Wigan Album

Another hero of mine Davd Bolton he was a super stad off will never forget The Wembley Final against Wakefield T it was bloomin awful that tackle he sustained in that game please tell me if im wrong about the game .

Alan, that wasn't a tackle, it was thuggery, a definite sending off. But, the way he was manhandled afterwards being virtually 'dragged' of the pitch by his handlers was just as ridiculous, that could have done as much damage as the tackle. Today it's 10 minutes of a job, neck brace, leg straps, stretcher, etc, sometimes it seems a little over the top, but better safe than sorry.

Correct, Alan. Dave Bolton was a great stand-off, although he played full back that day in 1963. He was poleaxed during the first half and in those days of no substitutes Wakefield went ahead. When Bolton came back on he was still groggy and threw a pass out which was intercepted by Harold Poynton who scored and eventually won the Lance Todd. We should have won that game, because we were on top for 20 or so minutes until Eric Ashton had a try disallowed for a double movement. Where were video refs when you needed them, eh?!

Agreat standoff that final was in 1963 my first ever trip to wembley. A bad tackle that cost Wigan the game. But it does my head in with what we call an high tackle in todays game if we carry on with the way we are going we will end up playing tick and pass.

Dave Bolton is my second cousin but I've never met him. Would love to contact any of his family.

If ever a player looked less like a rugby player it was Brian Bevan . He looked like an old bloke coming onto the field but he was a wonder winger and I'm glad I saw him play along with the other greats of that era.