Willie Horne

Willie Horne (23 January 1922 – 25 March 2001) was an English rugby league footballer. He played for Great Britain, England, Lancashire and Barrow between 1943 and 1959 and captained all four sides. He captained Great Britain in a test series against Australia (1952) in the days when Great Britain could beat the Aussies. In October 2014 he was inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame, and is therefore regarded as one of the best 23 players in the history of the British game.

Horne played two games on trial with Oldham, but turned down the opportunity to join the club, and signed for his home town side Barrow instead in 1943.

Horne played Stand-off/Five-eighth, i.e. number 6, in Barrow's 0–10 defeat by Wigan in the 1951 Challenge Cup Final during the 1950–51 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 5 May 1951,

Horne played Stand-off/Five-eighth, and was captain in Barrow's 12–2 victory over Oldham in the 1954 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1954–55 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 23 October 1954.

Horne was the 1951–52 Northern Rugby Football League season's top point scorer.

Horne played Stand-off/Five-eighth, and was captain in the 21-12 victory over Workington Town in the 1955 Challenge Cup Final during the 1954–55 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 30 April 1955, in front of a crowd of 66,513, and played in Barrow's 7-9 defeat by Leeds in the 1957 Challenge Cup Final during the 1956–57 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1957, in front of a crowd of 76,318.

Horne's Testimonial match for Barrow took place in 1955.

Horne also represented Great Britain while at Barrow between 1952 and 1956 against France (1 non-Test match).

Horne set new records for Barrow's "Most Career Points" with 1,818, and is ninth in Barrow's all time try scorers list with 112-tries.

Horne was inducted into the Barrow club's Hall of Fame when it was launched in 2001 alongside 1950s team-mates Phil Jackson and Jimmy Lewthwaite.

Horne died at his home in 2001 and a statue of him now stands opposite Craven Park, the home of Barrow Raiders.

A statue in Memory of Willie is sited in 'gardens' between Duke Street and Howard Street, in front of College House, Barrow in Furness.