Tyldesley Football Club (Rugby League)

Tyldesley was a (semi) professional rugby league club, with the nickname of 'The Mighty Bongers'.

The club was based in Tyldesley (pronounced 'tɪlzli'), a town (population approx. 35,000) within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester,England. Historically it is part of Lancashire. The club took their place around the table at the momentous meeting at the George Hotel, Huddersfield in 1895. And after the schism, the club became founder members of the Northern Rugby Football Union (now Rugby Football League) and played for five seasons from 1895–96 to 1899–1900

The first rugby club in Tyldesley was formed in 1881 when, after a meeting of local businessmen and rugby players from other Clubs, they decide to move from Garrett Hall to Tyldesley and become Tyldesley Football Club.

There are two items of interest to note during this first period of playing under RFU rules, In 1891 Tyldesley signed future England International Half-back John "Buff" Berry from Kendal Hornets. He went on to win caps for England (RU) while at Tyldesley in 1891 against Wales, Ireland, and Scotland.

He continued playing for Tyldesley under the Northern Union rules as a stand-off half. Tyldesley beat Widnes to win the 1895 Lancashire (Rugby Union) Cup at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington in front of around 15,000 spectators.

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