Billy Boston's Debut

Billy Boston made his debut in Wigan colours in an A-Team match at Central Park against Cumbrian powerhouse Barrow. 8,000 spectators turned up that day to see what all the fuss was about and for an A-Team game that is quite an achievement. I remember going to A-Team matches at Central Park as a kid with 300 at best (it may be more but as I say, I was a kid, too busy chasing converted goals in the Kop to notice the rugby). But, this is a young man boy from Tiger Bay we're talking about here: Billy Boston.

How Billy came to wear the Cherry and White is for another blog, or read several good books on the matter, someting I shall explore in time too...

The reported 8,000 or so Wiganers turned up at Central Park out of curiosity when it was known that the new signing of Billy Boston would be making his debut in Wigan's A-team in the October of 1953. A month later on the 21st November, 1953, Billy made his first team debut against Barrow again in a League game at Central Park. The Saturday afternoon was like any other in Wigan in the early 50s, apart from the small matter of 18,247 fans descending on Central Park. The Hen Pen was swollen with proud dads being crushed on the wall with their sons and daughters squeezed on the wall. The Central Park board room if animate, would have had the biggest grin on it since the Cheshire Cat as gate receipts were published at being £1,280. A giant crowd turned up to witness the first team game of Billy Boston. For such a large crowd, this lad had to be special - and he was!

Here is the match report from the Wigan Observer dated Tuesday 24th November 1953 with the match taking place the Saturday before at 2:30 in the afternoon - Local papers weren't published every day back then hence the date difference.

If you click HERE on the you can download it for yourself! I know its not the best quality.

BOSTON THRILLS WIGAN CROWD

 SCORING DASH AGAINST BARROW

 The show put up by Wigan and Barrow on Saturday will do more to revive interest in Rugby League than hours of board room discussion or columns of Press chatter about what is wrong at Central Park. This match was a plain answer to the critics. On this display there is nothing wrong at Central Park and if Wigan continue to serve up this brand of football there will be no band of crocodiles of bored spectators leaving the enclosure before the final whistle is blown. It was the best seen at Central Park for seasons. The spectators were delighted with fast running, ball handling and intelligent kicking and there was the double scissors movement that brought a Barrow try which was a sheer delight to see. Above all it was full blooded rugby, clean but robust and attractive rugby as it is intended to be played.

It was good to see Wigan win and there can be no doubt that Barrow were unlucky to lose. A draw would have been a fair reflection of the merits of both sides. The lead changed hands and it came into Wigan's keeping at a crucial stage of the game. Barrow can easily feel a bit peeved about the try which gave Wigan the lead for the last time for spectators on the spot with the try scored by Ashcroft early in the second half following glorious work by Silcock and Gee followed a forward pass. Barton the second-row forward, was so upset by the referee's decision that he went on arguing and his captain had to be called in to quiet him down.

Earlier, Barrow had been denied a try when McGregor was called back for a knock-on after a keen break away by Grundy and Castle. McGregor had only to score when he kicked the ball to the undefended Wigan line but Referee Adams ruled a knock-on. The referee was unsighted and apparently in doubt and he exercised his right to let his doubt operate in favour of the defending side. But it was a hard decision on Barrow for it meant the loss of five certain points. Barrow's bad luck continued when late in the game their captain and halfback Willie Horne had to retire with a facial injury. Wigan got an improved try after Horne had left the field and a try was scored at the time of his injury and this was also improved.

From the foregoing it must not be interpretted that Wigan's victory was without merit. They came from behind to win for they were losing 7-10 at the interval and it was largely the excellent work of their forwards in scrums and those which set Wigan on the victory march. The match marked the first team debut of Boston , Wigan's recruit from the Welsh Rugby Union and he was most impressive. It seems that Boston cannot fail to make the grade for on this showing he is one of Wigan's best ever prospects. Probably because his defence is suspect at the moment, Boston was played on the left wing but he may be even better as a centre. He is a well equiped natural footballer, with a real swerve and side step and an ability to change his pace at will. He has great powers of acceleration and gets up the ground with a most devastating stride. The try he scored showed his fine finishing powers and at the same time set the hallmark on his courage. Wigan spectators will look forward to seeing him again.

 Boston, Ashcroft, Cherrington, Broome and Silcock scored Wigan's tries and Cunliffe scored six goals. Castle (2) and Gibson scored the Barrow tries and Gibson kicked three goals. The crowd of 18,247 was with one exception the highest crowd at a Barrow game since the war. Receipts were £1,280. The exception was the Egan-Gee benefit game.

Result:
WIGAN ....... 6 - 5 - 27
BARROW....... 3 - 3 - 15

WIGAN: Cunliffe: Ratcliffe, Broome, Roughley, Boston: Ashcroft, alty: Gee, Mather, F. Collier, Silcock, Cherrington. Street.
BARROW: Gibson: Lewthwaite, Jackson: Goodwin, Castle: Horne, Toohey: Pearson, McKeating, Barton, Grundy, Parker. McGregor.

 Referee: S. Adams (Hull)

Wigan won by 27-15, which was perhaps a bonus on the day for the fans. Barrow were a good side and evenutally finished 1 point and a place below Wigan in the League table. "Wigan spectators will look forward to seeing him again". And they sure did! Boston ended the 1953/54 season with 14 tries from 9 appearances - which is a pretty good start. It is safe to say that that he was one of the first building block in creating another Wigan dynasty, and learning the ropes from such legends as Brian Nordgren on the right wing, Johnny Alty and Brian McTigue in the middle. Such hype wasn't seen again since Shaun Edwards signed or more recently Sam Tomkins made a 5-try debut as a rookie.

This picture was taken on Billy's A-Team debut against Barrow at Central Park in October 1953 and the first picture of him in Wigan colours. On paper this was just a routine league game, but for many, many people the 21st November 1953 proved to be an I was there moment - just being there and seeing Boston was enough. For this modern day, it still has a place and will be remembered and shared - and maybe bring back some personal memories for a few.

We had Billy, Billy Boston.