Tyldesley was a (semi) professional rugby league club, with the nickname of 'The Mighty Bongers'.
Contents
The club was based in Tyldesley (pronounced 'tɪlzli'), a town (population approx. 35,000) within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. Historically it is part of Lancashire. The club took their place around the table at the momentous meeting at the George Hotel, Huddersfield in 1895. And after the schism, the club became founder members of the Northern Rugby Football Union (now Rugby Football League) and played for five seasons from 1895–96 to 1899–1900
Early Days
The first rugby club in Tyldesley was formed in 1881 when, after a meeting of local businessmen and rugby players from other Clubs, they decide to move from Garrett Hall to Tyldesley and become Tyldesley Football Club.
There are two items of interest to note during this first period of playing under RFU rules, In 1891 Tyldesley signed future England International Half-back John "Buff" Berry from Kendal Hornets. He went on to win caps for England (RU) while at Tyldesley in 1891 against Wales, Ireland, and Scotland.
He continued playing for Tyldesley under the Northern Union rules as a stand-off half. Tyldesley beat Widnes to win the 1895 Lancashire (Rugby Union) Cup at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington in front of around 15,000 spectators.
Northern Union
Prior to the Schism, Tyldesley, like many other clubs from Lancashire (and Yorkshire), had suffered punishment by the RFU for "broken time" payments. And so Tyldesley, represented by a Mr. G Taylor, attended a meeting at The George Hotel, Huddersfield, together with representatives of 21 other clubs, and agreed to form a Northern Rugby Football Union
After the Great Schism in 1895, Tyldesley were one of the founder members of the new league. In the first season 1895-96 the league consisted of 22 clubs and Tyldesley finished in a very creditable 6th position.
In season 1896-97 the league was divided into Yorkshire and Lancashire, Tyldesley playing in the latter section, where they would stay for the remainder of their (semi) professional existence. They again had a quite successful season finishing in 3rd position out of 14 teams
In the two following seasons, still in the Lancashire section, season 1897-98 & 1898-99 they could only manage a lowly 12th position (out of 14 teams).
In the final season, 1899-00 they won the wooden spoon, finishing 14th out of 14 teams, with only five points thanks to two wins and one draw.
Revert to Rugby Union
For the 1901–02 season there is no mention of the club, and so assume that they dropped down to the lower divisions. They do turn up again in 1911 when they become the first club to successfully return to the Rugby Union code after playing Northern Union. They cite as the reason that the "cost prove too much of a burden in the "Professional" game".
In 1926, Landowning Club President (Mr. William Hesketh Ramsden) gave the Well Street ground in trust to the Club.
Club League Record
The League positions for Tyldesley for the 5 years in which they played (semi) professional Rugby League are given in the following table :-
Heading Abbreviations
RL = Single Division; Pl = Games Played: W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lose; PF = Points For; PA = Points Against; Diff = Points Difference (+ or -); Pts = League Points
% Pts = A percentage system was used to determine league positions due to clubs playing varying number of fixtures and against different opponents
League points: for win = 2; for draw = 1; for loss = 0.
Several fixtures & results
The following are just a few of Tyldesley's fixtures during the five seasons (and other times) in which they played (semi) professional Rugby League :-