Flimby & Fothergill

2025 sees a century pass since one of Ancient & Loyal.com's most memorable events. I wasn't there of course, but the events of Saturday 14th February, 1925, will live long in the memory. Since my University days in the mid-2000s, this game has been one of wonder and awe for me when I started to delve into Wigan's past.

From the events of Valentine's Day 1925 records exist to this day, now over 100 years ago, and are remembered. It is my job, dear reader, to champion such events and honours and to me, the words "Flimby & Fothergill"  are close to my heart and sit along side "Folly Field", "James Leytham", "Jim Slevin", "1950 Championship Final" and of course "David Vaealiki".

As for the match itself, it was a one-sided affair as any genius could tell you. The Cumberland League was amateur compared to playing the likes of Huddersfield, Wigan and Hunslet. The junior club of Flimby & Fothergill United fught for their right to be in the draw for the Challenge Cup alongside other upstarts and junior clubs such as Dalton, Barnsley United, Twelve Apostles (Leigh) and someone called Castleford.

Wigan's team that day was: Jim Sullivan, Johnny Ring, Tommy Howley, Danny Hurcombe, Attie Van Heerden: George Owens, David Booysen, Tommy Beetham, Carl Burger, William Banks, George Van Rooyen, Frederick Roffey and Jack Price. The most famous name coming out of this tie was of course Jim Sullivan who kicked an amazing 22 goals from 24 tries. At the time, Wigan's last match in the Challenge Cup was the Final played at Rochdale where Wigan defeated Oldham 21-4 to win their first Challenge Cup.

116-0! Back then you have to remember that 3 points were awarded for a try not 4. If we give it a modern day score line, based on 24 tries and 22 goals, it would be 140-0. The match report suggests that it was a farcical game. Wigan kept getting the ball and running up to the other end and scoring. These days you'd think that such games are terrible or pointless. On the other hand history can be made and written about 100 years later!

Sullivan's accuracy was phenomenal... 22 goals from 24 attempts - it doesn't matter about the opposition when you kick for goal, he was lethal that day. His personal haul of 44 points has never been bettered at Wigan. Indeed, the Rugby League record sits with Chris Thorman (4 tries, 20 goals) who scored an incredible 56 points for York City Knights against Northumbria University in March 2011.

Pat Richards, in 2010, came close with 38 points - scoring 5 tries and landing 9 goals in a league demolition match against Catalans Dragons. Shaun Edwards and Martin Offiah accumulated 40 points both in 1992, scoring 10 tries each against Swinton and Leeds respectively. Johnny Ring broke a try scoring record for tries in a match with 7... he later equalled it 2 months later in a league match against Salford so it is safe to say he had confidence on his side at that period.

Up until dinner time on Valentine's Day, 1925, Wigan's highest score was against Runcorn on 30 January,1915. The score was 73-5 and Wigan equalled their tries in a match tally of 17, whilst Johnny Thomas recorded 11 goals with the boot. Another decade would lead to Flimby & Fothergill!

Flimby and Fothergill United, to give their proper name, were a top quality junior side and to this point were unbeaten in the Cumberland League. Of 20 matches played, they had won 18 and drawn two, scoring 225 points against 25. Only once had their line been crossed, the other 22 points being due to penalty goals. Johnny Ring must have been laughing.

In the first of the qualifying rounds they defeated the Cumberland Cup holders 15-4, and in the final stage overcame the Cumberland League champions, Brookland Rovers, by three clear points.

And now to Valentines Day, 1925. Here are photo's of the Wigan team that day, without Carl Burger (so far)

Wigan's Easy Entry to Second Round

The Cumberland Champions Badly Beaten

WIGAN v FLIMBY AND FOTHERGILL 116 POINTS TO NOTHING

RAPID SCORING

Wigan's entry into the second round of the League Cup proved very easy, in fact, too easy. Flimby and Fothergill came to Central Park with a very fine reputation. They are the champions of the Cumberland League and winners of several cups, and no doubt this was the cause of a very excellent crowd who thoroughly enjoyed the game, although Wigan did put up such a huge score. To put it mildly, the visitors had not a ghost of a chance. They knew they were up against a stiff proposition. They also knew what brilliant players they had to face. They came on the field in a very sprightly manner, but after all the chasing of the Wigan players it was plainly seen that they were absolutely tired out. The home team scored so rapidly that it was one continual procession of the visitors to behind the posts while Sullivan kicked the goals. One player was so tired of this that he got behind the touch judge and Van Rooyen, a move which caused a roar of laughter. Then the referee noticed him, and after Sullivan had kicked the goal this official went to him and shook him by the hand. This caused another roar of laughter.Regarding the game there was only one team in it, as and time went on play became more or less a comedy. Wigan’s combination simply baffled the visitors: they threw the ball about in such a manner that at times the Cumberland team were lost.

They had a fair number of supporters and as points were piled up they were always cheerful. The visitors started in fine style, and that was all. It might have been an exhibition game as far as Wigan were concerned. The home team simply showed the visitors how football should be played, and we are sure this will be a topic of conversation by the team for a long time. Some brilliant movements were executed by the home backs, in fact, many times practically all the team handled the ball previous to a score. There is one consolation for the visitors, and it is a good one. There was an excellent attendance, and their share of the gate will recompense them for the heavy defeat. Some records were put up. This was the highest score that Wigan have ever made, although not quite a record for a Rugby match. Ring registered 7 tries, Van Heerden 4, Booysen, Price and Hurcombe 3 each. Van Rooyen 2, and Howley and Beetham 1 each, while Sullivan put up a record for one match by kicking 22 goals out of the 24 tries.

The teams were as follows:-Wigan - Sullivan: Ring, Howley, Hurcombe, Van Heerden: Owens, Booysen, Beetham, Burger, W. Banks, Van Rooyen, Roffey and Price.

Flimby - Risson: Peel, H. Atkinson, D. Ackersley, Robley: J. Ackersley, B. Atkinson, Richardson, Lewis, Holliday, Davidson, Irving and Little.Referee: R.H. Cooper, Hull.

THE SCORING SOON BEGINS

The visitors won the toss and Price set the ball going. The visitors soon made an attack on the home line, when Sullivan picked up and broke through the opposition and passed out to Howley. The centre ran some distance before passing to Ring. The wingman put on top speed and scored under the posts, for Sullivan to have an easy kick at goal. Five points were thus scored in the first two minutes. The game had no sooner re-started than Owens got away from the scrummage, the backs taking part in a passing movement which ended in Ring being well collared almost on the line. When the ball came loose it travelled right across to Van Heerden, and the South African made tracks for the line and scored, Sullivan goaling. Wigan were now showing some of their most brilliant form, their passing movements being very fine. The forwards were also getting possession of the ball whenever they liked. This supporters would like them to do against stronger combinations. From a scrummage Booysen got away and passed to Ring, who made a bold bid for the line, and was only just pushed into touch at the corner.

 MORE AND MORE POINTS 

Wigan now began to settle down, and points were added very rapidly. The home backs indulged in a splendid passing movement and Van Heerden was able to score again. Several attempts were made to stop the winger's carry, all of which failed. Sullivan did not kick the goal. On re-starting Wigan again went to the attack and Beetham did some fine work. The forward picked up smartly, and after beating several opponents gave Van Heerden a wide pass: the winger took the pass in fine style and scored, Sullivan adding the goal points. The play continued to be in Wigan's favour, and from a scrummage, Hurcombe broke through in good style, and when faced by the fullback gave to Howley, who added more points by crossing under the posts, Sullivan converting. A little later, Van Rooyen made a fine run and looked like scoring when he was well tackled. The player who stopped him was on the small side and this caused a roar of laughter. Very soon after Van Heerden was able to register his fourth try, again did Sullivan kick the goal. Try as they would, Flimby and Fothergill could not get going at all, being beaten for possession and slow in their movements. 

Owens got penalised for offside, and the visitors were now near the Wigan 25 line. The Central Park men gradually worked their way down the field, and Ring scored again, for Sullivan to goal. Play had not been re-started more than a minute when Van Rooyen scored, Sullivan having an easy shot at goal. Scoring by Wigan continued very rapidly. From a scrummage Booysen beat all opposition and scored. Sullivan kicking the goal. The visitors made a raid on the home line, but were very soon repulsed. Forward passes by Wigan backs spoiled several chances, and these placed the visitors on the attack, and a mistake by Ring almost proved successful to the Flimby team. Every effort that was made by the visitors received some applause, and a score to them would have added more interest to the game. A fine breakaway by Van Rooyen ended in another score. The burley forward placed Hurcombe in a good position, and scored under the posts, Sullivan again goaling. 

NOT DOWNHEARTED 

Although the visitors were now a well beaten team, they were not downhearted. Ring again crossed, and Sullivan was again successful with the goal kick. Just before half-time the Cumberland champions made a bold dash for the Wigan line, but all their efforts proved futile, and at half-time the scores were:--

Wigan      10     11     53 points

Flimby and Fothergill         Nil. 

POINTS GALORE IN THE SECOND HALF. 

The second half had not been in progress long before Hurcombe broke away and gave to Van Rooyen who scored, Sullivan goaling. Another score was soon added, as from a scrummage Owen got away and gave to the Wigan full back, who passed to Van Heerden. The winger returned the pass to Sullivan who sent to Price, who scored, Sullivan goaling. It was only a rare occasion the visitors made any show at all, being beaten for speed and stamina all the way through. Wigan had been scoring when they liked, and the game was practically a farce. Further tries were added by Ring 4, Booysen 2, Hurcombe 2, Price 2 and Beetham, Sullivan adding 10 more goals.

Final result: WIGAN     22     24     116 points 

FLIMBY AND FOTHERGILL.. Nil.

The gate receipts were £525

Everyone in the crowd had stayed until the finish, including those poor Cumbrian supporters. Spectators who were in front of the the middle portion of the stand were entertained by a Flimby supporter, who kept them in an almost constant state of laughter during most of the first half.

12,000 supporters witnessed the event, a large number than normal considering a first class team such as Wigan were entertaining a junior amateur side. Later in the match when Jack Price got over for his try, concerns were raised amongst the Central Park faithful. The concerns centred around the young lad whose job it was to monitor the scoreboard. As the "hundred" came up after Jim Sullivan's conversion, people were wondering how this lad would show the score, being now three figures. He eventually decided to hang the "1" (101-0) over on Flimby's side to much cheering.

116-0 was impressive, but it turned out that this was not a Rugby League record. Harold Wagstaffe's Huddersfield team of 1913-14 had a 119-0 score line against Swinton Park. 19 goals and 27 tries were recorded. The legendary Albert Rosenfold scored seven tries in that match too with Holland kicking a pathetic 18 goals. Rosenfold would go on to score a record 80 tries that season, a figure that will never be beaten. Ever.

Leeds had recorded a 102 victory also up to this point.