David Ralph Bolton (27 April 1937 – 21 January 2021) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, who later became a coach in Australia's NSWRFL premiership. An international representative for Great Britain whose usual position was in the halves, Bolton is one of a handful of Britons to win championships both in his home country and in Australia.[2][3]
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | David Ralph Bolton[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 27 April 1937 Wigan district, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 21 January 2021 (aged 83) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Stand-off, Scrum-half | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Coaching information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Playing career
editBritain
editDuring the 1957–58 Northern Rugby Football League season Bolton played at stand-off in Wigan's 8–13 defeat by Oldham in the 1957 Lancashire Cup Final at Station Road, Swinton, on Saturday 19 October 1957. Later that season Bolton played stand-off in Wigan's 13–9 victory over Workington Town in the 1958 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London, on Saturday 10 May 1958, in front of a crowd of 66,109,[5] and played stand-off, and scored a try in the 30–13 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1959 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley on Saturday 9 May 1959, in front of a crowd of 79,811.[6]
He also featured in the club's 1960 Championship Final win.[7] During the 1959–60 Kangaroo tour Bolton played for Great Britain at stand-off in all three Ashes series Test matches. During the 1963–64 Kangaroo tour Bolton again played for Great Britain at stand-off in the first and third Ashes series Test matches.[8]
Australia
editBolton also played in Australia for the Sydney club Balmain. With them he reached the 1966 NSWRFL season's grand final against St George. Bolton played at number 7 in his sides loss against the all-conquering Dragons team of the era. As Balmain had gone through the first half of the 1966 season undefeated, they earned the right to play the Great Britain touring team. With Bolton playing no small part, Balmain defeated Great Britain. He featured in the 1969 season's Grand Final-winning Balmain team. This made him only the second Englishman to play in a grand final-winning team in Australia. Bolton retired from playing in 1970 after being unable to keep his first grade spot in 1970.[8] He is often remembered as a prolific kicker of drop goals, at a time when they were worth 2 points. He was a great drop goal kicking asset to the club, he kicked 21 drop goals for Balmain during his era, some of them long range, and many of the drop goals were the difference between Balmain winning and losing.[7]
Later life
editAfter retiring, Bolton remained in Australia.[9] He coached Sydney club Parramatta for the 1973 and 1974 NSWRFL seasons.[8] He went on to serve as assistant coach to Tim Sheens at Penrith in the mid-1980s.[10] He also worked as a sports commentator and writer.[7][8]
Bolton was inducted into the Balmain Tigers' Hall of Fame in 2005. Three years later, he was retrospectively conferred the Clive Churchill Medal for his performance in the 1969 Grand Final.[10] He died on 21 January 2021 at the age of 83,[10] after suffering a long illness.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Who's Who in the British Backs". The Rugby League news. Vol. 43, no. 5. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. 28 April 1962. p. 17 – via Trove.
- ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ Thomson, Doug (25 January 2021). "A hero in Wigan and Sydney". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3, 261.
- ^ "1957–1958 Challenge Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "1958–1959 Challenge Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2012. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- ^ a b c Wilkinson, Phil (22 January 2021). "Tributes following death of Wigan legend Dave Bolton". Wigan Post. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Williams, Terry (22 January 2021). "Vale former Great Britain and Balmain great David Bolton". New South Wales Rugby League. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ McDonnell, Seamus (22 January 2021). "Wigan rugby league 'legend' Dave Bolton dies aged 83". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ a b c "Dave Bolton: Wigan rugby league 'legend' dies aged 83". BBC News. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
