Folly Field - Wigans First Ground

Back in 1872, Rugby started up in Wigan town by a group of Cricketers who wanted to stay competitive during the winter months and also bring in a good stream of revenue to keep their Cricket ground healthy. These men met in the now vanished Dicconson Arms pub on Upper Dicconson Street and decided to set up a rugby team and play a few trial matches. A meeting of the Cricket Club was called for the 21st November, 1872 and was to be held at the Royal Hotel, Wigan to discuss the possibility (whilst sober) of forming a Wigan Football Club. Once this was all agreed, the Cricketers decided to find a venue for their trial matches in the hope of forming a team. The Wigan Cricket Club based on Frog Lane were doing quite well in their respective league and of course, there was no chance of tearing up the wicket pitch whilst playing this new sport of rugby.

Looking out of the window of the Royal Oak Hotel, they saw an expanse of land which was big and wide enough to carry out the training needed, an area known as Folly Field. It was located between Mesnes Park and Swinley, to the North West of the town centre up towards the Royal Infirmary. It was only a stroll from Cricket HQ and a stones throw from the watering hole of the Dicconson Arms. This accompanying Ordnance Survey Map from 1906 shows the location clearly. Of course, thirty years earlier, the Field would have been much larger. Wrightington Street in this map cuts across Folly Field and the building of dwellings along Avondale Road, Shaw Street and Sandycroft Avenue have also eaten into this land. You hacve to remember, in 1906 Wigan no longer needed Folly Field.


Rugby was played on this field a decade earlier in 1862 as the game of 'football' started to expand. History could have been different in Wigan if the original club had stayed together and grew (thats for another blog post). It was originally used by the Volunteer Rifle Corps who used to have firing practice on this land. The 1862 Wigan Football Club also used this land to play and practice. Didn't know that did you!? bothered? probably not.

The first trials match was watched by around 2,000 people on 30th November 1872. It'd be like, in todays money, 2,000 people turning up at Aspull Civic Fields watching a group of men trying their hand at Gaelic Football, such was the foreigness of the sport.

Every Saturday afternoon throughout November and early December, trial matches were called and the numbers involved started to dwindle - not because of lack of interest but many men who tried were better spinning a ball than passing one. By early 1873, the Wigan Football Club was ready to play their first match against Warrington. The final trial match prior to this was attended by many supporters and well wishers at Folly Field.

The first team to represent rugby in Wigan were: Kyrke (captain), Blakeney, Bromilow, Hughes, Sayer, Sowter, Tarbuck, Wilson, Woodcock (forwards) Hayes, Sayer Jnr. (halfbacks) Clar [sic,Clare] (three-quarter) H & W Wall, E.R. Walker (backs). The game with Warrington ended in a draw, somehow.

Folly Field wasn't anything special, it was just a large field big enough to play and entertian rugby. There were no stands or turnstiles and members of the club had to rely on donations and money collectors during matches. There is no record - to my knowledge - of any changing rooms but one could assume that the players would have had the Dicconson Arms as a base to meet, change and act as an unofficial HQ.

There can't really be much more to say about Folly Field. It had served it's purpose and had established Wigan to the rugby world. The original Wigan Football Club didn't last very long and due to a lack of finances and quality players, the club disbanded and merged with Upholland in 1876 before again getting into difficulties. Wigan Wasps, set up in 1879 had much more success and that team eventually moved into a purpose built area at Prescott Street in the late 1880s but still had Folly Field as a base until then.

The pitch itself wasn't flat, think of Bradford's Odsall as it curls up ingoal at the corners, but worse. The pitch at Folly Field was sloping and below street level (worse than Batley's Mount Pleasant), and the fullbacks of those days had a rough time of it. In the North West corner of the field, between the try line and the dead ball line, was a small hill. When the full-back made a save over his own line, he would find it an advantage to run up this hill to punt the ball back into play. But all too often his opponents would grab him by the legs and haul him down again. It is unknown how big this hill was but it must have risen about a foot in height.

Folly Field however was Wigan's home when the first pieces of silverware was won, The Wigan Charity Cup in 1883, the West Lancashire Trophy in 1884 and the Wigan Union Charity Cup in 1885 when they beat Haigh in the Final (picture). In those early days, hacking and punching was permissable and so too were mauls in goal which by all accounts seemed like a perfectly legal brawl. You had to be tough to play at Folly Field (although 'mauling in goal' was abolished in the 1880s) and the picture (above, left) shows the eighteen men who brought home the West Lancashire Cup in the 1884-85 season. The photograph was taken by H. Wragg, a Mesnes Street commercial photographer, possibly in the Dicconson Arms. The lineup is believed to be Samuels, Ingham, Holt, Astle, Slevin, Presst, Rutter, Dawber, Murphy, Webb, Thomas, Crowshaw, Baguley, Layland, Norris, Marsden, Anderton. Holt, the captain at that time (back row, third from left), is holding the trophy. Mad scenes were often seen at Folly Field involving these men. An account states that when Wigan Supporters were playing Pagefield Supporters (extreme local derby), there was a maul-in-goal which became so boisterous that the police had to make a baton charge to sort out the combatants.

So when you glance upon Upper Dicconson Street just remember, thats where it all began!

William "Billy" Curran

Wigan, as we know, has been blessed with fine wing three-quarter men over the years. Billy Boston, Martin Offiah, Johnny Ring and Jason Robinson spring to mind. But here we have William Curran, a New Zealander who played for Wigan between 1913-1915. A fine player. Here is his story...

Any other player who played 60-odd games for Wigan would not command such prestige as to be written about in a Blog and remembered. If we skip to 1915 Billy scored 6 tries against Hull KR and ended the month of January with 16 tries to his name from 6 games. So that alone prompted me to have a look into Billy Curran and what happened to him once he left Wigan.

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By the time 1913 came, Wigan were riding high in the League table sitting in second place having played 18, winning 15. The famous Huddersfield sat pretty at the top of the table so far winning all 18 of their games and well on their way to a League and Challenge Cup Double.

The Wigan Committee accepted his services "on the recommendation of as good a judge of a footballer as can be found in either hemisphere". William Curran could play full-back, stand off, wing or centre and was a very athletic character. He was also a very competent and proficient boxer!

As The Wigan Observer explains: "The officials of the Wigan Football Club had maintained the greatest possible reticence in regard to the steps which were taken further to strengthen the Central Park contingent. There were excellent reasons why this policy of silence should have been observed, and probably the principal fact whicb influenced the management was that of making sure of the services of a player who having won considerable distinction in the Colonies is likely to achieve big notoriety in the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire".

Wigan were in need of a wingman after the sad passing of James Leytham to a boating accident in Morecambe Bay a few months earlier. Lance Todd had too intended to leave Wigan soon also. The Wigan Club had hoped that Curran would fit the bill. Wigan had been trying to get the services of Curran for several months and their need heightened after the passing of Leytham. Curran seemed to fit the bill after he shot to prominence in 1912 whilst playing for New Zealand against the Australians.Arthur Francis, who was himself from New Zealand, knew Curran well and recommended Curran to the Wigan board himself stating that he was a fine  and exceptionally clever player after playing with him at his native Newtown Rangers club.

Doubts were cast however, whether or not Curran would arrive. Wigan had got word that he had left New Zealand by boat and was on his way but they were worried that he did not have the papers necessary that would permit his transfer. Anxiety gripped the Wigan club and to stop any other Northern Union club getting the services of Curran, on Christmas Day 1912, directors and representatives for Wigan travelled south to meet William off the boat. However, normally such vessels would dock as Plymouth, but for some reason this was "impossible". The boat journeyed around to London. Despite this delay, the Wigan agents met Curran and confirmed that he was in a position to join the Wigan Club. As Curran set foot in London on the friday, he was stepping off the train at Wigan at half past two on the Saturday! (not even having chance to see the Great city of London, his first sight to draw breath would have been Wallgate... just think eh!)

He was immediately escorted up Wallgate, down Standishgate, and into Central Park to witness his first Northern Union game on December 28 against Leigh (Wigan won thanks to a Bert Jenkins hat-trick and Lance Todd with 2). He was "quickly recognised by the crowd and accorded a hearty cheer as he took his seat in the grand stand". Later that evening, Curran signed for Wigan with a 'stiff' price being paid to him.

Wigan had hoped to line him up against Pemberton in a Northern Rugby combination (reserve league) tie just off Greenough Street. He duly did make his appearance against Pemberton on New Years Day 1913. A large crowd turned up, they say the largest for an A-team game for some time, to see Curran make his first appearance in a Wigan jersey. Curran started the game in the fullback position before moving into the centres in the last quarter of an hour. As the Wigan Observer writes "The moment he joined the threequarter line - an event hailed with applause by the crowd - he showed himself as adept as a centre. The game was at once enlivened by his sparkling play, the vigour of his rushes, and the accuracy of his passes.The crowd became highly enthusiastic, and came away with the highest opinion of the new player".

Not bad. Curran needed to get match fit after spending a few weeks on a boat and getting used to the Lancastrian winter weather. He played at centre in another A-team game against Halifax
 and then again against Runcorn A when he scored three tries!

As Shrove Tuesday approached, Wigan had by now scored more points than Huddersfield in the League (466) playing 21, winning 18 to Huddersfields' 20/19 ratio. It was nearly time to unleash Curran! But not yet... after a couple more A-team matches Curran for some reason was not yet ready for the first team. That changed. Quickly. When Wigan faced Morecambe, lets cut to the chase, Wigan won 85-0. In todays money that would be 108-0. Wigan scored 23 tries and 8 goals with Curran scoring five of them and kicking a goal too.


Broughton Rangers, that famous defunct club, came to Central Park on Saturday February 8th in front of 15,000 spectators. This was to be William Currans debut match! The League gap between Huddersfield and Wigan was closing (I suppose this is for another blog) but it was time for Curran to make his debut. Curran scored twice in an 11-2, hard-fought victory. "Curran fully satisfied the Wigan people. He is energetic and intelligent. When he does fail he does his best to minimise and cover up his failure with a never-say-die vigour. When he gets away he runs for all he is worth.He is a conscientious try scorer, we are certain." noted the matchday commentator.

As you can tell, Curran was a bit special. Here is not a place for all of his glories, we shall get to his brilliant 1915 shortly, but the 1912/13 season fizzled out for Wigan in the end, as Huddersfield beat Wigan in the League and they won the Challenge Cup also. Curran ended up playing three matches that season scoring just the twice on his debut. The 1913-14 season was 'normal' shall we say for Billy... playing 22 times in the League scoring only 14 tries. Not really worth mentioning.

It was the 1914-15 season however that Billy Curran unleashed his talents onto the Northern Union. In 31 league matches he scored a whopping 42 tries, with 44 tries in total in all competitions. Only the Great Joe Miller (47 1908-08) and James Leytham (47 1909-10) had achieved better than Curran. The season started well for Wigan with a routinely gritty win over Broughton Rangers with Curran scoring the only try. He bothered the match reporter again the following week at home to Barrow with another simple try but by the time Novmber arrived Billy had played 6  league games scoring three times and a try against Oldham in the Lancashire Cup at the end of October. Unremarkable I know. In the big wide world we the Great War was in full flow but the Northern Union had to this point no intention of stopping matches.

November 1914 proved to be a turning point in Williams season and career. So far at Wigan the great expectation placed upon him since his arrival had somewhat fallen away but after a standard 1913-14 season with Wigan, Curran was now a fully fledged starter. When the League started back up after Lancashire Cup involvement (Wigan had by now reached the Final in December) Curran had his boots firmly tied up! He scored tries in the next four League games against Oldham, Halifax (2), Leigh and Salford (2) only having a break in a loss to Rochdale in the Lancashire Cup Final on December 5th.

Huddersfield, that Great Huddersfield team of the 'Team of all Talents' proved too strong for Wigan on December 19th in 'wretched weather', but Boxing Day was when Currans' remarkable run started. The Old Enemy of St Helens were the opposition and Curran scored when he "tore his way through the opposition" to score in at the corner. He could have had a second try after an intercept but the Saints fullback won the battle at the line whilst Curran was in full flow.

New Years Day saw Hull Kingston Rovers come to Central Park a week after losing to Wigan on Christmas Day. It was a one sided score and William Curran scored 6 tries in a 46-5 win. Curran opened the scoring with a fine try that pleased the wounded soldiers sitting in the stands at Central Park. His last two tries came after long bursting runs. The next gme was against Barrow away, in fact the next day. Curran was left out of the side to rest up as he was unable to play after his exploits the day before.

When he had had a weeks rest after scoring 6 times against Hll KR, Curran bagged another 5 against Broughton Rangers on January 9th. Usually games against Broughton were quite close and tough affairs but Curran especially liked playing against them having scored earlier in the season and on his debut, twice. On the 9th, it was reported that Curran all of his tries came from very clever work on his own account. Two easy tries for him in the first half, a hat-trick in the second. His third try was the try of the match. On the right wing, Curran got the ball after a good passing move then he punted the ball forward, beat Broughton's Davidson on he wing with his speed , collected and scored. Curran was at his best and had now 12 tries in his previous 3 games.

By mid-January Wigan were still third in the table behind Rochdale Hornets and Huddersfield but had played 2 games fewer. Total tries, however we were catching up to Huddersfield and Wigan were dominant with points scored. Wigan were loving January 1915, and so too was Billy Curran. Next up was Swinton at Central Park... and the news didn't change. Wigan won 45-0  with Curran adding another 4 to his recent tally; 20 tries - 4 games. He was at the "zenith of his powers".

A double against Widnes on January 27th brought his total to 23/6. He failed to score in a tight loss to Huddersfield a few days earlier, a game in which he was unlucky not to. But against Widnes Curran played brilliantly again, one try from the half way line in front of 3,000 at Central Park (it was a wednesday night afterall... official records got this date incorrect!) Now we are building up to the 30th January. Wigan's seventh game of the month and Currans sixth. I counted his try on Boxing Day but before the month was out Curran would finish with a total of 27 League tries in 7 matches. TWENTY SEVEN - SEVEN MATCHES. That is one hell of a statistic. Yes, there are reasons why he scored so many, War was on and rugby players were being called up (eg Swinton were nearly depleted hence their 45-0 loss) but from all accounts Curran was untouchable at present.

Runcorn were the visitors to Central Park on January 30th. They lost 73-5 with Billy Curran scoring 4 more tries. His run ended as did January. He would go on to score another 11 League tries as the season fizzled out and War was not going away. Call-ups were bound to happen more and more as the call to arms grew.

Billy Curran played his last game for Wigan on 17th April 1915 in a Championship semi-final against Leeds (who came from nowhere in the League). He ended the season with 44 tries including equalling James Leythams record of scoring 6 tries in a game on January 1st against Hull Kingston Rovers.

On the day that Wigan faced Leeds in the semi-final, news appeared that another Wigan Legend Bert Jenkins (Part of the Greatest backline we had ever seen of Jenkins, Todd, Miller and Laytham) had enlisted to the R.F.A. along with Joe Miller. War was real and was here.

Billy Curran ended his tenure at Wigan having played 66 games, scoring 60 tries. He came here full of expectation and only in the last quarter of his stay id Wigan unleash his talents. His try scoring exploits were brief but remarkable. If there was no War then it may be a different story. Curran would or may be talked about in the same sentences as Billy Boston, Johnny Ring, Martin Offiah or Ellery Hanley in terms of try scoring feats.

As with all rugby players of the time contracts were up during the summer. The world however was in War and Billy went back to his native New Zealand. It took him 9 weeks to return home due to the ongoing War. His brother immediately enlisted whilst Billy looked after his two young sisters who were his dependents. Billy hoped to volunteer on a hospital ship and longed for a 'tussle' once more with his Wigan friends on a rugby field. He did not know whether or not any ship he would end up on would dock at an English port once more.

Thanks Billy

Billy Curran, Wigan 1913-15; 66 appearances, 60 tries.
Heritage Number #231

Professionalism

The Wigan club were going well after the summer of 1894. Interest was growing in the club at their Prescott Street ground not only from local supporters but from players wanting to play for Wigan. A few years earlier, New Zealand entertained 7,000 supporters in Wigan with a team that was the first Colonial side to visit England. Their native mats and head dresses captured the imaginations of the Wigan public which only helped to fuel their interest in rugby all over Yorkshire, Lancashire and along the coast of Cumberland.

Not all was well behind the scenes though. Club chairmen across the North were quietly and secretely talking to each other about the way the game was being run. There seemed to be a clear North/South divide where the administration and player differences were so polarised that it started to become difficult for Northern clubs to keep listening to what Twickenham was telling them, especially when rules favoured the Southern gentry. It was hard, for example, that a player had to earn their daily wage down a coal pit and then find the time to train and play for a rugby club. Sometimes they had to miss out of part of their pay packet to leave early to attend a rugby match in a different county. The Southern rugby clubs didn't really have this problem as a whole, members and players were quite well-to-do and could afford to play and live like normal. There was a feeling that something had to come or happen to change the way the game was being run. The Rugby Football Union outlawed professionalism, or payments to players, and wanted to keep the game an amateur sport. The working classes started to find this amateur status increasingly hard to sustain. Some working class players up North were lucky in that they were allowed to leave work early on a saturday to attend a game but as a whole there were ethical and equality issues continuously being raised.

The popularity of the game of rugby in Yorkshire and Lancashire was huge. It was popular for the working classes to attend a game cheaply for entertainment and with crowds sometimes dwarfing international matches at Twickenham it was clear that clubs could stand on their own two feet financially and not be told or helped from London. With money pouring in through the turnstiles all seemed to be well. What the money was spent on is trivial. The club owners took their slice of course, ground improvements, steward payments or rent are the obvious things... so too were payments to the RFU. As the popularity grew of course, clubs wanted to be the best, and to do that you needed the best players. So how can you go about doing that freely? Not all mills and pits in, Featherstone, for example have the bets players in them, they are spread all over the North. The only way to attract players is to lure them somehow, and with all this money piling up... well, you can see where this is going!

With the steady stream of money coming into clubs and the now newly formed league's the game took off. The sport was becoming more serious as clubs could afford to spend money on dieticians, physical trainers and the opinions and help from quality doctors. The Southern clubs looked at this... and did nothing on the whole. Be it jealousy or inclusiveness there was no doubt that the North and South were running at two different levels, with the Rugby Football Union in the middle, apparently running it all. Pit boys would have a special dinner on a friday night in preparation for a game whilst a Southern accountant in Richmond would end his night drinking Pimms and eating medium-rare veal. Stereotypical? Yes. Apologies, but you get the drift. The Northerns would still down eleven pints of Boddingtons after their healthy lunch but ah well, you see what was happening in this instance of how clubs were being run. The North had the crowds and money to try and be the best whereas the South (although having the money from benefactors) were just Old Etonian-types having a game of rugger at the weekend.

By around 1892, there were reports that players were commonly being paid to play for a club. Club chairmen would have openly known this to themselves as it is obviously clear that one club was doing it on their own. The popularity of the new Northern league's in Yorkshire and Lancashire meant that monthly and annual board league meetings behind closed doors meant for interesting debate... on and off the record. Cries of hypocrisy were being thrown around when representatives from Lancs and Yorks travelled to Twickenham for meetings. The RFU openly turned a blind eye on a number of occasions when southern clubs tried to lure players with cash incentives, with strong evidence backing up the case. In 1893 however the idea of "professionalism" was still something that representatives from the north and south wanted to avoid but tensions were growing towards a breaking point. A player could be paid by a club, for example, for out of pocket expenses, such as train fare or accomodation at a local hotel if the situation suited. Grey areas started to creep in and it was becoming harder to determine what was an expense paid and what was effectively a wage. "Broken time" it seemed had to be paid for in the eyes of the Yorkshire and Lancashire clubs whereas the southern clubs treated this as "veiled professionalism". Manningham and Leeds, in 1892, were charged with professionalism after they had compensated players for missing work to play for their team. It didn't help when the RFU insisted that their meetings were always held in London. The north it seemed, was misrepresented due to the problems of transport at short notice and such like. Another problem was the lack of numbers when northern clubs did manage to send representatives down to Twickenham as the vast majority who attended were from the southern teams.

This next part focuses on Wigan's involvement in professionalism and payments made to an individual regarding this matter. Most of the information and text comes from History of Wigan R.F.C. by J.W. Robinson and F.C. Dove (1946), some of the text is word for word as there isn't a better way to describe events that happened. Thought it would be good to share as copies are rare (I only know of two, I possess one of them, another can be found at The History Shop) and probably forgotten about.

The RFU then went on a spree of banning players and clubs almost at will and sometimes without evidence. This brings us nicely to 1894 and a dispute between the Salford club and Wigan over a player called Miles. In November 1984, there was a charge brought against Wigan for a breach of terms over matters involving a Salford player, Miles. The County Committee who governed rugby in Lancashire met at the Grand Hotel in Manchester (left) on Tuesday 13th November to hear the case. Salford had summoned charges against several clubs, including Wigan in this case, over charging them with professionalism during July. Those present at the meeting were a Mr. F. Glover (presiding), Mr J MacLaren, Mr. J. Saville (Oldham), Mr. G. Poysen (Broughton Rangers), Mr. J. Robertson (Broughton Rangers), Mr. J. E. Warren (Warrington), Mr. E. Healy (Rochdale Hornets), Mr. S. E. Wilson (Liverpool), Mr. J. H. Payne (hon. treasurer) and a Mr. A. M. Crook (hon. secretary). In the defence, Wigan were represented by a Mr. J. W. Clegg, Mr. T. Aspinall and Mr. J. Knowles (president). On the attack by Salford were a Mr. Higson and Mr. Whiteley.

You have to remember at this point, the case is only concerning prominent Lancashire clubs who play their rugby in the Lancashire leagues and does not include any southern team. The charges in this hearing were that Mr Higson (Salford) accused Wigan of paying said player Miles to play for them. In July, Mr. E. Wardle, secretary to the Wigan Football Club, wrote to Mr. Miles saying that he heard he was out of a situation (needed a job), and asking him if it was correct. Miles said it was so. They had a meeeting in Wigan, and it was arranged that Miles should have 30s. per week, and receive it weekly from July to the beginning of the football season. There was also a charge against Mr. E. H. Flowers. Mr Higson said that in the first place, although he had been accused of having vindictive motives, that was the furthest thought in his head, and considering the trouble the whole of the labour of getting together the evidence, one could hardly accuse him of having personal motives. There was nothing personal against the Wigan club so far as he was concerned, nor was there anything vindictive. But so long has that matter had come to the front (payments) and things had come this far, Mr Higson wanted to know or ask if the time was right when something must be done. Either they must get rid of the veiled professional and 'not cheat' - or - they must declare for professionalism and do the thing in an open manner. He explained his reasonings and thoughts and told the committee that Wigan (and others) could be suspended. "You are all as guilty as we are. Now what are you going to do. Are you prepared to say that you will have professionalism, or go on in the old sweet way of taking players from one club to another and offering them money?".

Salford's Mr Higson didn't have a problem as such with Wigan. Miles wasn't a brilliant player or crowd-puller but it was the circumstance and principle that had edged the Salford club to do something like this. Most other clubs had done the same thing in trying to lure players for their own game. it was a secret game, a way of bending the rules. Mr Higson it seemed had had enough and was fed up of the tip-toeing and secret handshaking between clubs and players. It was time to ask the question about going professional or not. But at this meeting, Wigan were in the dock and matters had to be resolved before a possible foundation of a new sport. So, back to the Grand Hotel, Manchester but first, this picture shows the Wigan team of 1889/90 with Ellis Wardle (middle second left) being an old boy, Wigan had the West Lancs Championship and Wigan Union Cup....

Mr. Clegg (Wigan) objected to what Mr Higson had said on the grounds that it was a mere report of a meeting (between Wigan and Mr. Miles), and was not pertinent to the case before them. The Chairman held that as Mr Higson had been attacked and defended in the press, it was only fair that he should be allowed an explanation from Wigan as to why and what happened between club and player. Clegg stated that he was unaware of any hounding in the press towards Mr Higson before the Chair of this meeting decided that the hearing should go ahead leading to Mr Higson's evidence.

Mr. Clegg said that he would like to raise a technical objection under the rules of professionalism. The laws of the union required that in a charge of professionalism the person concerned should be a member of the club affected. Miles might have been in negotiation for a place in the Wigan team, still his transfer was never applied for, and he was never a member of the Wigan club.

The Chairman said that a note would be taken of the objection, but it seemed to him that if the committee thought there was anything approaching veiled or open professionalism they were bound to investigate it. There was no doubt about it that there was a prima fancie case made out, and he thought they ought to go on with the inquiry. Mr Higson continued, saying that in July last, Mr. E. Wardle wrote to Miles saying that he had heard that Miles was not going to play for the Salford club and was out of a situation, and he asked him to write and let him know if that was the case. Miles replied that this was the case. Mr. Wardle in reply asked to meet with Miles, to which Miles and a second person travelled to Wigan a few days later to meet with the Finance Committee of the club. They had agreed to give him 30s. per week, a sum which was sent every week since July to the beginning of the football season, when Miles decided to play for Salford.

The Chairmen then read a letter sent from Mr Wardle of Wigan to Mr Higson for consent to Miles' transfer. Mr Higson replying stated that he would let the application lie over until the next committee meeting before concluding in his letter "If rumour is true, I would advise you to be careful". In reply from the Wigan club, Mr Wardle's letter was brief but stated that "As far as rumours are concerned, my club has nothing to fear". In reply to Wigan's statement, Mr Higson told the committee that Mr Miles wanted to play with Salford and there would be no need for Wigan to apply for his transfer. He then asked whether the Wigan Club admitted they were guilty or not?

"I want you to prove your case" interrupted Mr Clegg. After a hint of hate in the tone of their verbal exchange, Mr Higson continued: "I want to epxlain the difficulties that have cropped up. Until friday last I was not aware that Miles had any intention of not turning up here, but I have received this letter from him:-"

Wigan President Mr. Knowles had kept quiet for long enough during the meeting and proceeded to ask if Mr. Higson had read the letter through? The Chairmen then re-read the letter, the same just read by Higson, only for one difference. One of the sentences read "I think if you considered me at all you would have brought the other club first and given Barrett and Rangeley a chance". Was Mr. Higson trying to keep something from everyone else here? Who knows. Mr. Higson continued "the day before the Swinton match, [Salford] had a committee meeting at which most of the members were present, along with Miles, Barrett and Smith." Having an idea that the worst might happen, Higson asked those men to give their statements before the committee that they had before given him personally. He would prove the statement he had made by calling committee-men who would say that what he told them was what he (Mr. Higson) had told the County Committee that night. To this, Mr. Clegg asked Mr. Higson what steps he had taken to get Miles there that night - sensing a possible bit of hypocrisy.

Mr. Higson replied and said he had written a letter to Miles: "I need hardly tell you that the Wigan inquiry will take place on Tuesday next, at the Grand Hotel. I trust you will be present to give evidence. I am told that you are doubtful whether to turn up or not. This would be suicidal on your part, as no doubt the Wigan people will swear all sorts of things in your absence, and it is to your ersonal interest to be present". Mr Clegg sarcastically in reply (or outburst): "That is not vindictive". The first witness was then called, a Mr. Walmesley who was in attendance in that committee meeting on the 12th October the day before the Swinton match. He said that it was put to Miles whether he was prepared to give the Wigan club away. He said 'yes' and that he had received 30s. a week during summer, and that he had met Mr. Wardle and several other men in Wigan.

Wigan's Clegg, feeling a bit cross, piped up: "What do you mean by saying that he was asked to give the Wigan club away?" Mr Crook, the secretary, asked the witness whether Mr. Higson had asked Miles, he said it was. Crook asked whether those words were used [to give away...] with Walmesley replying "I could not say. I could not give you the words he used, but they were words to that effect" The witness then confirmed it was indeed 30s. per week that Miles was given. At this point, speaking for the witness and to further his argument, Mr. Higson stated that he [Mr. Walmesley] had met miles on many occasions, and he had expressed himself in a confidential manner to him, and he would rather not say as to whether Miles had told him on any other occasion that he was getting 30s. a week. But it was commonly known in Salford and Wigan as well. Mr. Greenhalgh, ground secretary to the Salford club, backed up the witness statement of Mr. Walmesley.

After Mr. Higson reported to the County Committee that Miles had received payment via postal orders from Wigan's Mr. Wardle, Clegg (feeling more and more weight on his shoulders) said "Mr. Higson asked Miles whether he had anything to say respecting this connection with the Wigan club. It was a meeting to consider the subject of professionalism, and to consider the course of action they should take. Miles was a member of the committee. He could not say whether Mr. Higson said to Miles 'Are you prepared to give Wigan away?'". Higson immediately denied that he said those words to Miles and that Mr. Walmesley had misunderstood him. Another member at the Salford committee meeting on the 12th October, a Mr. Rowse, also gave corroborative evidence when asked. Trying to tie things up in simple terms, the County Committee honorary treasurer Mr. Payne, who had been taking it all in, tried to summarise the past few minutes of talk: "The rumour that money was being paid to Miles by Wigan was in everyone's mouth. About July it assumed definite shape. They got to know the specific sum on 12th October". Plenty of silent nods in the room, with the stiff necks from the Wigan trio at this point.

Following it? To this point, Wigan had denied any wrong-doing whereas the evidence was stacking up against them. A sip of Whiskey and a cigar later it was time for the next witness. A Mr. Robert Hoare Collier said he was not a member of the Salford club, and had only seen them play once. About July last he was playing bowls with Miles at the Waggon and Horses, Patricroft, and he asked him if he would go to Wigan that afternoon. Miles first went to Pendleton, where he drew some "divi" (cash) out of the Co-operative stores. They went together, and he could not say whether they got off at Ince or Wigan (an easy mistake). They had some refreshments and then went to meet Ellis Wardle. They met him and also another person, and then they went to headquarters. Miles was then taken away from witness, who was left by himself. When he came back he told witness that they had offered him 30s. a week during the close season, and in the winter they were either to give him the money or its equivalent, which he understood to mean finding him a situation (job). The Chairman stated for the record that Miles paid for his own rail fare, tea and everything else, hence drawing out some "divi".

Mr Higson carried on the story "Witness and Miles were taken to the station, and in the train Miles said that he must not forget to go on Thursday to Wigan to appear before the Finance Committee. Witness did not go with him on Thursday, but when he came home he said it was all right, and that he would play for Wigan next season. On the Saturday morning following he received a letter, and there was money inside it, but the amount he could not tell exactly." Mr Knowles (Wigan president) asked if Miles had shown the witness the letter, which he had. Mr. Warren of Warrington, eager to be involved, asked the witness who summoned him to give evidence. Witness Collier stated that it was Mr. Higson. Warren kept on grilling, "What is your object in coming here to split on a "pal"?.. Miles was a great friend of yours... you allowed him to pay your expenses... you object to that?.. nowt else?". To be fair, the questioning from the Warrington member was a bit pointless, The witness Collier simply went to Wigan as a friend with costs covered, nothing untoward. Warren must now have been happy to be involved after being silent for a few hours. Collier stated at the end that Miles did not owe him any money and they were no longer friends after an unrelated episode. The Salford case was then closed. Mr. Clegg asked whether it was necessary on the evidence (against Wigan) called by Mr. Higson to produce any for the defence.

The Chairman, in defence and trying his best to sum up events so far, said it was perfectly true that Miles was written to and asked whether he had severed his connections with the Salford club, and if so would he join Wigan. He wrote back saying that was so, and that if he could get a place in the Wigan team he would quickly take it. Miles came over to Wigan and saw Wardle, and the latter would say what took place. He (Mr. Clegg) thought it was perhaps true what Collier said about going to Wigan, because he believed that several of the players met together that night and two or three of the committee. Miles was then asked whether he would play for Wigan, and he rpelied that he would, but wanted to know whether there was any chance of his being found a situation. He was distinctly told that to promise him a situation would be against the laws of the game, and that they could not make any such terms with him. If he liked to look out for himself he would be at perfect liberty to do so, and probably when he got known he would easily find a situation. The wigan committee offered him no inducement to Miles to leave the Salford club. As soon as they heard that Salford had noobjection and that Miles had decided to stay with them, they dropped the matter and made no further application for his transfer. The present case was not brought from any vindictiveness on the part of Mr. Higson. He was a sort of football Judas who went about betraying everyone.

Mr Clegg, finding the higher ground, said " it was only after the Radcliffe case was brought up, and Salford found themselves in a hole that they decided to pull everyone down with them. If there was any truth in Mr. Higson's statement he would be willing to lie low, because they got Miles back, and it was all they wanted. But, according to a witness, he asked Miles straight whether he was prepared to give Wigan away... Mr Higson at this point was surely shaking his head at this now infamous question. Did they think that proper conduct on the part of a club secretary who wished to get at the truth, and do nothing but justice? To Clegg it showed that there was nothing in Mr. Higson's desire that justice should be done to everybody. He thought the best thing the County Committee could do was no evidence proved against Wigan. He would also ask for their consideration of his technical objection. Still feeling a bit unsure about his witness statement, Mr. Walmesley said he wished to make an explanation of his statement. He felt that he could not tie himself to the words used by Mr. Higson and that he did not carry the exact words in his head.

Trying to push things forward, Mr. Payne, the Committee treasurer, asked if Salford could explain what the 'intercourse' was between them and Miles in August; also what interviews took place between Miles and the Salford Committee at the time the application of Wigan was withdrawn. Mr. Walmesley replied that there were rumours flying around that Miles was to join Wigan and that he himself felt anxious regarding the matter. Walmesley went to Patricoft to see Miles, and the latter made a similar statement to the one made to the committee. He talked to Miles, and told him that if he went it would mean that they would get him into trouble. The Chairman then asked Walmesley whether Miles had refunded Wigan their money. Walmesley said that he had, and he helped him to do it as he was in financial difficulties. An unhappy looking Mr. Wardle, the Wigan secretary, was then called, and denied that they had paid any money to Miles. Mr. higson - probably staring at Mr Wardle, said "he [Wardle] had no private conversation with Miles whilst Collier was present. Miles said he would come to Wigan if they would give him a place in the team. He gave Miles 5s. as expenses. He did not promise to find him a situation. He denied sending any postal orders to Miles".

Wigan produced their 'books' for inspection to the Committee. John Armstrong, the Wigan treasurer, was called and denied that he had ever sent money to Miles, nor had he any knowledge of money being sent. He was asked by Mr. Knowles whether anyone else was paid money, to which Armstrong replied 'No', an answer backed up by Mr. S. Swift, the chairman of the Wigan Committee... of course, the Wiganers were denying everything thrown at them at this point. The end was nye, Mr. Higson, probably with a dry mouth and feeling parched, made a few final remarks regarding the case and the Wigan evidence. Mr. Clegg then mentioned that he spoke to Mr. Whiteley, of Salford, on the day of the Salford match at Wigan, and that Mr. Whiteley had said that the reason Miles did not play was that he was afraid to come to Wigan. He replied that it was the first time he knew that Miles was not a favourite with the Wigan crowd, and he was sure, if Miles had come, he would have been treated with every respect, as all other players were who came on the Wigan ground. Mr whiteley in reply: "It does not alter the fact that he refused to come". Mr. Clegg wondered why miles had not refused to come before (in previous games) and suggested that he always played against Wigan because Wigan didn't approach him then.

The room fell silent, probably, as any more talk would be repetition. The committee went off for deliberation, a cigar or two and weighed up the evidence. The Chairman announced their decision upon their return:

The Committee decalre Miles a professional; (2) the committee are satisfied that Wigan paid Miles money as an inducement to transfer his services to Wigan, and are guilty of professionalism, and they are suspended till 1st February; and (3) that Wigan be struck out of the Cup Competition under Rule 21.

And that was it. Wigan had been found guilty of professionalism and suspended for three months. Salford's Mr. Higson was not vindictive at all, just going after principle and code. There is evidence to suggest that Higson wanted to use this Wigan hearing to further argue a case for going professional or discussing why payments should be allowed. Wigan were guilty, it is obvious. Many other clubs were too, even Salford and Leigh for the same 'crime' as Manningham and Leeds were a few years earlier. Despite Wigan denying everything, and the actions of Mr. Miles by, for example, not turning up for a game against Wigan despite doing so in previous seasons, the Wigan club were punished. Yes they were guilty but on evidence it seemed like a Kangaroo court. Mr Higson asked Miles whether he was willing to bring Wigan down. Witnesses said this was so but later thought about it and changed their wording. Salford were in the bother at that moment too, involving a player called Radcliffe, and as Mr. Clegg stated, Salford wanted to bring everyone down with them. Was there enough time to pick on Warrington, Liverpool, Broughton Rangers or Rochdale or was it the fact that Salford had a ready homemade story to produce with a guaranteed hearing at the end of it. Even though the Committee at the hearing were meant to be unbiased, and represented by many Lancashire league clubs, it did seem that Salford were now unpopular in openly holding a gun to their own heads, as well as everyone elses. This information would obviously not be kept from Twickenham, but it could have done so if Salford had took their punishment of the Radcliffe affair well, like Leigh had done. No, they wanted to take others down with them. Privately and off the record, the Lancashire clubs would be backed up by Yorkshire if they wanted to progress payments to players, like compensating a player for 'broken time' or paying one club a fee for the services of a player.

It may not be official, or even thought upon in meetings, but it seemed like it was time to break away from Twickenham and go it alone once and for all. For information, Mr. Clegg tendered his resignation to the County Committee, but in the long run it didn't matter. Less than a year later, a meeting of club secretaries at the Spread Eagle Hotel, Manchester, apparently decided to form a professional code breaking away from the Rugby Football Union, and the meeting was convened for the purpose of arranging fixtures for the first professional season. The fixture list was not completed at this first meeting on 3rd September 1895 and it was two days later at the George Hotel, Huddersfield (left), when the fixtures arranged were submitted and ratified and a list of referees was also chosen.

Wigan's first match was to play Broughton Rangers on 7th September at Wheater's Field in the first weekend of fixtures in this breakaway code, with Wigan winning 9-0 with Billy Yates (right) having the honour of being Wigan's first try scorer in the Northern Union. The Northern Union was formed. The Wigan Observer stated that "The recent developments in the matter of Rugby football authority have excited no little interest in Wigan. All along the feeling has been expressed that freedom from the thraldom of the Southern gentry was the best thing that could happen... The new state of affairs will prove a veritable source of joy to many clubs in the North and Lancashire in particular. Wigan will quickly feel the benefit and spectators will see football played as it ought to be." The Wigan spectators had to wait until the 28th September to see this new code. They did not see football 'as it ought to be' in a 0-0 draw with local side Tyldesley at Prescott Street. Salford did not join the Northern Union as they remained loyal to Twickenham and the Rugby Union. Perhaps feeling a bit cold with a poor quality of opponent, they eventually joined the Northern Union in 1896 - with only three members opposing the move. Mr. Higson perhaps? who knows.

The original teams were (from wikipedia): The 22 clubs and their years of foundation were: Batley FC 1880, Bradford FC 1863, Brighouse Rovers FC 1878, Broughton Rangers FC 1877, Halifax FC 1873, Huddersfield FC 1864, Hull 1865, Hunslet FC 1883, Leeds FC 1864, Leigh FC 1878, Liversedge FC 1877, Manningham F.C. 1876, Oldham FC 1876, Rochdale Hornets FC 1871, Runcorn 1895, Stockport 1895, St Helens FC 1873, Tyldesley FC 1879, Wakefield Trinity FC 1873, Warrington FC 1876, Widnes FC 1875, Wigan FC 1872. Dewsbury felt unable to comply with the new code but eventually joined in 1898 as a new club with help from rivals Batley 9who simply wanted to play debry matches again).

Sources:

Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_Football_League

The Great Schism: http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/Schism.html

History of Wigan R.F.C. 1872-1946, J. W. Robinson and F.C. Dove (1946)

The Wigan Observer, numerous editions 1893-1896

Myself.