Warrington Wolves' George Taylor was actually Jim Holcroft

That is because he was Jim Holcroft, playing under the pseudonym so that he would not be banned by the Rugby Football Union for playing in the paid code.

This was recently pointed out in a story on the Warrington Guardian website and was spotted by his son Yusuf Justin Holcroft, who has now revealed more of his father’s fascinating history.

Jim, born at 27 Marsh Street, Warrington, in 1915, played 24 matches for The Wire between 1945 and 1947 – all as George Taylor.

He was at loose forward on the day an ‘AN Other’ making his debut on the right wing against Oldham on November 17, 1945, became more familiar to fans as Brian Bevan.

His journey in the rugby league paid ranks took off after twice picking up injuries while serving with the Caenarfon and Denbigh Yeomanry (Royal Artillery) in World War Two.

“Following his recuperation, he was returned to barracks in Manchester and played rugby union for Northern Command, usually at centre,” said accomplished saxophonist and business consultant Yusuf Justin, a keen Wire fan in the process of moving back to the area after 14 years living in Johannesburg.

“Looking to return to his home town after demob, he trialled for The Wire and signed forms in August, 1945.

“However, while during wartime, League players were allowed to play union for forces teams, the end of the war also ended that special dispensation, so he was forced to play under a pseudonym for The Wire, as he was not yet demobbed and still playing union for The Army.”

After being let go by Warrington he signed for Salford in 1949 and remained on their books until 1951.

Following employment at Orford Tannery either side of the war, in 1947 he joined the Pearl Assurance as an agent, collecting premiums door-to-door and selling new policies.

A promotion in 1951 saw him take over the Stoke-on-Trent branch and after moving to Newcastle-under-Lyme he began playing centre for the Newcastle/Staffs rugby union team before finally hanging up his boots around his 40th birthday.

A further promotion in 1969 brought a move to Surrey with wife Elsie and sons Nigel and Justin, staying there until retirement in 1987 by which time he had become one of only two people ever at Pearl Assurance to have risen from the lowest rank to become a member of the board of directors.

After retirement he and Elsie moved to Winsford and spent their time travelling and playing golf.

Jim died in 2004, 10 years after Elsie.

He made his Warrington debut as ‘George Taylor’ in a 16-13 win against Featherstone Rovers.

He lined up in the second row as one of four Wire debutants in that match at Wilderspool Stadium on September 15, 1945.

His only try in primrose and blue came that day, though he kicked four goals in a 22-10 win at Liverpool Stanley two months later and another in an 8-8 draw at home to Hunslet before the turn of the year.

A highlight, upon reflection, would have been playing in Brian Bevan’s debut – a 12-3 home win over Oldham on November 17, 1945.

He was in the team for the legendary disastrous away match at Kells, receiving a head injury after being attacked by a disgusted female fan wielding a wooden chair.

His final match for Warrington was a 14-3 home loss to Oldham on August 23, 1947.

He lost his place when Warrington signed experienced prop forwards Bill Derbyshire and Bill Riley from Liverpool Stanley.

His son Yusuf Justin said: “He had a wealth of great stories from his stint at The Wire.

“Cod Miller providing the food after matches, Dave Cotton kicking a scrum-half in the face at a scrum after having repeatedly received a wet ball thrown in his face, Bevan’s first match and the infamous Kells match, with spectactors throwing wooden seats in disgust.

“He was dropped from the first team early on in the 1946-47 season and complained to one of the club directors, asking: “Why am I in the second team?”
“He received the reply: “Because we don’t have a third!” – at which my father asserted he could get a game anywhere, and was apparently told to do so.

“He subsequently approached Halifax, who put him straight in the first team.

“There is a newspaper article in the archives in Halifax saying that the Thrum Hallers had signed Jim Holcroft, ‘a prop from Mosely RU’.

“His registration was still held by The Wire, so, having played four games for Fax, the fifth was due to be against Warrington, so he was dropped for that game.

“Too late, however, as The Wire’s pre-match spying had revealed Holcroft playing for Fax, and he was summarily called back to Wilderspool and the ‘A’ team.”