Friday night’s game against Hull Kingston Rovers will mark the latest major milestone in the history of Wigan rugby league, as we become the first club to hit 5000 first-class competitive games.
As a result of an emergency meeting in Manchester on 27 August 1895, prominent Lancashire clubs declared their support to Yorkshire colleagues in the proposal to form a Northern Union – this is when club records were initially documented.
So what constitutes a first-class game in rugby league?
The Record Keepers’ Club (RKC) was formed to establish a common basis for recognising rugby league records in conjunction with the Rugby Football League, which formulated the principles to determine what constitutes a first-class game.
Consequently, the RKC has the following principle to determine games for club matches: games from matches and tournaments recognised by the Northern Rugby Football Union (NU) / Rugby Football League (RFL), involving teams from member and affiliate clubs.
The status of the match at the time of kick-off determines its inclusion, regardless of whether the match or tournament concluded; thus, games which were abandoned, or later expunged or ordered to be replayed, are included, as well as any replayed matches.
For the avoidance of doubt, after the close of the 1914-15 season for the remainder of World War I, all games were arranged on a friendly basis and are therefore not included as first-class games. The games re-commenced in January 1919, as part of the 1918-19 season, and these games are included. In contrast, first-class games were played throughout World War II and therefore are included.
Now that we have clarified the rules, it seems quite simple. Then the controversial match, played in 1936 against Côte Basque, came to light. Initially documented as a friendly, it didn’t appear in Wigan’s original records; however, after long deliberations, it was accepted as a first-class match as the RFL had originated an initial four-game tour, and it’s included in the 5000.
The first official game of Wigan’s 5000 came on the 7 September 1895 against Broughton Rangers at Wheater’s Field, Broughton, in front of 3,000 spectators. Wigan won th match 9-0 with Bill Yates creating history by scoring Wigan’s first ever try in the Northern Union.
Following three consecutive away matches, Wigan’s first home game was played on 28 September 1895 at Prescott Street against Tyldesley. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.
Over the 130 years since the introduction of the Northern League and, more recently, the Super League competition, Wigan have been involved in countless epic encounters, produced many quality international players whose names are written in the club’s folklore, all whilst creating rugby league history throughout the journey.
Although Wigan won eight trophies in the pre-Northern Union era, their transition to the new format wasn’t an initial success. It took the Club seven years to win their first trophy, which came in the form of the Lancashire League in 1901-1902.
It’s somewhat difficult to select the best individual match from 5000. Certain games will always spring to mind, such as defeating the New Zealand tourists in 1907-08, followed by wins against Australia in 1909 and 1911. Flimby and Fothergill in 1924-25, when Wigan created their biggest ever score, 116. 1929, defeating Dewsbury in the first Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. Then, in more recent times, the 1965 and 1985 Challenge Cup Finals.
The iconic 1987 World Club Challenge v Manly. In 1998, Wigan became the winners of the first Grand Final, the final game at Central Park in 1999, and who can forget the trophy-laden 2024 season.
Due to the challenge of selecting standout games over the 130 years, we have chosen to explore our 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 games.
The 1,000th game was played on 9 September 1925 at Central Park, Wigan, against Hunslet, a side that would create history years later in the 1965 Challenge Cup Final. This was a league game, and Wigan ran out victors 30-0.
1. Jim Sullivan, 2. Johnny Ring, 3. Tommy Howley, 4. David Booysen, 5. Attie van Heerden, 6. Danny Hurcombe, 7. Syd Jerram, 8. Tom Beetham, 9. Jack Price, 10. Wilf Hodder, 11. George van Rooyen, 12. John Sherrington, 13. Robert Ilsley.
Try Scorers: Johnny Ring (x2), Jim Sullivan (x2), John Sherrington, Attie van Heerden with Jim Sullivan kicking 6 Goals.
Jim Sullivan had scored all Wigan’s points in the first with two tries and three goals, giving Wigan a 12-0 lead. It wasn’t until the final 15 minutes that the other 18 points Wigan added to their score. Robert Ilsley made his Wigan debut in the game.
Game 2,000 was played on 9 April 1949, once again a League match at Central Park, Wigan, against Warrington. Wigan were comfortable winners by 26-7.
Programme from Wigan’s 2,000 game against Warrington
1. Jack Cunliffe, 2. Brian Nordgren, 3. Jack Broome, 4. Johnny Lawrenson, 5. Jack Hilton, 6. Ernie Ashcroft, 7. Johnny Alty, 8. Ken Gee, 9. Joe Egan, 10. Frank Barton, 11. Nat Silcock, 12. Ted Slevin, 13. Bill Hudson.
Try Scorers: Johnny Alty, Frank Barton, Jack Hilton, Johnny Lawrenson, Brian Nordgren, Les White, Ken Gee kicking 4 Goals.
Game 3,000 was played 11 September 1971, another League game at Central Park, Wigan, against Bramley. Wigan experienced a comfortable win 53-3.
Programme from Wigan’s 3,000 game against Bramley
1. Colin Tyrer, 2. Phil Eastham, 3. Bill Francis, 4. Kevin O’Loughlin, 5. Peter Rowe, 6. David Hill, 7. Warren Ayres 8. Brian Hogan, 9. Colin Clarke, 10. Geoff Fletcher, 11. Dennis Ashcroft, 12. Eddie Cunningham, 13. Bill Ashurst. Subs 14. Dave Gandy, 15. Frank Parr
Try Scorers: Warren Ayres (x2), Kevin O’Loughlin (x2), Bill Ashurst, Eddie Cunningham, Geoff Fletcher, Peter Rowe, Dave Gandy, Colin Clarke, Bill Francis, Colin Tyrer kicking 10 Goals
Game 4,000 was played 13 August 1995, against Leeds at the Royal Dublin Showground, Dublin, Ireland. The game would be for the Charity Shield, a trophy awarded to British rugby league clubs, which was held as a one-off match at the start of a new season.
Programme from Wigan’s 4,000 game against Leeds
It was modelled on English football’s Charity Shield, and was held between 1985 and 1995. Normally, the team that had won the previous season’s championship would play the team currently holding the Challenge Cup.
However, Wigan held both the championship and Challenge Cup and played Leeds, the Championship runners-up. Leeds prospects of winning the game were pretty much ruined when Marcus Vassilakopolous, playing at Scrum Half, was sent off in the 9th minute. Wigan took the lead and control of the game with a 23-8 half-time lead as the final score finished 45-20.
1. Henry Paul, 2. Jason Robinson, 3. Va’aiga Tuigamala, 4. Gary Connolly, 5. Kris Radlinski, 6. Nigel Wright, 7. Craig Murdock, 8. Kelvin Skerrett, 9. Martin Hall, 10. Neil Cowie, 11. Simon Haughton, 12. Mick Cassidy, 13. Andy Farrell. Subs: Terry O’Connor, Rob Smyth, Andy Johnson, Matthew Knowles.
Try Scorers: Nigel Wright (x2), Mick Cassidy, Gary Connolly, Andy Farrell, Simon Haughton, and Terry O’Connor. Goals: Andy Farrell (x8). Drop Goal: Nigel Wright.
Looking forward, if we take the average games per season into account, the 6,000 milestone game should be around 2051. Regarding Super League, where the average games have decreased significantly, we are looking towards 2063.