what a waste of money

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  • #132140
    jimmycjimmyc
    Player
      When the time comes, and hopefully that will not be soon, I am sure there will be a statue outside the stadium.

      Tazdevil is right. Would be nice for the town to recognise whelan sooner rather than later though.

      #132143
      SammySammy
      Player

        When the time comes, and hopefully that will not be soon, I am sure there will be a statue outside the stadium.

        Tazdevil is right. Would be nice for the town to recognise whelan sooner rather than later though.[/quote]

        I hope it’s made of bronze so we can make a wish and rub the leg – and I know this may come as a shock to many of you – that he broke in the 1960 FA Cup Final and make it all nice and shiny, like.

        #132150
        The EggThe Egg
        Chairman
          Even the most blinkered of Rugby fan would have to admit that without him they would not have been in existence. Oh alright they are to twisted to admit that. :whistle:

          He sort of burned his bridges with that one when he moved a playoff game.

          My “Welcome to the home of Wigan Athletic” comments when getting a coach from The DW didn’t go down too well :P

          #132159
          Zeb2Zeb2
          Player

            For a start I’d hope anyone with any shred of sense wouldn’t piss on any statue regardless of the subject.

            I’m not really in favour of statues of sportsmen being erected anywhere other than at or close to sports venues, town centre or city centre statues should be confined to those who have a long and distinguished civic record or maybe military service.

            Anyroad as far as Billy Boston is concerned, he was an all time great in his sport, a pioneer for black sportsmen in this country and has lived most of his life here. He served me my last pint as a free man in The Griffin before I got wed across the road.!.. And on the few occasions I’ve met him, he’s come across as a right gent. He’s also as many have said a regular and long standing attendee at Latics … So God bless him and good luck to him I say .

            #132160

            Does anyone know the identity of the person/persons behind this proposal, I agree that in wigan rugby league terms he is a legend, but that is in a small pond, he is not the biggest name in world rugby league, it his highly debateable if he was even the best, as some of the rugby fans are stating.

            He was a servant to wigan rugby for many years, but rugby fans should not fool themselves into thinking if rugby union had been professional when he played the self appointed biggest team in rugby would have not stood a cat in hells chance of signing him.

            Call me cynical if you like but I find it strange and highly amusing this announcement has been made during the biggest and best team sports competition in the world, which has taken place smack in the middle of the rugby league season and actually removed this minority regional sport off the radar, good god even the last bastion of support for rugby league, the WEP have at times relegated rugby to the inside pages in favour of the global number one team game. When was the last time a player of any note or one that is world renowned in either code actually been signed by a British rugby league team?

            I honestly believe this whole statue escapade has been perpetrated by wigan rugby league fans desperately clinging on by their collective finger nails as the sport they follow slowly dies, as a national entity let alone world one, in the face of competition from Football and the much more popular Rugby Union.

            I have nothing only respect for Billy Boston and what he achieved during his career and the fact that he is a thoroughly nice and likeable person, but a monument in the town centre, do me a favour.

            #132161

            When the time comes, and hopefully that will not be soon, I am sure there will be a statue outside the stadium.

            Tazdevil is right. Would be nice for the town to recognise whelan sooner rather than later though.[/quote]

            Quite right, and a perfect precedence has been set by Mr Jimmy Armfield CBE (Ex-England Captain) who unveiled his own statue outside the football ground he played for. If the club and supporters are to bestow this honour on Mr Whelan, whilst he is still ‘with us’ then the supporters’ club can get the ball rolling – just toss a few ideas around and it will soon gather momentum.

            #132163

            The guy is a wigan legend IMO & though i totally detest rugby, i would have no problem with it. Having met the bloke on numerous occassions during my pool playing days for poolstock LC/Beer Engine then Poacher, i have total respect for the guy & a top bloke to boot. I saw him a few times at springfield park myself & conversations would either be latics or pool – never rugby though.

            Also because he was a legend in his position, he actually kept my grandad from playing in the first team.

            #132168
            jrfatfanjrfatfan
            Player

              If you go to any football or Rugby Union ground on match day in the southern half of England and ask if they have heard of Billy Boston, the answer in 99% of cases will be no. Ask the same people if they have heard of Dave Whelan and the answer will be more like 60%-75% yes.

              I’ve nothing against Billy Boston, he may have been a great rugby player in his time, but unfortunately Rugby League had similar popularity to crown green bowling when BB was around and probably still has, so great in Rugby league = OK in crown green bowling.
              There are far bigger stars to come from Wigan than BB, Mr Whelan certainly being one of them.
              :whistle:

              From Matlock to ManU
              What a journey!

              #132170
              If you go to any football or Rugby Union ground on match day in the southern half of England and ask if they have heard of Billy Boston, the answer in 99% of cases will be no. Ask the same people if they have heard of Dave Whelan and the answer will be more like 60%-75% yes.

              I’ve nothing against Billy Boston, he may have been a great rugby player in his time, but unfortunately Rugby League had similar popularity to crown green bowling when BB was around and probably still has, so great in Rugby league = OK in crown green bowling.
              There are far bigger stars to come from Wigan than BB, Mr Whelan certainly being one of them.
              :whistle:

              And a great reminder of what he has done for the town, the club and of course in recognition of our great FA Cup win. Get the ball rolling sir.

              #132171
              vincehillvinceHill
              Player

                I am not a fan of Rugby. League in any way shape or form and the crumbling of the ‘rugby town ‘ myth over the past ten years has given me great pleasure although certain tacky radio stations still adhere to it.However that aside I recognise that certain RL players have legendary status because they didn’t get paid a huge salary and had their heads smashed regularly to please people from Ince,Scholes and Whelley.
                Billy Boston is like George Best in that he excelled in the sport when TV sport was in its infancy in the late fifties and sixties and he undoubtedly worked his tripe off for Wigan RL and is rightfully a legend of this sport.He probably wouldn’t be known in other parts of the country but he most certainly is known in the rugby league heartlands of Lancashire and Yorkshire as a true legend of the sport.
                No sporting figure from this town has had the same impact he had and no sporting figure has shown the dignity and humanity that Billy displays to the general public when he is out and about.
                I saw him once outside the ground after a stuffing by somebody or other and he smiled and said hello as he probably does to anybody who acknowledges him.
                decent bloke,brilliant sportsman and worthy of a statue in my opinion!

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