I have been asked by a Warrington friend if he signed for Wigan towards the end of his career.

I've just checked Bilkos site and a couple of Wigan reference books and there is no mention of him ever playing for Wigan. However I have just called a friend of mine and he, like me, seems to remember Jackie Melling signing for Wigan. The only thing that we can come up with is that he did sign but never played a first team game, due to injury (may be sustained in an A team game?)
Anyone else with a better memory?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I take it the list in the heritage day program only refers to those players who played in the 1st team?

Am at work so can't check.

My other half says he remembers watching jackie playing first team rugby at central park. He thinks he only played a couple of first team games then he retired and went player/coach at st pats.

Jackie did sign for Wigan at the back end of his career but because he was struggling with injuries ( and being an honest and genuine bloke) he handed back his signing on fee and I think he then retired. How many people do you know who would do that?
He did not play a game for Wigan.

Thanks so much for that. There was something in my memory bank that was shouting at me that he had signed for Wigan. Your explanation clears it up . Cheers

Thanks very much for that. I knew Jack had signed for Wigan in a swap with Colin Standing (a Welshman who didn't make it). Standing played half a game for Wire and went back to Wales.
jack Melling was a very good centre who suffered badly with knee and shoulder injuries. He also played for GB U24's and Lancs.

Hi, I found this thread whilst researching my Grandad's (Jackie Melling)rugby career.

I showed him the discussions and he wanted me to send all participants to the thread this on his behalf:

I did sign for Wigan around 1973,I played 6 games for them all in the first team and when Eric Ashton was coach . I never played an 'A'team game for them. The teams I played against were Salford,Oldham,Leeds,Featherstone,Halifax and I think Rochdale.( 3 wins,3 losses) and a sending off at Featherstone.
I did not hand back any signing-on fee as I never received one. However this was never the reason for my retirement nor was it a matter of injuries,in fact at the time I was probably fitter than I had been for a couple of years as I hadn't been playing and hadn't suffered from any injuries in that time. The major reason for retiring was that I was no longer enjoying playing. I felt that my timing was wrong, my reading of the game had deteriorated which in turn affected my positional play and my contribution to the the teams performance was not what it had been whilst playing at Warrington.
I didn't have and never have had any problem with how I was treated by Wigan R.F.C. both staff and players alike and would like to go on record to say how extremely professional I found the club as a whole. There were a lot of very good and extremely talented players at the club at the time but there appeared to be a problem getting all of them on the field at the same time.
For some reason Wigan R.F.C. have never acknowledged my playing for them and as such I have never been allocated any heritage number but players who were playing for them at the time can confirm my somewhat brief involvement with the club. I hope that this information helps to clarify the situation.
Very soon after I left Wigan I became involved with Wigan St. Patricks A.R.F.C. but after having my jaw broken I stopped playing and concentrated on coaching at Under-17s and later at Under19s level and was involved with this club for approximately 12 years.
Jack Melling.

Hi, I found this thread whilst researching my Grandad's (Jackie Melling)rugby career.

I showed him the discussions and he wanted me to send all participants to the thread this on his behalf:

I did sign for Wigan around 1973,I played 6 games for them all in the first team and when Eric Ashton was coach . I never played an 'A'team game for them. The teams I played against were Salford,Oldham,Leeds,Featherstone,Halifax and I think Rochdale.( 3 wins,3 losses) and a sending off at Featherstone.
I did not hand back any signing-on fee as I never received one. However this was never the reason for my retirement nor was it a matter of injuries,in fact at the time I was probably fitter than I had been for a couple of years as I hadn't been playing and hadn't suffered from any injuries in that time. The major reason for retiring was that I was no longer enjoying playing. I felt that my timing was wrong, my reading of the game had deteriorated which in turn affected my positional play and my contribution to the the teams performance was not what it had been whilst playing at Warrington.
I didn't have and never have had any problem with how I was treated by Wigan R.F.C. both staff and players alike and would like to go on record to say how extremely professional I found the club as a whole. There were a lot of very good and extremely talented players at the club at the time but there appeared to be a problem getting all of them on the field at the same time.
For some reason Wigan R.F.C. have never acknowledged my playing for them and as such I have never been allocated any heritage number but players who were playing for them at the time can confirm my somewhat brief involvement with the club. I hope that this information helps to clarify the situation.
Very soon after I left Wigan I became involved with Wigan St. Patricks A.R.F.C. but after having my jaw broken I stopped playing and concentrated on coaching at Under-17s and later at Under19s level and was involved with this club for approximately 12 years.
Jack Melling.

Bilko's stat pages confirm that he played 6 consecutive games in Sept / Oct 72 in a season in which we generally struggled.