josie andrews wrote: ↑Wed Aug 07, 2024 12:03 am
Sad news but his second eldest daughter passed away a couple of days ago
So sad to hear this Josie and he still showed up for the game. He has just gone up another notch in my estimation of this true Legend.
It was wonderful to see him getting the applause from the crowd to celebrate his 90th birthday.
They haven’t told him
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
Happy birthday Billy one of the all time greats watched you play at central park and Wembley when I was a teenager with my friend Jessie king Billy the best player I've ever seen Ellery ran you close
Apparently, as a very young child, I've been there when he played, but unfortunately don't remember anything!
Something he said in an interview about 10 years ago (maybe for his 80th birthday?) has always stuck with me. Can't remember the exact words, but basically he said that he considered himself a Wiganer because "nobody ever called me a n***** in Wigan". Poor reflection on how things were back then. But you look at some of the rubbish happening around the country today, and maybe we've still got a way to go. Glad he found lasting happiness in our great club and town.
Stanfax wrote: ↑Thu Aug 08, 2024 12:04 am
Apparently, as a very young child, I've been there when he played, but unfortunately don't remember anything!
Something he said in an interview about 10 years ago (maybe for his 80th birthday?) has always stuck with me. Can't remember the exact words, but basically he said that he considered himself a Wiganer because "nobody ever called me a n***** in Wigan". Poor reflection on how things were back then. But you look at some of the rubbish happening around the country today, and maybe we've still got a way to go. Glad he found lasting happiness in our great club and town.
Great point, Stanfax.
I'm sure that having Billy as my hero from when I was about 11 to 15 made it difficult for me to join in with any of the racist language that was common then. I remember thinking along the lines of "How can there be anything wrong with being black - Billy Boston is black?"
