Most famous Wigan sportsman?

Must be the one and only William John Boston. Even though Billy B has not played for the best part of Forty years he was moidered to death at Harlequins last Saturday with mums,dads and children alike to have a photo taken with him. The gentleman that he is never once complained and spent ages with his arms around total strangers and signing autographs. Even most of the present Wigan squad could go unnoticed around town but not BILLY

agree 100% legend and a gentleman "hail to the king"

''KINGBILL......KINGBILL....... BOSTON''

Yes for me Billy is the best although Dave Whelan was also famous

I've always liked your sense of humour fossil

Nice of you to say that Kenny,even though you only played football that I can remember

After leaving school,yes,but the oval ball was always my favourite,there wasnt as many chances to play amatuer rugby in the days after leaving school,unless you were a bit special

Good team though at the double seven

the only problem being that Billy wasn't a Wigan sportsman was he ,He was a welsh sportsman.

Peawapp,Rita 'thinks' he is fishing.Some people on this thread may actually believe his 'initial' post though.

Wigan Athletic,have had players like Zaki and Mido play for them,who are heroes to an 'ENTIRE NATION'.

With due respect to 'Billy',my kids and their mates wouldn't have a clue who Billy is.My wife who is from Pem had never heard of him.RL people like to keep their heads in the sand though.

Wasn't my point TOM.

Not like something to fly over your head.

Good old Billy.

A Welshman who's heart is in his adopted home of WIGAN!

If Zaki and Mido showed their arses at the top of Wigan nobody would bat an eye apart from thinking "Who are them two nutters"
Although having said that you would be much more likely to see either of them walking around Cairo than Wigan. Apart from the DW and the training ground I very much doubt whether any current Latics player has ever set foot in Wigan town centre. More than likely to shop around Hale and Alderley Edge where they live, true WIGAN hero's

well said rio whereas if billy walked around wigan everyone would know who he is

You talk about Billy being mithered at a Quins game,the fact that most of the Wigan 'fans' mithering weren't from Wigan.

But carrying on deluding yourself Rio.

'well said rio whereas if billy walked around wigan everyone would know who he is'

Clearly 100 hundred per cent not true.

But being an idiot,it would be hard for you to grasp why..

'I very much doubt whether any current Latics player has ever set foot in Wigan town centre'

We certainly know the some RL players go out in Wigan town centre judging some of their subsequent appearances in court.

im suprised no one has mentioned you........you know with you being a boxer

Jade, make your mind up. The Wigan fans from outside Wigan know Billy but folk from Pem don't know him. Which one are you going for

hes not got a clue

if he went up pem everybody would know him

jay_1 (6633)

You talk about Billy being mithered at a Quins game,the fact that most of the Wigan 'fans' mithering weren't from Wigan.

And you'll know this because.....oh yea,you've got a mate who is a Quins fan no doubt url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH8K0bPc-BE][/url]

he as a friend in leeds as well kenny......so he says

He's not got one from Bolton, though!

hes not got any in the springy........you no that pub he call goes in

'And you'll know this because.....oh yea,you've got a mate who is a Quins fan no doubt'

I know this because the club describes itself has a 'regionally' supported club and most of it's fans are not from Wigan.

So Billy was probably being mithered by people from Bolton,Preston and Manchester.

Simples..a bit like you Ken.

Jade, thought you were going to Blackpool today supporting the mighty Leyth

Too many commitments Rita.

I always wish Leigh the best in rugby,a true rugby stronghold.

I always wish Leigh the best in rugby,a true rugby stronghold

What is a true rugby stronghold Jay?

And once you've answered that, why is Leigh a stronghold?

walshy76 (4266)

he as a friend in leeds as well kenny......so he says


Replied: 17th Jul 2011 at 13:57

And did she not insinuate that she had some kind of knowledge about Simon Cowell..you could not make it up


yea

You and the Weasel are a good match.

Dumb and dumber...beavis and butthead.Take your pick.

Put the quotes up and it'll show your inability to read.

ok

jono

She hasn't a clue,round ball round yed...........

Boring and thick.

What a prize one you are lad.

Whiiiizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

The sound of a fishermans reel,soooooooooo easy to reel in the mouthy chub

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH8K0bPc-BE]I dont believe it{/url]

Well actually I do

Yeah right dopey.

Reel them in by boring them to death.

I'd give this message board business up son,you're just never going to be very good at it.

I repeat

Whiiiizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

You dont take much,soft lad

The only whizz you hear son is the amount of stuff that flies over your bald,fat head.

Another INSULTING ABUSIVE post by the little person who knows no better

When will Ken ever learn.

You saying you don't have a bald,fat head?You must have an houseful of broken mirrors lad.

Pardon me,but were did I state that I was anything otherwise,is this what you wanted me to post,I admit I am no film star,never have been,never will be......what about you...gayjay..................I guess we'll never know,not that I actually give a monkey;s

Why is the truth insulting and abusive then.

You walk straight into these time after time.

Stop making it too easy son.

simple lad

There is a thread on here saying that no matter what people have or have not.it should not be held against them,and thay they should not be subject to ridicule etc ...

Feel free to dig yourself out of this one

I always wish Leigh the best in rugby,a true rugby stronghold

What is a true rugby stronghold Jay?

And once you've answered that, why is Leigh a stronghold?

Serious question Jay. You post on a public discussion board, and raise points and post your opinion. That's what these discussion boards are for, but in order for a discussion to progress, it needs responses or replies. You've no doubt read my question, and in the meantime posted some comments towards other folks.
Do you know what a rugby stronghold is? And why you think Leigh is a stronghold? I'm looking forward to an answer, so that we can discuss it further.

Ken,your never going to learn son.

How is saying your head is bald and fat abusive.

I was going to add empty but that's just stating the obvious.

Jono,i'll answer with my thoughts on this matter tomorrow.

Dont hold your breath mate

With regard to the original post,remembering BB from the late fifties/early sixties I still can recognise him on the street.If you asked Jay after the same amount of time that had passed, do you think he would remember Zaki and Mido on the street,I doubt very much if he would recognise them now...

How many games did Zaki and Mido play between them for the Latics. I thought one of them did a bunk!!!

@Jay
After years of tag -teaming with Jarvo you have the cheek to call Kenny-Walshy the new Dumb and Dumber . Classic !!
Jay, you must either have thicker skin than a rhino or be the champion p*ss taker ! Keep up the good work.

he a complete low life lying troll steve

the difference is i dont crawl back under a stone when people have,well try,and have a pop

I'll keep on trying to inform,enlighten and educate with my posts Steve.

Thanks for the words of support.

that means he'll caryy one coming out with the usual crap.....that he cant back up

but then again hes a boxer......so he can say what he wants

No denial here about his three litre bottle of cider.

When you going to pull yourself together lad,all this daytime drinking is killing what few brain cells you have.

i would deny it if you had posted it

Is this serious?????

If we are really talking the most famous believe it or not but you'd have to look away from rugby and football because it would be either saver boy smith or tommy the dynamite kid billington from the world of wrestling. Actually I'd give it to tommy if only because he is idolised all over the continent of America and in japan! So much so some modern day wrestlers name him as the greatest influence on their careers.

I know what's coming though.....they are from golborne!

I have to say,shaun,I have never heard of him,tommy that is,

There is only one who would come on with the Golborne status though

Shaunie you seem to have this obsession that the USA goes on about the Wigan influence on American wrestlers.

Having spent quite some time in Indiana and Chigago,i can safely tell you that the majority of Americans would struggle to pick the UK out on a map,and generally refer to England as London.They also have an habit of mistaking an English accent for an Australian one!

I know you have an opposing view of this but i can really say it is not my experience of America!!!!

NFL is also king.

Followed by baseball and basketball.

Anyway,how are ya?You getting a season ticket this year?

'What is a true rugby stronghold Jay?'

Leigh to me represents all thats good about RL.Basically a one club town,where the supporters have stuck with club through good but mainly bad times.Whenever i speak to a Leyther,the club is generally one of the first things they want to discuss.The club represents the heartbeat of the town imo.It's people live and breath Leigh rugby.It's a shame WiganRL's proposed move to the M61 and the Reebok never came though because i'm sure Leigh's support would have flourished in some of the nearby urban areas like Hindley Green.

This is as opposed to the WiganRL club whose support is inflated by out of towners.Most people in Wigan are football fans of one persuasion or another.This town is a football town through and through that just happens to house a superleague rugby league team.

Kenny... 'There is only one who would come on with the Golborne status though'

Peter Kane?

Peter Kane..wigvet!

Good shout..

This isn't about whether they are recognised as a wiganer or being most famous? Google the dynamite kid and you'll see!

Peter Kane at one point would of been but not now.

As for the football yeah I'm getting a season ticket again it's been put back because of family issues but it should be in my hand by the weekend!

I googled him.

Wrestling stuff.

Wrestling isn't the number one sport in America or Canada.I think we'll have to just agree to disagree on this one.

Shaun,
Whilst I can't disagree with the achievements of Tommy Billington I have to say that I have visited various hostelries in the 5+ years I have been in Calgary and even though I have been asked by lots of people where I come from and answer Wigan no-one has ever said "Oh that is where the Dynamite Kid comes from" After reading his history a lot of his fame was achieved here in Calgary and the Harts are always mentioned. Maybe wrestling isn't as big as you seem to think it is. Just as an aside someone did once mention Billy Boston when I mentioned Wigan (he was an ex-pat from Blackpool)

Billy B is for me synonymous with Wigan irrespective of where he was born.

Many traditional Lancashire sporting towns are irrevocably linked with their sporting icons - Preston with Finney, Warrington with Bevan, Blackpool with Armfield, St. Helens with Vollenhovan, Bolton with Lofthouse and of course Wigan with Boston.

But in years to come when these names slowly disappear from the vocabulary of the next sporting generation who will be the ‘new’ Wigan icon?

For me, and for being a Wigan sporting genius, it has to be Shaun Edwards

There are endless tributes to this man but the fact that he went on to become the captain of the most revolutionary team in rugby league history as the Wigan side went 43 cup ties unbeaten, with Edwards playing in every round in the 8 successive Wembley victories, is the one which will be forever etched in my mind

Thanks Billy and Shaun for the memories – Wigan greats in every sense of the word!!

Deluded Wigvet.

Tom Finney is by far a bigger name than Billy B,with due respect to him.I know people from all around the country and most are avid football fans.They all would have heard of Finney.None of Billy.Rugby League just isn't thought of in most places.

I watched an RL match on the TV in Alty the other week,the pub was packed and there was only me and my mate watching the screen.RL doesn't even register with most people from south manchester.

i watched an RL match on the TV in Alty the other week,the pub was packed and there was only me and my mate watching the screen.RL doesn't even register with most people from south manchester.
Replied: 18th Jul 2011 at 16:04

Nows theres a suprise

Same crap....different day

I don't bite Jay1

It's the truth Wigvet.

At least they would recognise Boston if he went in the springy

wigvet

Where is the meet up for the next bike ride ??

And,by the way,very good post

he had a plumbing business in preston

My wife who is from Pem had never heard of him

He mustn't exist then

well all them people who used to flock around him when he went in the workers,jem lowes travs,lion and other places must have dreamt it then

Broady, Tom, Jay the discussion isn't about the most famous sportsman synomonous to Wigan but the most famous from Wigan.

Whilst I'm not a wrestling fan it can't be disputed that just the wwe or former wwf is watched in 145 different countries and beamed in over 500 million homes. It's got the 2nd highest viewing figures on sky after football around the uk and there's other companies.

If we are talking about the most famous Wigan sportsman that people instantly associate Wigan with then I'm sorry to all you rugby fans but it's dave Whelan! He's literally bought himself the mr Wigan title.

I asked the missus if she knew any of the people we are talking about, she knows Whelan but that's from me going the football and she knows the British bulldog from when she was a kid but surprisingly she knew Sean Edwards..........as Heather smalls ex husband! She was surprised to find out he played a sport! Being a avoided she threw up a good name though, Roger hunt.

Shaunie but having spent some time in America and told people where i was from,i can honestly can say nobody said to me...oh yeah wasn't the British Bulldog from there!!

I just think you grossly over estimate how famous these people are...

People like Mido and Zaki are known to their entire nation because they play the most popular sport in their country!!


Roger Hunt isn't a bad call.Angus Fraser was from the Golborne area too i think.You're not doing bad for sportsman from that area.

Having spent quite some time in Indiana and Chigago



that smells back......and its very strong

Shaun Edwards might have been in a long run of Challenge Cup wins but as a scrum half ( the position he always desperately thought he was best at ) he wasn´t a patch on Andy Gregory.

Jay, it must be like fishing for mackerel !

I'm sick of pulling Kenny out,it's like fishing in a goldfish bowl with that mon.

The greatest Wigan Sportsman

"Angus Fraser from the Golborne area" Jay

Oh God, he will be on shortly

A few years ago I was in the bar on a ferry which had just left Harwich. We got talking to a steward who asked us where we were from, when we told him we were from Wigan, in a southern accent he asked " AINT THAT WHERE BILLY BOSTON COMES FROM".

I don,t think the steward was from Pem.

mr boston is a gentleman,he used to drink in the honeysuckle many moons ago,and if he was on winning pay he,d offer to buy anyone in the vault a pint.friendly and gregarious ,never heard of him throwing his considerable weight about like some of the undesirable rl contingent now.

billy boston is everything everyone says but he's welsh,

i put forward "andrew farrell".

elmos

What, before Shaun Edwards?

your not wrong ruddy, but they won't all fit on.

I’ll go for George Formby!

Only man to win the Grand National and the Isle of Man TT in the same year.....but not without first giving us a song!

where was he born TOM?

From Wilkipedia

‘’Formby was born at 3 Westminster Street, Wigan, Lancashire, as George Hoy Booth, the eldest of seven surviving children (four girls and three boys).’’

From official GF site

‘’Their first child to survive, and the one destined to become an even more famous George Formby than his father, was born George Hoy Booth, named after Eliza’s father, on 26th May 1904, in one of the poorer areas of Wigan’’

TOM is a clown.

The Tomkins aren't from Wigan though.FACT.

Even though some clueless WiganRL fans like to include them in the list of 'local' players..

No, they were'nt born in Wigan, but they were brought up and went to school in the town, and they still live in Wigan. Did any Latics players go to school in Wigan,or live in Wigan?

Barry Knowles?

From wikepedia;

Little known fact, Charles N'Zogbia (born 28th May 1986) Tram St Platt Bridge, Wigan.... good school friend of Hugo Rodallega Martínez (born 25 July 1985) Belle Green Lane, Ince Wigan.

So there

David Glenn?

Joel isn't from Wigan.

TOM is a kn**.A racist babysitter.Surprised he passed the checks with his low IQ and bigoted,racist 'views'.

Yep, Barry Knowles is a Wigan lad, but it must be 25 years since he played.