Dave Bolton

Dave Bolton
Personal information
Full name David R. Bolton
Born (1937-04-27) 27 April 1937
Wigan district, England
Playing information
Position Fullback, Stand-off

Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1954–64 Wigan 300 127 4 0 386
1965–70 Balmain 78 5 7 21 71
1968–69 Blackpool Borough 5
Total 383 132 11 21 457
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1956 Lancashire 2
1958–63 Great Britain 8 1 0 0 3
Coaching information

Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1973–74 Parramatta Eels 44 11 0 33 25
Source: [1][2][3][4]

David R. Bolton (born 27 April 1937), also known by the nickname of "Dave", is an English former professional rugby league footballer of 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.[1][2]

Playing career

Britain

During the 1957–58 Northern Rugby Football League season Bolton played at stand-off half 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/five-eighth in Wigan's 9–13 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/five-eighth, and scored a try in the 30-13 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1959 Challenge Cup Final during the 1958–59 season at Wembley Stadium, London 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. During the 1959–60 Kangaroo tour Bolton played for Great Britain at stand-off half in all three Ashes series Test matches. During the 1963–64 Kangaroo tour Bolton again played for Great Britain at stand-off half in the first and third Ashes series Test matches.

Australia

Bolton 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-conqering 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, the Tigers defeated the Lions. He featuring 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 played for Balmain until 1970.[7] Bolton retired from playing after being unable to keep his first grade spot in 1970. 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 the Tigers during his era, some of them long range, and many of the drop goals were the difference between Balmain winning and losing.

Coaching career

Bolton coached Sydney club Parramatta for the 1973, and 1974 NSWRFL seasons. He was also assistant coach to Tim Sheens at Penrith in the mid-1980s

On 17 March 2005, Dave Bolton was inducted into the Balmain Tigers' Hall of Fame.

References

  1. 1 2 "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ "1957–1958 Challenge Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "1958–1959 Challenge Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  7. ↑ Dave Bolton at yesterdayshero.com.au
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