Profile

Joe Wilkinson was born in Birkenhead, but his family moved to the Oldham area when he was very young and as a consequence all his rugby career was played out in the town. His first association was with the Glodwick Albion team, where his good form was noticed by the more senior Lees F.C., whose fixtures included games against the Oldham second XV. It was after such a match that he was signed by the premier club, making his debut in the team in some friendly games at the end of the 1896-97 season.

Joe was a forward in the days when the members of the pack would follow the play from scrum to mauls and rucks in an endless endeavour of trying to secure the ball for the half backs and threequarters. Not the tallest of players, he played in the reserve team until the abolition of the line-out. After this Joe’s powerful running made him a first team regular. He played in the record victory over Goole, in the Challenge Cup, in 1899, but during the game he suffered a badly sprained ankle that ruled him out for the rest of the season, thus causing him to miss out on a Challenge Cup winners medal.

Joe has twice contributed his own little piece of rugby history, once for his club for whom he became the first ever recognised “hooker”, after the specialised ball winning position had evolved. This was after the number of players in a side was reduced to thirteen in 1906. However, it was not until January 16th 1909 that an Oldham team sheet included the hooker slot and Joe was the man in said position. Also he was the first person to score a try in Wales, in a league match, when the new Merthyr Tydfil club entertained Oldham in their opening fixture on September 7th, 1907. His early score set Oldham on the way to a 25 – 6 victory. After his retirement, Joe continued to take a keen interest in the club, becoming a life member and was regularly seen cheering on the team from his favourite viewing position near the Watersheddings tunnel.