Leeds Wire Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 Brian Bevan has been shortlisted for the next "Rugby League Immortals" induction. The release of scores of old photos of the great man coincides with this accolade and you can see the photos on the Warrington Guardian website. Some of these pictures are absolutely wonderful! http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/16372812.never-before-seen-pictures-of-warrington-wolves-great-brian-bevan/#gallery0 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deluded pom? Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 (edited) A more unlikely looking superstar you'll never see. Edited July 24, 2018 by deluded pom? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Prince Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 I cannot see why he was not listed earlier. I never saw him play, but I believe he was all stuck together by sticky tape and bandages. Freakish. But amazing. And played all his games in UK. I believe but not sure he and Boston played on opposite wings and generally never marked each other. Re. Boston and great photos I recall one of Billy's 7 tries against I think Dewsbury. Great photo, and the faces in the background. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Ted Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 Bevan and Boston were both right wing men. Truly greats of our game. Bevan looked older than most young lads grandads. Brilliant wingers both of them. As has been said, can't understand why Bevan hasn't been in the Hall of Fame for decades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bromleybulldog Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 Some fantastic archive pictures there. Must surely be a book to be made out of that lot. And how about the size of some of the crowds there!!! Incredible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Browny Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 1 hour ago, Father Ted said: Bevan and Boston were both right wing men. Truly greats of our game. Bevan looked older than most young lads grandads. Brilliant wingers both of them. As has been said, can't understand why Bevan hasn't been in the Hall of Fame for decades. Ted, Bevan was one of the original 1988 inductees to the Hall of Fame. I think this is about recognition in Australia which, as you say, is long overdue. Great photos - thanks LW. I can confirm 30+ less sales for Scotland vs Italy at Workington, after this afternoons test purchase for the Tonga match, £7.50 is extremely reasonable, however a £2.50 'delivery' fee for a walk in purchase is beyond taking the mickey, good luck with that, it's cheaper on the telly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Futtocks Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 2 hours ago, Rupert Prince said: I cannot see why he was not listed earlier. I never saw him play, but I believe he was all stuck together by sticky tape and bandages. Freakish. But amazing. And played all his games in UK. I believe but not sure he and Boston played on opposite wings and generally never marked each other. Re. Boston and great photos I recall one of Billy's 7 tries against I think Dewsbury. Great photo, and the faces in the background. The sticky tape was because he used to tape padding on his knees and elbows, as a precautionary measure. It also make him look more knobbly in the limbs, but team-mates said that, shirt off, he was more powerfully-muscled than it appeared when kitted up. "We are easily breakable, by illness or falling, or a million other ways of leaving this earthly life. We are just so much mashed potato." Don Estelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blind side johnny Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 2 hours ago, Father Ted said: Bevan and Boston were both right wing men. Truly greats of our game. Bevan looked older than most young lads grandads. Brilliant wingers both of them. As has been said, can't understand why Bevan hasn't been in the Hall of Fame for decades. He never played professional RL in Australia, I believe. It is the Australian HoF that the nomination is for. Sport, amongst other things, is a dream-world offering escape from harsh reality and the disturbing prospect of change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blind side johnny Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 53 minutes ago, Futtocks said: The sticky tape was because he used to tape padding on his knees and elbows, as a precautionary measure. It also make him look more knobbly in the limbs, but team-mates said that, shirt off, he was more powerfully-muscled than it appeared when kitted up. He was a stoker during the war. Sport, amongst other things, is a dream-world offering escape from harsh reality and the disturbing prospect of change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldofclothofgold Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 I was a 14 year old boy and me and my mates shook hands with him as he was walking up to the dressing rooms after the 1961 championship final 1 1 Soon we will be dancing the fandangoFROM 2004,TO DO WHAT THIS CLUB HAS DONE,IF THATS NOT GREATNESSTHEN i DONT KNOW WHAT IS.JAMIE PEACOCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Futtocks Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 (edited) 22 minutes ago, Blind side johnny said: He never played professional RL in Australia, I believe. It is the Australian HoF that the nomination is for. He played eight games for Eastern Suburbs, before he joined the navy, which took him to England and being turned down by Leeds. Astonishingly, his sole score at Easts was a 2-pointer off the boot. Edited July 24, 2018 by Futtocks "We are easily breakable, by illness or falling, or a million other ways of leaving this earthly life. We are just so much mashed potato." Don Estelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan30058 Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 Most people have heard of him but not many had the pleasure of seeing him in his pomp. I thought I would share my few memories.... My first game ever was as a young lad of 10 and the game was Feathersone Rovers at home in the cup 2nd round ( February 1961) Donning my new Wires scarf and armed with a massive wooden rattle( ex Air Raid Warden's) I was ready for my indoctrination.Just as I was setting off my Dad shouted to me "Don't forget to look out for the number 2 winger Bevan he's the best player that has ever played for us" wow that was some statement and I couldn't wait to see this super hero ! Well here I was at Wilderspool and the atmosphere was electric as Wire entered the arena to the roar of a packed crowd. Then shock horror I realised Bevan wasn't playing but instead some old man who was bald with no teeth ,thin as a rake and swathed in more bandages than an Egyptian mummy was on the wing instead.! Oh well not to worry I watched the game and was still captivated for life with my beloved Wire. Even though we lost 13-10. I got home and told my Dad all about the game and how we probably got beat because Bevan never played and I then described this old man who had taken his place. Suddenly I felt a clip around my ear as Dad told me that WAS Brian Bevan !!! Happy days happy memories. 3 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Futtocks Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 Well done for the rattle, too - not enough of that sort of thing in the modern game. "We are easily breakable, by illness or falling, or a million other ways of leaving this earthly life. We are just so much mashed potato." Don Estelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blind side johnny Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 2 hours ago, Futtocks said: He played eight games for Eastern Suburbs, before he joined the navy, which took him to England and being turned down by Leeds. Astonishingly, his sole score at Easts was a 2-pointer off the boot. Thanks, my mistake. Sport, amongst other things, is a dream-world offering escape from harsh reality and the disturbing prospect of change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The King Of Leon Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 I saw him play at Parkside for Blackpool against Hunslet but he was at the very end of his career but my Dad told me all about him and the tries he scored for Warrington. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvusxiii Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 An old boy(long since dead) told me about this guy Brian playing at Featherstone I think. You couldn't see him for bandages. The general view was he should not have been on a rugby pitch. This was not healthy. And then he got the ball.... It was then they all understood. 1 TESTICULI AD BREXITAM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
latchford albion Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 Brian Bevan was named in the Aussie team of the (last) century so he has definitely been honoured in his homeland already. I saw him play at Wilderspool twice in the early seventies: once in an amateur sevens tournament (for Radiation Creda?) and once in a testimonial. John Bevan was on one wing, Brian on the other. "I'm a traditionalist and I don"t think you'd ever see me coaching an Australian national side!" Lee Radford, RLW March 2016 Proud to be a member of the TRL woke claque Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Futtocks Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 He also equalled McDonald Bailey's 100 yards world record of 10.2 seconds in a timed sprint. Bailey later played one single game for Leigh. 1 "We are easily breakable, by illness or falling, or a million other ways of leaving this earthly life. We are just so much mashed potato." Don Estelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeds Wire Posted July 24, 2018 Author Share Posted July 24, 2018 10 minutes ago, latchford albion said: I saw him play at Wilderspool twice in the early seventies: once in an amateur sevens tournament (for Radiation Creda?) and once in a testimonial. John Bevan was on one wing, Brian on the other. Parry Gordon's testimonial? We couldn't go to that game and my Dad said it was the last chance to see the great Bev. My parents and grandparents had told so many tales about him that I assumed they were rather tall stories. I watched John Bevan instead in the early 80s and that was enough for me; without realising how truly remarkable his namesake Brian had been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
latchford albion Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 8 minutes ago, Futtocks said: He also equalled McDonald Bailey's 100 yards world record of 10.2 seconds in a timed sprint. Bailey later played one single game for Leigh. Not that it matters but Mac ran that time for metres not yards. Arthur Rowe, the British record holder in the shot, had a very brief rugby career. Was that also with Leigh? "I'm a traditionalist and I don"t think you'd ever see me coaching an Australian national side!" Lee Radford, RLW March 2016 Proud to be a member of the TRL woke claque Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
latchford albion Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 4 minutes ago, Leeds Wire said: Parry Gordon's testimonial? We couldn't go to that game and my Dad said it was the last chance to see the great Bev. My parents and grandparents had told so many tales about him that I assumed they were rather tall stories. I watched John Bevan instead in the early 80s and that was enough for me; without realising how truly remarkable his namesake Brian had been. I couldn't remember whose it was but Parry Gordon's seems a good shout. "I'm a traditionalist and I don"t think you'd ever see me coaching an Australian national side!" Lee Radford, RLW March 2016 Proud to be a member of the TRL woke claque Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absentee thoughtlord Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 He might have had the appearance of a retired bank clerk, but he remains the greatest winger ever to play the game - the records say so. 740 tries in 620 games. I'm sure if God picked a legends XIII he would be first on the team sheet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Prince Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 16 hours ago, Blind side johnny said: He was a stoker during the war. Indeed that would keep him fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullFat Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 12 hours ago, latchford albion said: I couldn't remember whose it was but Parry Gordon's seems a good shout. I'm pretty sure it was Parry Gordon's testimonial, my dad took me to watch too and I remember asking him who the old man was and why was everyone cheering whenever he got the ball. If I remember correctly (and that's not sure by all means) I think they let him score at some point in the game and everyone went nuts! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Prince Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 13 hours ago, Futtocks said: He also equalled McDonald Bailey's 100 yards world record of 10.2 seconds in a timed sprint. Bailey later played one single game for Leigh. I think the quickest player I have seen holding a rugby ball was Martin Offiah so it would be an interesting comparator to judge. (I seem to recall, going back a few years I think, Bill Burgess of Barrow being lightening quick) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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