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Kenneth (Tug) Wilson, signed for Oldham in time for the start of the 1963-64 season, coming North with a glowing reputation from Rugby Union, where he had represented the RAF, Gloucester county and earned one full England cap won against the French at Twickenham. More would have undoubtedly followed but for him switching codes. He was also a promising boxer and here again represented the RAF, at heavyweight. However, a hand injury put an end to his career in the ring and luckily for Oldham he was to concentrate solely on his rugby.

He made his senior debut at Rochdale on August 24th, 1963. As the season went on the Bott, McIntyre and Wilson front row proved to be a formidable unit, spearheading the path to the division two title and coming as close to that first, elusive, Wembley appearance as any Oldham side so far, with the epic semi final against Hull K.R.

An absolute workhorse of a prop forward, Ken was always first in line when it came to taking the ball up and never shirked his defensive duties. For ten years he was “Mr Reliable” in the Oldham pack and his front row partnership with hooker Kevin Taylor, gave his side a scrum possession monopoly that was the envy of the league. This of course was in the days, when the ball winning skills of the front row forwards was an integral part of the game, unlike today’s scrum half feeding the back row philosophy.

Ken decided to call it a day in 1973 and played his last game against Australia on October 19th of that year. His ten years service to the club were rewarded with a testimonial game between Oldham and an England Xlll, played at Watersheddings on April 22nd, 1975.