Remembering Thomas ‘Carty’ McCarthy
On Remembrance Sunday, we look back on the life of former trainer, Thomas McCarthy, who trained wigan rlfc to historic Challenge Cup successes in 1924 and 1929.
Born in Ryehope, County Durham, in 1883, Thomas and his parents moved to Wigan where he grew up working as a gymnast in travelling circuses alongside his uncle, William Power.
Thomas extolled the virtues of physical fitness throughout his life and at the age of 16, he became a physical training instructor in the Royal Navy until his parents purchased his discharge after he was needed back home.
After serving his term of enlistment at the Royal Field Artillery at the Curragh Army Camp in Ireland, Thomas returned to work as a miner in Wigan where he developed a passion in weightlifting and wrestling. Lancashire – particularly Wigan – produced numerous wrestling champions between the 1900 and the outbreak of the First World War, including Thomas, who became the 9st 7lb Catch as Catch Can Wrestling Champion of England.
Whilst on exercises as a territorial soldier with the 5th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment in North Wales, Thomas recorded his greatest wrestling victory when he defeated W Pritchard – the 12st 6lbs champion of Wales.
Due to his previous military experience, Thomas was appointed as a Lance Sergeant before later becoming a Full Sergeant. His battalion took part in the Gallipoli campaign, and whilst serving, Thomas was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for gallantry. The announcement of the award was included in King George V’s Birthday Honours on the 3 June 1916 and the Citation appeared soon after on the 21 June 1916.
After Gallipoli, his battalion returned to Egypt and by that stage Thomas had been promoted to Company Sergeant Major – a rank he maintained until the end of the conflict. Whilst stationed near the Suez Canal, Thomas organised rugby matches at regimental level alongside training a team who were reputed to have been undefeated.
After being granted leave in January 1917 to remarry having been left a widower with two young children in early 1914, Thomas returned to his battalion in the February where he remained active on the Western Front in northern France until he was demobilised in January 1919.
In August 1919, Thomas joined Wigan RLFC as a trainer – responsible for team affairs – in a role he would fulfil for more than 20 years until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939.
Thomas trained the Club to a history-making first Challenge Cup Final win over Oldham in 1924 as well as a 1929 victory over Dewsbury in the first final at Wembley Stadium. Throughout his time at the Club, Thomas, who was also known as ‘Carty’ around Central Park, oversaw 575 matches in which Wigan RLFC won 383, drew 20 and lost 172.
Following the Second World War, Thomas spent time as the Chairman of the Ince Royal British Legion and as a pensioner he laid on well received Punch and Judy shows for local children. Thomas passed away on 27 September 1954, aged 71, and was laid to rest in Wigan.
