IN part three of our new series, Sport Correspondent Paddy McAteer looks back on those who played for England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the British Empire while on Barrow’s book going back to 1908 /09 season.
JIMMY LEWTHWAITE:
Lewthwaite, fondly known as ‘Gentleman Jim’, was born in Cleator Moor (West Cumbria) in 1920 and signed for Barrow from local football team Crystal Palace in 1943.
He retired in 1957 following the lost cup final game with Leeds at Wembley.
Not only was he good at rugby, but an athlete and aged 14 he established a 220 yards record (25 and a half seconds) at the County (Cumberland) schools Athletics Association meeting.
At football, Blackburn. Preston and Wolves were after his signature but having secured work in the shipyard he played for local amateur team Crystal Palace where he scored 67 goals in the 1936-37 season.
He was a star winger for Barrow with 500 appearances and 354 tries and 20 goals under his belt.
Jimmy played in three Wembley finals in the 1950s including the 55 final a 21-12 win over Workington.
He gained one cap for England at Fartown (Huddersfield) against Other Nationalities. He was on one wing and Frank Castle the other.
He was selected for the 1946 tour Down Under, and though he was top try scorer on the tour with 25 tries, he never played in a Test.
However, he did create a piece of history by scoring seven tries in a midweek game against Mackay (94-0).
BRYN KNOWLDEN:
Knowlden, was born in Barrow and signed for Barrow from a local works team in 1943 moving to Warrington in 1947, and ending his playing days at Hull KR in 1955.
However, Knowlden prior to taking to rugby league was a fine footballer and cricketer, playing soccer for Morecambe in the Lancashire combination.
He was so talented, clubs like Man Utd and West Ham were interested and he did trial with Liverpool reserves.
At cricket, he shone for Vickers Sports Club (Hawcoat Park).
Such a great rugby league player, Knowlden within 12 months and after only 14 professional games was named a reserve for the game with Wales at Huddersfield.
On arrival he was handed the news that he was to play, and he crossed for a try in the 9-9 draw.
He toured Down Under in 1946, and in 1950 was a member of the Warrington side that beat Widnes in the RL cup final at Wembley before 95,000 spectators, he also crossed for a try.
In his first season at Warrington the club were crowned champions for the first time in defeating Bradford 11-5 at Maine Road Manchester.
He made 103 appearances for Barrow scoring 43 tries, while for Warrington he played in 125 games scoring 37 tries.
WILLIE HORNE:
Horne was the complete master of rugby league and captained Barrow, Lancashire, England and Great Britain to the Ashes victory over Australia in 1952.
Born in Barrow he signed on the dotted line at Craven Park from Risedale Old Boys in 1943 and hung up his boots in 1959.
Willie, or Billy as he was also called, was rated the best stand-off half in rugby league both in England and Australia.
His ball handling skills were second to none, and he was the best creative player of his generation with a beautiful swerve which had defenders chasing shadows.
Billy was a star on the 1946 tour Down Under and played in 461 games for Barrow with 112 tries and 739 goals. He was inducted into the Rugby Leagues Hall of Fame.
He was also a very good all-round sportsman turning his hand to cricket, football, golf and table tennis.
Willie skippered Barrow in three Wembley Challenge cup finals in the 1950s, and lifted the trophy in the 21-12 defeat of Workington in 1955.
PHIL JACKSON:
Jackson was born in Montreal in Canada in 1932 before his family came to Barrow, and he signed at Craven Park in 1950 from Vickers Sports Club leaving in 1960.
Jackson gained every honour in the game and played in a star-studded Barrow team in the 50s and was a Wembley winner, and also a Lancashire Cup winner.
He gained 27 Great Britain Caps touring down under in 1954 and 1958.
He was part of the Great Britain team that won the World Cup in France in 1954, and a member of the 1957 World Cup squad in Australia.
In 1958, he skippered Great Britain in the 40-17 Test victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
After his playing days, he emigrated down under to Wagga Wagga where he took up coaching, he was well-respected Down Under and his son-in-law, Steve Martin who guested for one season at Barrow represented Australia.
In all, Jackson played 225 games for Barrow notching 89 tries and came home for a 1955 reunion dinner in 2005.
DENNIS GOODWIN:
Goodwin was born in Barrow in 1929 and signed for Barrow from Walney Central at the age of 17 in 1947, leaving for Leeds in 1959, and ending his days at York in 1964.
A big powerful centre, Goodwin moved into the second row when a young centre John Rea signed for the club.
He played in two of the 1950s cup finals, denied a third in 1957 against Leeds through injury, and was a Lancashire Cup winner in 1954 in the defeat of Oldham.
He played for Barrow, Lancashire, England, Rest of the league XIII and Great Britain, and was in the 1958 tour squad that toured Down Under.
In all, he played for Barrow in 341 games (254 in the centre and 87 in the forwards) with 89 tries.
JACK GRUNDY:
Grundy was born in St Helens in 1926 where he played before Barrow spent £1,000 to prise him away from Saints.
It was one hell of a steal as he was a star player for Barrow from 1950 to 1961.
Well recognised for his bald head, Grundy played in the three Wembley finals and the Lancashire Cup Final, one of only four to have played in four major finals alongside Lewthwaite, Jackson and Horne.
Grundy shone in the 1957 final against Leeds (lost 9-7) and was the Lance Todd Trophy winner as man-of-the-match in the 1955 final win over Workington.
He represented Lancashire, Great Britain and the Northern Rugby League select XIII, and at the ripe old age of 32, was a member of the 1957 British squad Down Under for the World Cup.
Following his days at Barrow, he coached Roose to a first-round rugby league Challenge Cup tie against Liverpool, losing narrowly 11-0.
In all, he played in 374 games for Barrow with 112 tries and one goal.
I remember distinctly as a young lad seeing Jimmy Lewthwaite cross kicking from the wing and running in to collect and score was the man himself.
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