Warriors Rugby player Billy Boston Statue by sculptor Steve Winterburn, in Believe Square, The Wiend, Wigan, Lancs WN1 1PF
Image details
Contributor:
Tony Smith / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
2MKF8CYFile size:
57.1 MB (1.7 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
3648 x 5472 px | 30.9 x 46.3 cm | 12.2 x 18.2 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
27 January 2023Location:
Believe Sq, The Wiend, Wigan, Lancashire, England, UK, WN1 1PFMore information:
William John Boston, MBE (born 6 August 1934) is a Welsh former professional rugby league footballer who played as a wing or centre. Born in Cardiff, Wales, Boston started his career as a rugby union player before joining Wigan in 1953. He spent the next 15 years at Wigan, where he scored a club-record 478 tries in his 488 appearances for the club. He finished his career at Blackpool Borough before retiring in 1970. He also represented Great Britain in 31 Test matches, and was part of the team that won the 1960 Rugby League World Cup. Regarded as one of the sport's greatest ever players, Boston scored a total of 571 tries in his career, making him the second-highest try scorer in rugby league history. He is an original inductee of the British Rugby League Hall of Fame, Welsh Sports Hall of Fame and Wigan Warriors Hall of Fame, and was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1996 Birthday Honours "for services to the community in Wigan, Greater Manchester." Early life Born on 6 August 1934 at Angelina Street, Butetown, Cardiff, Boston was the sixth of eleven children born to John Boston (a merchant seaman from Sierra Leone) and Nellie who came from Cardiff's Irish community On 13 March 1953 Wigan chairman Joe Taylor and vice-chairman Billy Gore travelled to Boston's home in Cardiff and offered him £1, 000 to sign for them. Although that was very large offer, Boston's mother rejected it on his behalf. A second offer of £1, 500 was made in cash, and the money was spread out on the table in five pound notes to show the family how much money it was. Boston stated that he still did not want to sign, but his mother had given their word, and Boston signed the contract. Boston made his 'A' team début a crowd of 8, 000 assembled inside Central Park, Wigan. He made his first team début against Barrow in November 1953 scoring a try. Billy Boston played stand-off in Wigan's 8–13 defeat by Oldham in the 1957–58 Lancashire Cup Final