A tribute to Dave Bolton
By Keith Sutch
The positions of stand off and scrum half are indispensable to any Rugby League outfit and Wigan supporters over the years have been privileged to witness some of the great half backs in a Cherry and White shirt.
The modern-day supporters will recall the wisdom, brilliance and genius with the likes of Edwards, Gregory, Lam, Barrett and Leuluai.
Looking further back previous generations will relate to the intelligence, skill and vision in the likes of Mountford and Bradshaw.
However, one talented individual half back that many seem to overlook is Dave Bolton – a local lad who attended All Saints School now more recognisable as The Deanery C of E High School and Sixth Form.
Bolton was born in Wigan on 27th April 1937 and signed for the Wigan club in April 1953 just prior to his 16th birthday and was assigned to local amateurs Potteries Old Schoolboys, who were based in Worsley Mesnes behind the Tippings Arms public house allowing him to gain some valuable experience.
He made his Wigan debut on 4th September 1954 against Keighley at Central Park, playing stand off in front of a 15,077 crowd who witnessed a comfortable Wigan win by 44 points to 2. Bolton scored two tries on his debut – only to be outshone by Brian Nordgren who amassed a total of 29 points in the game with three tries and ten goals.
During the 1954-55 season, Bolton made 25 appearances in the Cherry and White shirt – establishing himself as a regular first teamer and he went on to become an accomplished half back who served at both club and international level.
Season 1956-57 was a significant period in Bolton’s career. Having made his debut for Lancashire, he was selected for the Great Britain team that played against ‘The Rest of the League’ in a warm-up game prior to the Australian’s tour. Bolton, unfortunately, missed out on a Test place but did play against the tourist for the Northern League XIII at Hilton Park, Leigh.
As the season progressed, Headingley became an integral venue for Bolton when he made another try-scoring debut this time for Great Britain vs France in a 45-12 victory on 26th January 1957 in Leeds, becoming the youngest stand off represent his country. The following month – 9th February 1957 to be precise – Bolton fractured his leg in a Challenge Cup away defeat by Leeds 11 points to 13, which sidelined him until his return to first team action the following season.
Season 1957-58 saw Bolton experience mixed fortunes when he and Wigan lost out to Oldham in the Lancashire Cup 8-13 at Swinton’s Station Road in front of a 42,497 crowd, but he went on to win the Challenge Cup at Wembley defeating Workington 13-9 – picking up his first major honour with the Cherry and Whites.
Bolton returned to Wembley in 1959 to secure his second winner’s medal vs Hull. He then experienced defeats in 1961 and 1963, and in the latter Bolton played at full back against Wakefield, resulting in him being carried from the field with concussion. He went on to gain three more honours with Wigan – a Championship Play-Off medal on 21st May 1960 after defeating Wakefield 27-3 at Odsal in Bradford in front of a crowd of 83,190. He also won two Lancashire League Championships in 1958-59 and 1961-62, respectively.
Bolton was selected for the Great Britain tour in 1958 and 1962, were he established perhaps one of the best half back pairings ever produced by a Great Britain side when he teamed up with no other than Alex Murphy of St Helens.
He impressed the watching Australian sides and could not resist the calling of Balmain Tigers in August 1964 – having played his final game of 300 for Wigan on 25th April 1964 against Hull KR at Craven Park. Wigan lost the game by 14 points to 23.
Bolton made a great success of his transition to Australian rugby in Sydney with Balmain and reached their Grand Final in 1966 losing out to St George. However, similar to his Wigan days, Bolton made another Grand Final appearance in 1969 – this time beating South Sydney 11-2, with Bolton kicking two drop goals to help secure the win. This made Bolton only the second Englishman to play in a Grand Final-winning team in Australia.
During the 1968-69 season, Bolton made five appearances for Blackpool Borough. He was apparently on holiday in England when Blackpool approached him to play, which was agreed with Balmain but sadly his appearances were limited due to injury.
After emigrating Down Under during the mid-sixties, Bolton played for Balmain until 1970 when he retired from playing after being unable to keep his first grade spot.
Following his retirement from the playing side of Rugby League, Bolton went on to coaching at various levels of the game and coached Sydney club Parramatta for the 1973 and 1974 seasons in the New South Wales Rugby Football League (NSWRFL). Bolton was also assistant coach to Tim Sheens at Penrith in the mid-1980s.
On 17th March 2005, he was inducted into the Balmain Tigers’ Hall of Fame.
Bolton sadly died this week at the age of 83.
Dave Bolton was a creative, versatile and brave player throughout his career and his bravery probably cost him to suffer many injuries, but he will perhaps be remembered as a prolific kicker of drop goals especially in Balmain, at a time when they were worth two points.
He was a great drop goal kicking asset to the club – kicking 21 drop goals for the Tigers during his era, some of them long-range, and many of the drop goals were the difference between Balmain winning and losing.
Dave Bolton, Wigan statistics
- Heritage Number 558
- 1954-55 — 1963-64
- 300 apps
- 127 tries
- 4 goals
- 389 points
