"Perhaps it would interest our readers if you could mention the players who figured in that engagement?"

Roberts replied, "They were 'Soap' Winstanley, Teddy Flowers, Percy Jago, J. Walkden, and myself; W. Halliwell and J. Mitchinson; W. Unsworth, George Rigby, Bibby, Webster, J. Munro W. Benson, R. Darbyshire, J. Trow and N. McNamara. I remember that on the following Monday we crossed to Barnstaple and met the team of that place. It was described at the time as one of the most brilliant and enjoyable games of the season, and it took place before a big holiday crowd. E. Prescott played in the forwards instead of Darbyshire, and Wigan won by two goals (one dropped), to a try. That was the last season of the Old Rugby Union, so far as we were concerned. As I said, I had a brief spell under Northern Union auspices in the following season, my last match being against Hunslet, at Hunslet, and I ceased active participation in the pastime owing to a knee trouble."

"When I started with Aspull Daff Hulme and Cartwright were the half-backs, Dicky Seddon was the centre, and Pilkington the full-back. In those days the men I have mentioned were indeed in the picture. When I assisted Leigh, Jack Hurst, the famous Oldham three-quarter, was also in the team. Daff Hulme and Cartwright and Halliwell and Mitchinson were the best pairs at half-back, I knew od, and we met some crack halves in our time. Jimmy Valentine was a splendid three-quarter, but I regarded Dicky Lockwood as the finest three-quarter I ever met. T.W. Pearson and Norman Biggs, of Cardiff, were also excellent third line exponents."

"You wish to know what I look upon as the stiffest struggle in which I took part? Well, I should think it was when I was with Aspull, and in the final for the West Lancashire Cup against Warrington, at Liverpool. On that occasion Warrington beat us by a goal dropped by Tommy Barnes. Both teams set out fully determined to win, and it was a real hard tussle. Just let me reveal a little secret in connection with that particular event. In those days it was an unusual thing for players to go into training, but we each of us lost a week's wages as far as that match went, for we trained throughout the week. The secret, however, is in regard to another matter. We had hip pockets made in our knickers, and those pockets were filled with powdered resin. I can tell you there was no question of the leather slipping through our hands that day, and we got some fare grips of members of the opposing side! It was truly the most desperate game I ever played in."

"I recall that in 1887 Aspull were again in at the final for the West Lancashire Cup, and Wigan were our opponents. We won by 20 points to one point, though Wigan had in their ranks such players as Jim Slevin, Jack Anderton, Charlie Samuels, and W. Halliwell. When I joined Wigan Aspull were on the down grade, and Dicky Seddon, Dawson, and other players had thrown in their lot with other clubs."

"Your opinion as to the old and the new?" was a query which drew the following comment: - "I think the game at the present time is much superior, that is from the pen point of view. For my own part I would sooner see the old line out. It is, however, faster, though I do not think they sacrifice too much now for the combination - there is no loose individual thrilling rushes. Still I prefer the Northern Union rules on the whole."

"Your best try?" - "The finest try I think I ever got was against Swansea on the latter's ground. Swansea had a crack team in those days, and included the famous full-back and Welsh International, Bancroft. The leather came to me at one end of the field, and the try was registered at the other end."

Of course, in those days Roberts was something of a sprinter, and he placed many successes to his credit on the running track in various parts of the County. He still retains a keen interest in the game in which he for so long distinguished himself, and eve to-day the older followers of the pastime have nothing but the kindliest recollections for "Johnny Roberts, of Aspull!"