Dave Bolton

Dave Bolton
Personal information
Full name David R. Bolton
Born April→June 1937 (age 77–78)
Wigan district, Lancashire, England
Playing information
Position Fullback / The halves
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: ,

David "Dave" Bolton (birth registered April→June 1937 (age 77–78)[1]) birth registered in Wigan district, is an English former rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s who later became a coach in the 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.

Playing career

Bolton played at stand-off in Wigan's 9–13 victory over Workington Town in the 1957–58 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 10 May 1958.[2] Dave Bolton played Scrum-half/Halfback in Wigan's 8-13 defeat by Oldham in the 1957 Lancashire Cup final during the 1957–58 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 19 October 1957. He also featuring in the club's 1960 Championship Final win.

Bolton also played in Australia for the Sydney club Balmain from 1965 until 1970,[3] featuring in the 1969 season's Grand Final-winning team. This made him only the second Englishman to play in a grand final-winning team in Australia. Bolton 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.

He retired from playing after being unable to keep his first grade spot in 1970.[4]

Coaching career

Bolton coached Parramatta in 1973 and '74. 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. ↑ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. ↑ "1957-1958 Challenge Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. ↑ Dave Bolton at yesterdayshero.com.au
  4. ↑ rugbyleagueproject.org

External links