Jack Tait

He joined Horwich R.M.I. when 16 years of age and played during the Second World War for Palestine Command, as well as guesting for Northampton Town.

He signed for Bishop Auckland after the war and played in the 1946 F.A. Amateur Cup final which ‘Bishops’ lost 3-2 to Barnet. He later rejoined Horwich, playing for a season and a half before injury forced him to retire. He moved to Wigan Athletic as second team trainer and after six seasons was appointed to a similar position with the senior side in 1957-58. He was brought to Haig Avenue by Trevor Hitchen and gave seven years’ faithful service, saving the club hundreds of pounds by taking on many menial tasks; these included painting and decorating, doing the laundry and working as a groundsman, as well as attending to injuries and training. He was very popular With the players but was not re-engaged by the directors in the 1964-65 end of season ‘purge’. He later acted as trainer to Kirkby Town in the Lancashire Combination, while his son Jack played for South Liverpool for a number of years