roger Twose and he died I understand in 1989 in his home town of Torquay where I believe he may have had a family building firm.