Remembering Ken Bird
By Keith Sutch
Ken Bird, who sadly passed away at his home in Leicestershire on 13th January 2021 at the age of 85, signed for Wigan RLFC from local amateur rugby league club Cadishead & Irlam ARL as a utility back, playing mainly in the centre position.
Ken made his Wigan first team debut on the 25th February 1956 in a home league match at Central Park against Rochdale Hornets, earning his unique Heritage Number of 570. Wigan won the game quite comfortably by 31 points to 5 in front of a 16,382 crowd, with a hat-trick from Billy Boston and further tries from Jack Cunliffe, Norman Cherrington and Bill Bretherton.
Jimmy Foster – who originated from Australia and played wingman to Ken Bird – also made his debut for Wigan in the game, which proved to be his one and only first team game.
Season 1955/56 saw Ken make 11 appearances in the famous cherry and white shirt, scoring three tries, all of which were scored in away matches.
Ken’s first try came in his second game for the club on 3rd March 1956 against Keighley in a second round Challenge Cup game away at Lawkholme Lane. Wigan won the game by 12 points to 3.
His second try was in the following game; a league match, again away at Mill Yard, Knotty Ash, against Liverpool City on 10th March 1956, Wigan winning the game comfortably by 36 points to 9.
Ken’s final try of 1955/56 came against arch rivals St Helens at Knowsley Road, where sadly Wigan faced a 29-7 defeat.
Ken’s fourth and final try for the Riversiders came at the now defunct famous old ground Central Park on 10th September 1956 against Barrow. Wigan lost 26-15, Ken’s try culminated with the fact this was also his last match for Wigan in the first team, with a detached retina meaning that sadly he was unable to play at this level again.
As can be seen from the Wigan team’s line up for Ken’s last game at Central Park, he was amongst some illustrious rugby league royalty in the back line:
J. Broome, B. Boston, K. Bird, E. Ashcroft, E. Ashton, D. Bolton, T. Parr, A. Armstrong, R. Mather, B. McTigue F.Griffin, K. Hill and B. McGurrin.
The Wigan try scorers in the game were the three B’s – Boston, Bolton and Bird.
Ken Bird may have only played a small number of games for Wigan Rugby League Football Club, but looking back through the archives and the Club’s history, he played alongside some names that are not only synonymous with Wigan rugby but are legendary within the game of rugby league, such as Billy Boston, Ernie Ashcroft, Eric Ashton, Norman Cherrington, Frank Collier, Jack Cunliffe and Brian McTigue, just to name a few who were all Great Britain internationals in their day.
Ken Bird is pictured on the header photo accompanying this article; back row, second from the right. Next to him on the end of the row is another player who also sadly passed away this month, Dave Bolton.
