Mrs Boardman’s Boys
Nowadays people laugh at the lame jokes of BBC sitcom “Mrs Brown’s Boys” but did you know that Broughton Rangers were once affectionately known as “Mrs Boardman’s Boys”?
Who was Mrs Boardman?
Isabella Boardman became Licencee of The Bridge Inn on Lower Broughton Road in 1875 and was there until 1887. During this time Broughton Rangers named the pub as their headquarters. Isabella was a great supporter of the club in these early years and often helped with the money side of the club.
When the club moved to Wheater’s Field, they also moved their headquarters away from The Bridge Inn but Isabella continued to offer assistance when needed. Mrs Boardman died in 1894 but her name lived on with Rangers still being referred to fondly as “Mrs Boardman’s Boys” well into the first decade of the 20th century.
Picture: The Bridge Inn