Unfortunately he had gone to Australia by the time I was old enough to go to a game so never saw him play.

Arguably our best ever 6 based on reputation with older supporters, opposing fans, Aussie supporters and former players. Murphy I believe had him his X111 of all time.

Rouges have you got any lasting lasting memories of the guy..

What I would give to have seen him and McTigue play.

Just picture this. Wigan at Central Park attacking the scoreboard end. Bolton breaks just over the halfway line and gets the opposition fullback to turn. Both players are now running towards the scoreboard. The fullback looks over his left shoulder but Bolton goes right, the fullback then looks over his right shoulder and Bolton goes left. This continues for about 30 yards and the first time the fullback has any idea of where Bolton is is when Bolton touches down under the posts. One of the greatest tries I have ever seen. R.I.P. David, thanks for some fabulous memories.

Thanks for sharing that great memory
I believe that he had incredible pace.

Would you rate him our best ever 6?

Obviously Kenny and Edwards would be many peoples choice

Kenny is the best I've ever seen, Billy B told me, but he only played two-thirds of a season, so I would pick Bolton with Edwards #7

Agree re Kenny only being here for part of the season.
Based on his reputation I'd go with Bolton too but Andy Greg at 7 for me.

It doesn’t get much better than Florimo and Reber

Dave Bolton had blistering pace. So much faster than anyone else on the field.
Sam Tomkins scored a try at the Magic v Saints where he ran from mid field then split their defence and outpaced them to go over in the corner. Brilliant try. That run/move was Dave Bolton all over. Would run from mid field and split defences with his pace.
Trouble was in those days with winter rugby the game looked like it was played on a ploughed field which slowed Dave down playing at 6 in the middle.
The comparison in pace with today's players I'd say would be comparing Bevan French's pace with anyone's else. Whether Dave was the faster I don't know. Would loved to have seen him play in Aus on firm pitches with his pace.

Sorry don’t understand this on Dave Bolton thread.??
Probably gone straight over my head

There was a question as to whether he was the best 6 to play for us and who the best 7 would be

Nah not for me lad

How would you compare him Ted to say Millard who I saw somewhat late in his career?
Bolton or Kenny?

David Bolton was one of the greatest players of Wigan RL who I never had the previlage to see playing as he played just before I started supporting the club.

RIP David, you will always be remember in Wigan as one of the many local born lads to wear the famous Cherry and White colours of Wigan Rugby League Club.

Out of order for supporters to talk about comparisons of players when a player has sadly passed away.

Show a bit of respect!

Jesus Christ. People are asking if he was the best 6 to ever play for us. What do you suggest they talk about?

Rest In Peace.

From what people have said he must have been a great player to watch.

RIP Davey Bolton. As a young kid he was my favourite player.

His outstanding career both in our country and Australia should be plenty to talk about!

And is not what people are doing?

This is one thread we shouldn't let Ruddy Duck derail. I'm enjoying hearing stories of Davey, wish I'd seen him in the flesh! I wonder how good he would have been with the benefit of today's advances in nutrition, training etc!

This 100%

My everlasting memory of Dave Bolton was in the 1959 Wembley final and the sight of him haring up the middle with not a Hull player in sight. Wigan were already two tries up and that try more or less sealed the win even though it was still in the first half. RIP Dave and thanks for the memories.

I used to watch Dave Bolton from the pen on numerous occasions. We all have one player that we like to see named on the teamsheet - recently it might have been Keiron or Sam and for me in those days it was Dave Bolton. I was always confident when he played and upset when he went to Oz.

For a Hull supporter that try was a knife to the heart and he had made the previous try for Sullivan too. At half-time it was over at 20-4 and all the tries had been scored at the end I was standing in the glorious sunshine.

Hull had a great team throughout the 50's coached by Roy Francis and I was so confident of a win but Wigan led by McTigue, Bolton, Boston and coached by Joe Egan were truly superb.

My dad said Billy B was the best he saw at Wigan

But he grew up wanting to be Dave Bolton
From an early age he spoke non stop about him, how quick he was etc
I think in the modern day he would have been a fullback.

From the jet black hair with the big Kookie Byrne quiff (77 sunset strip, you'll have to look it up) apparently he was quite a hit with the ladies and I'm sure thats one of the reasons my dad wanted to be Dave Bolton

My dad passed away quite young, and as you do I remember going through my dads old scrap books and seeing page after page of Dave Bolton clips, just as I remembered doing as a kid.
In 2008 I took the family to Australia for the world Cup and I mentioned to a poster on here that I hoped to meet up with Dave Bolton.
Lo and behold I was given the nod by him that he'd be attending a gala dinner on a Sydney cruise ship and by chance we just happened to be booked on the same trip.

Early on in the evening I had the honour of spending af an hour having a drink at the back of the boat with Blocker Roach (we both bemoaned the lack of Biff in the England team the night before in to 50point shallacking!), we then sat with laurie Daley and had 15/20 mims talking (primarily about him taking jonathon Davies head off at OT in the WCC in 89 against widnes, which i went to, and by the way, he really rated davies) and then did a karaoke with Benny Elias (who is a real funny character and had the whole boat rocking!).

But highlight of the evening was meeting Dave Bolton, and me, my wife and 2 kids sitting with him for the best part of an hour. He told us loads of stories, most of them rugby ones, but some about his off the field antics



and he was a real gentleman.

I never got to see him play, he was before my time, but coming soon after my dad's death it almost felt like one of those moments of "Closure" they talk about.
I have a photo of us with him somewhere, ill try and dig it out. I don't know how to post photos on here so may end up sending it to someone who can on my behalf!

I suppose I can't about talk him as a player through my own eyes, but my dad, who didn't hand out praise easily, idolised him. And through those eyes he's always been something of a special player in my head.
A pleasure and an Honour to meet him

RIP

great story pal