In this artwork, how is the Ghost legend discussed?
The picture was cleaned and restored by Denis Bynon of HS Bynon & Son Picture Restorers. Examined under a specific light showed overpaint on the picture at this time to show that at least one player who has subsequently been overpainted from the picture. One suggestion made was that Wollen painted out players who, in 1895, took part in the schism of rugby and left rugby union to join the Northern Rugby Football Union (later to become the Rugby Football League). The story of these ghosts took root and was repeated as the truth on TV and in the press until it was pointed out that had Wollen painted out all the players who moved codes that there would only be a couple of players left in the picture. Other suggestions are that the painter forgot to include the referee in the original and simply chose to replace one of the players with the referee figure or that the players were expected to make a financial donation to appear in the picture and the one who didn't pay up was removed from the final portrait. None of these suggestions has ever been substantiated and Wollen's motives for the changes are unknown.
schism of rugby Rugby Football League rugby union overpainted Rugby Football Union