The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #174136   Message #4223976
Posted By: Paul Burke
10-Jun-25 - 06:19 AM
Thread Name: BS: Sir Billy Boston (Rugby)
Subject: BS: Sir Billy Boston
And about time too. The Wigan winger, all time great, and Rugby League's first knight.

My most vivid memory of him is from back in 1965 or so. Swinton v Wigan at Station Road. An elderly lady with a blue and white umbrella, a Swinton supporter, was heaping all sorts of imprecations on him, "You f*** black n****" was one of the milder ones. Boston showed no reaction until a lull in the game found him by the touch line not far from this charmer. In those days of standing terraces, there was only a narrow (cinder!) track and a low wall between the pitch and the spectators. And the good lady kept up her harridan tirade at full volume... until Billy slowly walked over, and spoke quite calmly: "Sorry, madam, I couldn't quite hear what you were saying." Silenced for the remainder of the match. I seem to recall that Wigan won by a margin, but you'd have to look up the records for that.

A knight worthy of the title.