“Imagine growing up with a grandad who is the most loved man in Wigan.”
I’d often wondered this to myself after meeting Gareth at the unveiling of the statue of Billy Boston in Wigan’s Believe Square in 2016. It was absolutely chucking it down, but the square was full of hundreds of people (and umbrellas) all out to see the town’s favourite adopted Wiganer being honoured here.
A mutual friend (the lovely Lindsay, who I met over a pole) introduced me to Gareth, and since then we’ve bumped into each other occasionally, and been friends on Facebook, commenting and liking posts and having chats about Vimto.
I have ALWAYS wondered what it’s like though, to grow up with a legend as your grandad, and finally persuaded Gareth to have a chat with me…. as what I’m doing now, means I can.
He was nervous, but honestly, in 26 years as a journalist, covering all sorts of stories, I can say this is my favourite interview I have ever done.
For a start, Gareth came to my house… which meant I didn’t have to move anywhere… haha, BUT when he spoke about his grandad, the absolute love and pride on his face was just incredible. I am smiling typing this, just thinking about it. You can see the edited highlights below, but I will be adding the whole 12 minutes (after a LOT of requests).
Among the things Gareth told me, his grandad was one of 11 children, and weighed a whopping 15 pounds when he was born.
He also told Gareth and his brother off when they were upstairs at The Griffin (the pub in Wigan Billy ran after he stopped playing rugby), and decided to watch ‘Porky’s’ (you know, those mildly saucy films from the 80s?). The only problem was, the TV was linked to downstairs, so Porky’s was streamed to all the regulars in the pub…cue Billy running upstairs to see what was going on.
Also, rather bemused, Gareth shared how when he got to high school, one of the teacher asked him for his autograph. Yes, that’s right, Gareth’s autopgraph, not his grandad’s: “He said anyone related to big Billy B is a star. I gave him my autograph, but thought it was a bit weird, and still do to be honest”.
Sir Billy Boston isn’t just a Wigan icon — he’s a sporting legend whose legacy resonates well beyond rugby league. Now 90, he arrived in Wigan as a 19‑year‑old all on his own, after his mum asked for £3,000 to sign him — expecting Wigan to laugh her off. Instead, the club agreed within minutes.
He went on to become the first Black player selected for a Great Britain Lions tour, breaking racial barriers with immense dignity and skill. With a staggering 571 career tries (478 for Wigan in 488 games), his record remains unmatched.
In June 2025 he became the first person from the sport of rugby league to be knighted, a milestone recognition.
Sir Billy is also the only British sportsman to have three public statues, in Wigan, Cardiff and Wembley — a rare tribute to a man adored on and off the field by all generations. These words from Wigan Warriors CEO Kris Radlinski in Arise Sir Billy Boston sum it all up perfectly.
“Growing up in Wigan, I was immersed in the stories of a legend whose name resonated through the generations: Billy Boston. … To those who did watch him, Billy wasn’t just a player; he was the strongest, most electrifying winger ever to grace the game, a force of nature who embodied greatness. … When I say to fans, ‘Who’s your favourite?’ It’s almost like, ‘It’s Billy, then we’ll talk about everyone else.’ …
The pride and love the whole town has for Sir Billy isn’t lost on Gareth. He works in a school and said the kids ask about him every day. Gareth also says the amount of people who stop him whenever they’re out together is incredible.
I asked Gareth if he ever gets frustrated at this, as it’s his time with his grandad: “No, because I get to spend that time with him, and his legacy, he is a proud Welsh man, but he belongs to the people of Wigan, if you ask him, he’s a Wiganer.
“The joy he gets from people wanting to talk to him, from talking to people, I get to see that, he just loves it. And the way the people of Wigan celebrate him at every opportunity they get, I can never thank them enough for that”.
Gareth also shared how since Billy was knighted he calls him ‘Sir Grandad’: “Sir Grandad and Lady Nana. She loves it. I was with him when he was signing some shirts the other day, and he had to write Sir Billy instead of just Billy”.
Gareth has been at every single statue unveiling, saying to have one in Wigan is “amazing” as they can see that every day. The one at Wembley “awe-inspiring that my grandad has a statue at the National Stadium and it will be there forever”, but revealed the one in Cardiff was extra special for Sir Billy: “It means to much to him as it was his hometown, and it was town that he had to leave. Wales is very much a regret for my grandad in the fact he hat he could never play for Wales, so for him to see that his legacy is being celebrated there as well was amazing for him”.
The love, pride and adoration just beams out of Gareth in every single word he speaks about his grandad, from his first memory of him seeing “this imposing man in the pub” to seeing him “light up when he saw his former teammates” at the “breathtaking” celebration put on by Wigan Warriors to mark him becoming rugby league’s first knight.
“The thing I’m most proud of with my grandad, it’s not his rugby playing career, it’s that he broke down barriers. His story of his time in Wales, and not being able to play because of the colour of his skin, and then coming to Wigan on his own, and just, well, smashing it, is inspirational.
He’s inspired me to do what I do, because I want to help people break down those barriers too”.
Gareth continues “It’s a strange feeling to know that you’re related to a guy who transcends generations, from grannies to grandads to little children. they all love him and all know who he is, when to me he is Grandad Billy, the man who’s always been there for me and all of us”.
I really hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I have writing it. Sir Billy Boston, and his lovely family, are simply the best. Thank you Gareth so much for speaking to us.
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