Willie Horne
Encyclopedia
Willie Horne was an English rugby league
footballer. He played for Great Britain
, England
, Lancashire
and Barrow
between 1943 to 1959 and captained all four sides. He captained Great Britain in a test series against Australia (1952) in the days when Great Britain could beat the Aussies. What people forget is that he played out his career behind an honest but ordinary pack of forwards, which provided moderate possession and protection for its half backs. If he had played behind the Wigan pack of the forties, Egan, Gee, Blan etc. who knows what he would have achieved. Moreover he did far more than his share of tackling and never missed a tackle regardless of size and momentum. This kind of graft was usually avoided by the thoroughbreds in the game. On two occasions at least he beat a peerless Wigan side at Craven Park virtually on his own before 20,000 spectators (Barrow population 60,000, allowing for babies and pensioners, they were all at the match!). He revolutionised the game with his side foot place kicking, now the norm in both codes and the ability to pass a heavy often wet rugby ball like a bullet twenty yards straight to either wing, missing out his centre three-quarters if need be, with the accuracy of any American quarter-back. Those of us who were lucky enough to see him play know we have seen a one-off. Nature broke the mould as they say, after producing one of its marvels. Billy explored intuitively every potential the game of rugby, as it was then, possessed. He never knew himself what he would do next as the game unfolded. There was no hint of the coaching manual about his game, everything seemed original and unique. He treated us to many a feast. His sportsmanship and generosity as a player were exemplary and the same spirit spilled over into his life generally. His wife had to send him into the back room of his sports shop because he found it easier to give stuff away rather than sell it. He was also an outstanding cricketer and could have made it at Old Trafford. See also obituary in the Independent.
His most famous moment came when he lifted the Challenge Cup
in 1955 as captain of his home town club, Barrow
after beating Workington Town
21-12 in the final at Wembley Stadium
.
Willie Horne is believed by many who saw him play to be the greatest rugby league player of all time.
Willie Horne's Testimonial match
took place in 1955.
He was inducted into the Barrow club's Hall of Fame when it was launched in 2001 alongside 1950s team-mates Phil Jackson and Jimmy Lewthwaite
.
He died at his home in 2001 and a statue of him now stands opposite Craven Park
, the home of Barrow Raiders
.
while at Barrow between 1952 and 1956 against France (1 non-Test
match).
's 0-10 defeat to Wigan
in the 1950–51 Challenge Cup
final at Wembley Stadium on 5 May 1951, and played , i.e. number 6, in Barrow
's 21-12 victory over Workington Town
in the 1954–55 Challenge Cup
final at Wembley Stadium on 30 April 1955.
at Barrow
took place in 1955.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer. He played for Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
, England
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and Barrow
Barrow Raiders
Barrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria....
between 1943 to 1959 and captained all four sides. He captained Great Britain in a test series against Australia (1952) in the days when Great Britain could beat the Aussies. What people forget is that he played out his career behind an honest but ordinary pack of forwards, which provided moderate possession and protection for its half backs. If he had played behind the Wigan pack of the forties, Egan, Gee, Blan etc. who knows what he would have achieved. Moreover he did far more than his share of tackling and never missed a tackle regardless of size and momentum. This kind of graft was usually avoided by the thoroughbreds in the game. On two occasions at least he beat a peerless Wigan side at Craven Park virtually on his own before 20,000 spectators (Barrow population 60,000, allowing for babies and pensioners, they were all at the match!). He revolutionised the game with his side foot place kicking, now the norm in both codes and the ability to pass a heavy often wet rugby ball like a bullet twenty yards straight to either wing, missing out his centre three-quarters if need be, with the accuracy of any American quarter-back. Those of us who were lucky enough to see him play know we have seen a one-off. Nature broke the mould as they say, after producing one of its marvels. Billy explored intuitively every potential the game of rugby, as it was then, possessed. He never knew himself what he would do next as the game unfolded. There was no hint of the coaching manual about his game, everything seemed original and unique. He treated us to many a feast. His sportsmanship and generosity as a player were exemplary and the same spirit spilled over into his life generally. His wife had to send him into the back room of his sports shop because he found it easier to give stuff away rather than sell it. He was also an outstanding cricketer and could have made it at Old Trafford. See also obituary in the Independent.
His most famous moment came when he lifted the Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
in 1955 as captain of his home town club, Barrow
Barrow Raiders
Barrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria....
after beating Workington Town
Workington Town
Workington Town is a professional rugby league club playing in Workington in West Cumbria. They play in the Championship 1. Their stadium is called Derwent Park, which they share with Workington Comets, a speedway team....
21-12 in the final at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
.
Willie Horne is believed by many who saw him play to be the greatest rugby league player of all time.
Willie Horne's Testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
took place in 1955.
He was inducted into the Barrow club's Hall of Fame when it was launched in 2001 alongside 1950s team-mates Phil Jackson and Jimmy Lewthwaite
Jimmy Lewthwaite
Jimmy Lewthwaite was a rugby league for Great Britain, Cumberland, and Barrow.- Barrow :...
.
He died at his home in 2001 and a statue of him now stands opposite Craven Park
Craven Park
There are two rugby league grounds in Britain and an area of London called Craven Park:* Craven Park , home of Barrow * Craven Park, Hull, current home of Hull Kingston Rovers...
, the home of Barrow Raiders
Barrow Raiders
Barrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria....
.
International honours
Willie Horne also represented Great BritainGreat Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
while at Barrow between 1952 and 1956 against France (1 non-Test
Test match (rugby league)
A Test match in rugby league football is a representative match between teams representing members of the Rugby League International Federation.The definition of a Test match differs from that of an international match...
match).
Challenge Cup final appearances
Willie Horne played in BarrowBarrow Raiders
Barrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria....
's 0-10 defeat to Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
in the 1950–51 Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final at Wembley Stadium on 5 May 1951, and played , i.e. number 6, in Barrow
Barrow Raiders
Barrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria....
's 21-12 victory over Workington Town
Workington Town
Workington Town is a professional rugby league club playing in Workington in West Cumbria. They play in the Championship 1. Their stadium is called Derwent Park, which they share with Workington Comets, a speedway team....
in the 1954–55 Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final at Wembley Stadium on 30 April 1955.
Testimonial match
Willie Horne's Testimonial matchTestimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
at Barrow
Barrow Raiders
Barrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria....
took place in 1955.