We were glad to get a glass of ale and threepenny-worth of bread and cheese, or potato-pie, at our own expense. We played Scot Lane (Blackrod), Blackrod, and Aspull New School, Haigh School Club, Charnock Richard (when we could get a wagonette cheaply), and other local clubs within nine or ten miles' radius. We could not afford a big price out of Saturday spending money for a wagonette, and there used to be a good deal of hanging about walking or riding. "However, we had a great many interesting games, and as many of the Top Place Clerks used to play with us, The colliers generally gave us a pretty rough time. My place was among the forwards, and when I ceased playing I took to refereeing - which some of the Clerks did not like on one occasion. We played near Barton's Pit for a time, and we still stuck together when the team played near the Pumping Pit."

Reading through the rules, we notice that the season in those days commenced on October 1st, and ended on March 31st; that every candidate for admission had to be proposed and seconded, and "to be balloted for at the next Committee meeting after his proposal. One-third of those present to vote his admission." There was more formality then than now. It also appears "that the uniform of the club be red and black striped jerseys, knickerbockers, stockings, and caps." But it is in looking through the rules of the game that we find one or two curiosities for those who follow Northern Union, or even the Rugby game. In the first instance it would appear that the Northern Union has so far as place kicking is concerned, but reverted to the original style, for the rule states: "a place kick, or kick, is made by kicking the ball after it has been placed in the nick made in the ground for the purpose of kicking at rest." Another rule defining a goal, after alluding to the ball being put over the bar, states: "but if the ball goes directly over either side of the goal posts it is called a poster, and is not a goal." There is something ambiguous about this. Another rule states: "If no goal be kicked or try obtained the match shall be drawn." A touch-down is mentioned, but in these rules has no value from a scoring point of view.

A further enlightening expression is: "the ball is dead when it rests absolutely motionless on the ground" - which is scarcely the idea for a dead ball to-day (1914). Then when a player was tackled with the ball, "he must at once cry down and immediately put it down." This generated into a yell, "held," and in the Wigan and Aspull matches there was usually no mistake about it. The maul in goal, another thing of the past, is described at length; and the law proceeds: "hen a player has once released his hold of the ball after it is inside the goal line, he may not again join in the maul, and is he attempts to do so he may be dragged out by the opposite sides." But it is in regard to the touch business that things have changed very greatly. Let the rules speak for themselves. Rule 31. - Touch: If the ball goes into touch, the first player on his side who touches it down must bring it to the spot where it crossed the touch line, he must return with the ball to the spot where the line was crossed; and thence return it into the field of play in one of the modes provided by the following rule: - In cases where boundaries beyond the touch lines are used, the ball, on going over, or touching either boundary, shall belong to the side opposite to that of the player who kicked the ball over or against such boundary."

32. - "He must then himself, or by one of his own side, either (i) bound the ball in the field of play, and after run on with it, kick it, or throw it back to his own side; or, (ii) throw it out at right angles to the touch line, any distance not less than five nor more than fifteen yards, and there put it down, first declaring how far he intends to walk out." There are other varieties from the present Rugby or Northern Union game, but the foregoing excerpts will suffice.

Mr. Ambrose continued in the employ of Messrs. Thompson and Co., iron merchants, almost 26 years; ten years he was with another firm, and now he represents one of the biggest manufacturers of bedsteads in the country, Messrs. Horatio Myer and Co., of London, and also Messrs. Swain, founders, of Newton Heath. Mr. Ambrose is a prominent member of the United Kingdom Commercial Travellers' Association, and has been president of the North-Western Federation, and was the first Secretary of the Wigan Branch. He still takes an intense interest in local sport, but he is no less keen in other circles in which his name for years has been intimately associated.