Joe Wilkinson

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.

Career Games

Opposition Venue Date Competition
St Helens Recs v Oldham Away April 17, 1897 Friendly
Oldham v Huddersfield Home April 19, 1897 Friendly
Oldham v Halifax Home April 26, 1897 Friendly
Oldham v Crompton Home April 30, 1897 Friendly
St Helens Recs v Oldham Away November 20, 1897 Friendly
Oldham v Halifax Home December 4, 1897 Friendly
Oldham v Manningham Home January 3, 1898 Friendly
Bradford v Oldham Away March 12, 1898 Friendly
Oldham v Elland Home December 3, 1898 Friendly
Oldham v Hunslet Home January 2, 1899 Friendly
Tyldesley v Oldham Away January 14, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Leigh Home January 21, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v St Helens Home January 28, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Salford Home February 18, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Widnes v Oldham Away February 25, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Runcorn v Oldham Away March 4, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Wigan Home March 11, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Goole Home March 18, 1899 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Seaton v Oldham Away September 30, 1899 Friendly
Oldham v Stockport Home October 17, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Hunslet Home November 4, 1899 Friendly
Swinton v Oldham Away November 11, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Warrington Home November 18, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Morecambe Home December 2, 1899 Friendly
St Helens v Oldham Away December 9, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away December 23, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home December 25, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Millom Home December 30, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Bradford Home January 1, 1900 Friendly
Salford v Oldham Away January 27, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home February 17, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Warrington v Oldham Away February 21, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Leigh v Oldham Away February 24, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Tyldesley v Oldham Away February 27, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v St Helens Home March 3, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Runcorn v Oldham Away March 10, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Manningham v Oldham Away March 17, 1900 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Manningham Home March 20, 1900 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Halifax v Oldham Away March 24, 1900 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Swinton v Oldham Away March 31, 1900 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Hull Kingston Rovers v Oldham Away April 7, 1900 Friendly
Oldham v Brighouse Rangers Home April 16, 1900 Friendly
Workington v Oldham Away September 1, 1900 Friendly
Barrow v Oldham Away September 8, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Wigan Home September 15, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Barrow Home September 22, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Swinton v Oldham Away September 29, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Runcorn v Oldham Away October 6, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v St Helens Home October 13, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Workington Home October 20, 1900 Friendly
Oldham v Leigh Home October 27, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Birkenhead Wanderers v Oldham Away November 3, 1900 Friendly
Salford v Oldham Away November 10, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Widnes Home November 17, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home November 24, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Millom Home December 1, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Halifax v Oldham Away December 8, 1900 Friendly
St Helens v Oldham Away December 15, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Warrington v Oldham Away December 22, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away December 25, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home December 29, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Halifax Home January 1, 1901 Friendly
Widnes v Oldham Away January 5, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Swinton Home January 12, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Stockport v Oldham Away January 19, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Stockport Home February 9, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Warrington Home February 19, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Runcorn Home February 23, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Swinton Home February 25, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Bramley v Oldham Away March 9, 1901 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Wigan v Oldham Away March 16, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away March 23, 1901 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Widnes v Oldham Away March 30, 1901 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Leigh v Oldham Away April 2, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Salford Home April 6, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Millom v Oldham Away April 8, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Batley v Oldham Neutral April 13, 1901 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v The Rest Home April 20, 1901 Champs v Rest
Werneth v Oldham Away April 26, 1901 Friendly
Leigh v Oldham Away September 7, 1901 Northern RL
Batley v Oldham Away September 14, 1901 Northern RL
Oldham v Huddersfield Home September 21, 1901 Northern RL
Bradford v Oldham Away September 28, 1901 Northern RL
Oldham v Brighouse Rangers Home October 5, 1901 Northern RL
Oldham v Runcorn Home October 12, 1901 Northern RL
Warrington v Oldham Away October 19, 1901 Northern RL
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away November 2, 1901 South East Lancashire League
Hunslet v Oldham Away November 30, 1901 Northern RL
Oldham v Leigh Home December 7, 1901 Northern RL
Oldham v Stockport Home December 10, 1901 South East Lancashire League
Oldham v Warrington Home December 14, 1901 Northern RL
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home December 25, 1901 South East Lancashire League
Oldham v Hunslet Home January 11, 1902 Northern RL
Hull FC v Oldham Away September 6, 1902 Division 1
Swinton v Oldham Away September 13, 1902 Division 1
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home September 20, 1902 Division 1
Hull Kingston Rovers v Oldham Away September 27, 1902 Division 1
Oldham v Hunslet Home October 4, 1902 Division 1
Oldham v Widnes Home October 18, 1902 Division 1
Bradford v Oldham Away October 25, 1902 Division 1
Oldham v Huddersfield Home November 1, 1902 Division 1
Warrington v Oldham Away November 8, 1902 Division 1
Oldham v Brighouse Rangers Home November 15, 1902 Division 1
St Helens v Oldham Away November 22, 1902 Division 1
Oldham v Salford Home December 13, 1902 Division 1
Oldham v Halifax Home December 20, 1902 Division 1
Oldham v Swinton Home December 25, 1902 Division 1
Oldham v Leigh Home December 27, 1902 Division 1
Widnes v Oldham Away January 1, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v Hull FC Home January 3, 1903 Division 1
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away January 17, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v Hull Kingston Rovers Home January 24, 1903 Division 1
Hunslet v Oldham Away January 31, 1903 Division 1
Batley v Oldham Away February 3, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v Wigan Home February 7, 1903 Division 1
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away February 14, 1903 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Wigan Home February 21, 1903 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Huddersfield v Oldham Away February 28, 1903 Division 1
Bradford v Oldham Away March 7, 1903 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Runcorn v Oldham Away March 17, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v Hunslet Home March 21, 1903 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Warrington Home March 24, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v Runcorn Home March 28, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v St Helens Home March 31, 1903 Division 1
Salford v Oldham Neutral April 4, 1903 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Salford v Oldham Neutral April 8, 1903 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Salford v Oldham Away April 11, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v Swinton Home April 13, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v Batley Home April 14, 1903 Division 1
Halifax v Oldham Away April 18, 1903 Division 1
Leigh v Oldham Away April 25, 1903 Division 1
Halifax v Oldham Away September 12, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v Huddersfield Home September 19, 1903 Division 1
Bradford v Oldham Away September 26, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v Wigan Home October 3, 1903 Division 1
Leeds v Oldham Away October 10, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v Runcorn Home October 17, 1903 Division 1
Salford v Oldham Away October 24, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v Leigh Home October 31, 1903 Division 1
Warrington v Oldham Away November 7, 1903 Division 1
Batley v Oldham Away November 14, 1903 Division 1
Keighley v Oldham Away November 21, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home November 28, 1903 Division 1
Hunslet v Oldham Away December 5, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v Widnes Home December 12, 1903 Division 1
Swinton v Oldham Away December 19, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v Batley Home December 25, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v Hull Kingston Rovers Home December 26, 1903 Division 1
Hull FC v Oldham Away January 2, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Halifax Home January 9, 1904 Division 1
Huddersfield v Oldham Away January 16, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Bradford Home January 23, 1904 Division 1
Wigan v Oldham Away January 30, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Leeds Home February 6, 1904 Division 1
Runcorn v Oldham Away February 13, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Salford Home February 20, 1904 Division 1
Leigh v Oldham Away February 27, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Warrington Home March 5, 1904 Division 1
Batley v Oldham Away March 12, 1904 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Swinton Home March 19, 1904 Friendly
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away March 26, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Oldham A Home April 2, 1904 Friendly
Oldham v Swinton Home April 4, 1904 Division 1
Widnes v Oldham Away April 9, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Keighley Home April 12, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Hunslet Home April 19, 1904 Division 1
Hull Kingston Rovers v Oldham Away April 23, 1904 Division 1
Hull Kingston Rovers v Oldham Away September 10, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Widnes Home September 10, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Batley Home September 17, 1904 Division 1
Hunslet v Oldham Away September 24, 1904 Division 1
Salford v Oldham Away October 8, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Warrington Home October 15, 1904 Division 1
Wakefield Trinity v Oldham Away October 22, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Leigh Home October 29, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Halifax Home November 5, 1904 Division 1
Runcorn v Oldham Away December 3, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home December 10, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Wigan Home December 17, 1904 Division 1
Swinton v Oldham Away December 24, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Swinton Home December 26, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v St Helens Home December 31, 1904 Division 1
Halifax v Oldham Away January 2, 1905 Division 1
Oldham v Hunslet Home January 21, 1905 Division 1
Widnes v Oldham Away January 28, 1905 Division 1
Oldham v Salford Home February 4, 1905 Division 1
Oldham v Normanton Home March 4, 1905 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Hull FC v Oldham Away March 11, 1905 Division 1
Leeds v Oldham Away March 25, 1905 Division 1
Wigan v Oldham Away April 15, 1905 Division 1
Millom v Oldham Away September 1, 1905 RL Championship
Morecambe v Oldham Away September 2, 1905 RL Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home September 23, 1905 RL Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away September 30, 1905 RL Championship
Oldham v Morecambe Home October 7, 1905 RL Championship
Oldham v Warrington Home October 21, 1905 RL Championship
Salford v Oldham Away October 28, 1905 Lancashire Cup
Salford v Oldham Away November 11, 1905 RL Championship
Oldham v Wigan Home November 18, 1905 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Wakefield Trinity Home November 25, 1905 RL Championship
St Helens v Oldham Away December 2, 1905 RL Championship
Hull FC v Oldham Away December 9, 1905 RL Championship
Oldham v Hull FC Home January 1, 1906 RL Championship
Oldham v Millom Home February 12, 1906 RL Championship
Halifax v Oldham Away February 24, 1906 RL Championship
Pontefract v Oldham Away March 3, 1906 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Leigh v Oldham Away April 4, 1906 RL Championship
Oldham v Chadderton Home April 19, 1906 Friendly
Dewsbury v Oldham Away April 28, 1906 RL Championship
Oldham v Wigan Home September 8, 1906 League Championship
Oldham v Hull Kingston Rovers Home September 15, 1906 League Championship
Swinton v Oldham Away September 22, 1906 League Championship
Huddersfield v Oldham Away September 24, 1906 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home September 29, 1906 League Championship
Oldham v Huddersfield Home October 6, 1906 League Championship
St Helens v Oldham Away October 13, 1906 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Leigh Home November 3, 1906 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away November 5, 1906 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home November 24, 1906 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home December 3, 1906 League Championship
Runcorn v Oldham Away December 26, 1906 League Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home January 1, 1907 League Championship
Leeds v Oldham Away January 5, 1907 League Championship
Salford v Oldham Away January 12, 1907 League Championship
Oldham v Warrington Home February 4, 1907 League Championship
Oldham v Wakefield Trinity Home February 23, 1907 League Championship
Oldham v Bradford Home March 2, 1907 League Championship
Oldham v Runcorn Home March 16, 1907 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Halifax v Oldham Away March 23, 1907 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Wigan v Oldham Away April 1, 1907 League Championship
Hull FC v Oldham Away April 2, 1907 League Championship
Oldham v Runcorn Home April 6, 1907 League Championship
Salford v Oldham Neutral April 13, 1907 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Halifax v Oldham Neutral April 20, 1907 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Neutral April 27, 1907 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Merthyr Tydfil v Oldham Away September 7, 1907 League Championship
Oldham v Wigan Home September 14, 1907 League Championship
Oldham v Ebbw Vale Home September 21, 1907 League Championship
Huddersfield v Oldham Away September 23, 1907 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Away October 5, 1907 League Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home October 12, 1907 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Leigh Home October 19, 1907 League Championship
Oldham v Swinton Home October 26, 1907 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Runcorn Home November 2, 1907 League Championship
Oldham v St Helens Home November 9, 1907 League Championship
Salford v Oldham Away November 16, 1907 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v New Zealand Home November 23, 1907 Tour Match
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Neutral November 30, 1907 Lancashire Cup
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away December 7, 1907 League Championship
Halifax v Oldham Away December 9, 1907 League Championship
Oldham v Warrington Home December 14, 1907 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home December 21, 1907 League Championship
Oldham v Huddersfield Home December 25, 1907 League Championship
Swinton v Oldham Away December 26, 1907 League Championship
Leeds v Oldham Away January 1, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Halifax Home January 4, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Widnes Home January 11, 1908 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away January 18, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Merthyr Tydfil Home January 25, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home February 1, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home February 15, 1908 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away February 19, 1908 League Championship
Dewsbury v Oldham Away February 29, 1908 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Leeds Home March 7, 1908 League Championship
Hunslet v Oldham Away March 14, 1908 Rugby League Challenge Cup
St Helens v Oldham Away March 21, 1908 League Championship
Ebbw Vale v Oldham Away March 25, 1908 League Championship
Runcorn v Oldham Away March 28, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home April 4, 1908 League Championship
Widnes v Oldham Away April 11, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Wigan Home April 18, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Oldham Past Home April 20, 1908 Friendly
Hunslet v Oldham Neutral May 2, 1908 League Championship
Hunslet v Oldham Neutral May 9, 1908 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away October 3, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Leigh Home October 10, 1908 League Championship
Hull Kingston Rovers v Oldham Away October 17, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home October 24, 1908 League Championship
Barry v Oldham Away October 31, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home November 21, 1908 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Runcorn Home December 5, 1908 Lancashire Cup
Leigh v Oldham Away December 9, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Hunslet Home December 12, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Hull Kingston Rovers Home December 25, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Australia Home December 26, 1908 Tour Match
Oldham v Barry Home January 1, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Leeds Home January 2, 1909 League Championship
Swinton v Oldham Away January 4, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Halifax Home January 16, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home January 23, 1909 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away January 30, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Widnes Home February 6, 1909 League Championship
Halifax v Oldham Away February 13, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Warrington Home February 20, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Hull Kingston Rovers Home February 27, 1909 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v St Helens Home March 6, 1909 League Championship
Swinton v Oldham Away March 13, 1909 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Swinton Home March 16, 1909 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Wigan Home March 20, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Runcorn Home April 3, 1909 League Championship
Ebbw Vale v Oldham Away October 4, 1909 League Championship