Re: Team of All-Time: FULLBACK VOTE

ancientnloyal · Post by **ancientnloyal** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 9:51 am

As Wigan are 140 years old in September I instigated a vote to find our Team of All Time. Each month there will be a vote for each position. This month we will start with the Fullbacks and some legendary names we have! In an earlier thread I asked to get in some nominations and so here they are:
- Jim Sullivan
- Steve Hampson
- Martin Ryan
- George Fairbairn
- Ray Ashby
- Colin Tyrer
- Joe Lydon
- Kris Radlinski

I will try and give a paragraph for their case to be rewarded the #1 jersey as many may not remember the players or even heard of some of the older ones, ifg you're a kid or casual supporter.

Now for the nominees: The Case For...

...Jim Sullivan
Joined from Cardiff Rugby Union as a 17 year-old in June 1921, Jim Sullivan went on to make 774 appearances for Wigan amassing 4,883 points. Over a 25 year playing career he holds the record for appearances and points scored - a feat that will never be bettered or even anyone will come close to. He captained wigan at the first Challenge Cup final at Wembley (Empire Stadium) and was part of the team that blew away Flimby & Fothergill in a 116-0 victory on Valentine's Day 1925 - where he still holds the club record for goals and points in a game. He later coached Wigan to success after his playing days were over. Wigan and Jim Sullivan roll off the tongue.

...Steve Hampson
Steve Hampson and his long flowing hair could fly. You knew that when an opposition player put up a bomb - Steve would normally be under it and 99% of the time, he would catch it no matter how much pressure he was under. Steve made 304 appearances for Wigan from 1983-1993 in a decade which restored the Wigan club to greatness. He won 23 honours including being part of the Wigan-Manly game at Central Park. Unlucky with injury, Steve missed 3 Wembley finals before finally walking out in 1989 to glory. As natural a jumped, positionar and catcher as a fullback could be, Steve gave flare and security to an all conquering Wigan team.

...Martin Ryan
Martin Ryan was seen as a pioneer in the fullback position. He took over the #1 jersey from a little known player called Jim Sullivan and added attacking flare to a sound defensive style of play. Being an ex-centre, Ryan adapted his skills and knowledge and applied it to the fullback position. Having more time on his hands playing deep he could see the field and pinpoint his attacks accordingly. He played 300 times for Wigan between 1940 and 1953 and was part of the all-dominating post-war team that swept all before them. Without Ryan the fullback position, possibly, wouldn't have developed as it did.

...George Fairbairn
The problem here was, Wigan had a world class player in a second-rate team. George Fairbairn played for Wigan between 1974 and 1981 - one of Wigan's most barren and turbulent times. He played 175 times for Wigan in a team battling with relegation and dwindling crowds. He was so good that when Wigan got relegated in 1980 he won the league's Man of Steel award and only Wigan GB-representative. Watching Fairbairn would have been like watching Lionel Messi play for Crawley Town FC in today's money such were his performances on the pitch. He summed up the roles of a fullback perfectly. He could catch and position himself good - the basics - and he could also be reliant being the last-man to defend the try line. His strong running attacks were often the only highlights in every Wigan match of that period. If only he came a decade later...

...Ray Ashby
Ray only played for Wigan for 4 years but after 124 appearances in the mid-sixties he had left his mark. He jointly won the Lance Todd Trophy (with Brian Gabbitas of Hunslet) in the 1965 Challenge Cup Final and played in a Wigan team that included a back line of Boston, Holden, Ashton and Lake. Ashby was a good utility player who could also fill in at centre or wing but his link up's especially with the Boston-Ashton sect and the half backs made his role one of attack attack attack. A good defender also helped him to the Lance Todd win.

...Colin Tyrer
Colin made 248 appearances for Wigan between 1966-1975 and went from a Great team to a mediocre team. A goal kicking fullback he amassed 1890 points for Wigan - up until recently, was #4 on Wigan's all-time points scoring charts. An attacking fullback his link-up play gace him 88 tries in his Wigan career but he is most remembered for his goal kicking. He took an age. Unfortunately Colin played for Wigan at the wrong time despite his sound defensive and attacking qualities. He only won 2 minor tophies in his career but his consistant performances over a decade made him a household favourite.

...Joe Lydon
Joe Lydon made 262 appearances in a Wigan side that dominated world rugby. Coming through the ranks of Wigan St Pats he went on the usual route of signing for Widnes. Eventually, and after a world record £100,00 fee, Joe returned to his home-town club Wigan and his success elevated him even furhter than what he had achieved at Widnes. Although not a true fullback in the finest sense he played many other positions such as centre, wing and stand-off. His goal kicking and ability with the foot helped a star-studded Wigan team out on several occasions, most notably a Cup semi-final at Maine Road where he made a drop goal from his own half of the pitch to help secure victory. He was blessed with speed and intelligence and was always aware of players around him like it was natural. The Cup Final against Halifax was one of his best games for Wigan as break after break Wigan normally ended up scoring, even from the first play after scoring a try! His high leap and speed, combined with tough tackling and regularly keeping the score-keeper busy made him a household hero

...Kris Radlinski
Kris is a modern day legend of the Wigan club. A one-man club he wore the number 1 jersey for a decade that spanned from the Great 90's team through to one of Wigans darkest moments. Since his debut against Castleford in 1993 he was a key member of a Wigan team that boasted perhaps the greatest ever backline the club game had ever seen: Radlinski, Offiah, Robinson, Tuigamala, Connolly - along with Henry Paul - and virtually won ever honour with Wigan. His distinctive ginger hair made him easy to notice on the pitch. Kris doesn't have a greatest moment, he has several. Most notably the 2002 Challenge Cup Final in Edinburgh against arch-rivals St Helens where hours before kick-off, Kris was in a hospital bed due to a foot injury. Playing through the pain barrier he made a terrific try-saving tackle dubbed "the foot of god" to deny St Helens and winning Wigan the Cup and himself the Lance Todd trophy. His safe hands, alertness and speed saw him amass many a try including a clock-stopping try to allow wigan to beat Bradford to get to the top of Super League - moments still talked about to this day. He retired in 2006 after a long suffering injury but on the pitch, Wigan were flirting with relegation. With a handful of games left, Kris came out of retirement to help wigan to safety.

- GET VOTING! -

ancientnloyal · Post by **ancientnloyal** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 9:56 am

Only one man for me. He is what Wigan is. Jim Sullivan.

Kittwazzer · Post by **Kittwazzer** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 2:56 pm

I'm confining it to the ones I saw play. Fairbairn for me!

BTW. Shouldn't this be a sticky until the votes are counted?

cpwigan · Post by **cpwigan** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 3:46 pm

Amazing voting. There is only 1 All Time FB in a Wigan team and that is Jim Sullivan. His achievements as a player, as a captain and as a coach are frightening. You do not have to see somebody to realise just how good they were.

I would say Sam T, Amos before Joe (hardly played FB for us) and Hampo is lucky perhaps to be on the list. He would never get a vote but Phil Blake was sublime in his short guest spot for us.

ancientnloyal · Post by **ancientnloyal** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 7:06 pm

just need more sullivan voters. Imo has done 5 times more than radders in every aspect. The players on the list were on an older thread from mid january but i didnt include birts... Has to be sensible. Would you considet amos cp? If sam stays his whole career i am sure he would be up into 2nd spot one day

Kittwazzer · Post by **Kittwazzer** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:12 pm

ancientnloyal wrote:just need more sullivan voters. Imo has done 5 times more than radders in every aspect. The players on the list were on an older thread from mid january but i didnt include birts... Has to be sensible. Would you considet amos cp? If sam stays his whole career i am sure he would be up into 2nd spot one day

A&L, when I bumped into Jimmy Birts several years ago in Tenerife, he was slowly drinking himself to death. My mate has just been over from Tenerife and told me he's managed to turn himself around. Really pleased to hear that, he was a hell of a nice guy!

cpwigan · Post by **cpwigan** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:14 pm

People vote in life very oddly but anybody who thinks Rads is anywhere remotely near Sullivan needs their head examining. Quite funny really.

Amos? Before he smashed himself against a post was IMO Wigan's best attacking FB of the modern era. The argument would be that Sam surpassed him thereafter. However as an attacking FB; Roberts and Blake were the best of the modern era IMO.

stevo38 · Post by **stevo38** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:14 pm

got to be andre stoop

cpwigan · Post by **cpwigan** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:22 pm

stevo38 wrote:got to be andre stoop

Nice side step. So frail looking though. I think he ended up at Keighley

ancientnloyal · Post by **ancientnloyal** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:31 pm

Kittwazzer wrote:
ancientnloyal wrote:just need more sullivan voters. Imo has done 5 times more than radders in every aspect. The players on the list were on an older thread from mid january but i didnt include birts... Has to be sensible. Would you considet amos cp? If sam stays his whole career i am sure he would be up into 2nd spot one day
A&L, when I bumped into Jimmy Birts several years ago in Tenerife, he was slowly drinking himself to death. My mate has just been over from Tenerife and told me he's managed to turn himself around. Really pleased to hear that, he was a hell of a nice guy!

Did you make a thread on it iirc or it may be someone else completely? Glad he is turning around, sportsman or not.

Glad I didn't add a Richie Mathers wildcard into the fray - oh the fun I had watching Wilkin stroll around him in Cardiff with a smile - missed the traffic getting out early after seeing that debacle though so thanks Richie