Looking back through West Coast Rugby's storied history at players who made an indelible mark on the game in the province, the name James (Jim) Hilmar Lindbom stands out as one such player, who according to many observers, was one of the finest players of any era to have played the game here, while aptly being adjudged a true great of both Cobden and West Coast Rugby.

Born in Greymouth on August 9th, 1924, and residing in Cobden throughout his life, Lindbom would show great promise as an athlete of note from an early age, proving to be a standout competitor in cricket and football, but it would we be in the game of rugby where he would make his name. He first rose to prominence playing at fullback for the West Coast primary schools side at the 1936 Seddon Shield Districts tournament in Blenheim, where he was acclaimed the outstanding player in the tournament.

While his ability as an outstanding young rugby player was clear for all to see, Lindbom's leadership qualities were evident too, and In 1940 he captained his Cobden third grade team, a side that won the knock out competition, while finishing runners up of the West Coast club and sevens tournaments. Lindbom also represented the Greymouth third grade representative team that year, earning great praise, with one newspaper report stating "J. Lindbom's record in third grade club games this season, has been an excellent one, and his game on Saturday was no exception. He was always in position, and his great kicking ability was demonstrated on many occasions. Great coolness also was a marked feature".

In 1941, Lindbom represented the West Coast third grade representative team, and would star in his sides 17-0 win over Buller, where his emergence as a prospect for the future would be on show for all to see, as he kicked 11 of his sides points. The match, a curtain-raiser to the West Coast v Buller Seddon Shield clash, drew a large crowd of 2,500, so this was the perfect theatre for Lindbom to show off his talent and promise, to those in attendance.

Highlighting his ability even further as a fine talent, he was selected in the Greymouth Technical High School 1st XV.

Also in 1941, as a 16 year old and still playing third grade for his Cobden club, he was called on to help out his clubs senior side when short of numbers. In one such match, he took the field 10 minutes into a clash against United, when the seniors could only muster 14 players come kick-off. Of his performance, the Greymouth Evening Star stated in the match report that, "J. Lindbom was the most reliable fullback", while another write-up reported, "J. Lindbom, a third-grade player, at full-back for Cobden, played a brilliant game and saved the scoring of many tries against Cobden".

Despite young Lindbom's heroics, his side that featured former All Black captain, Ron King, went down 11-5 to United, after the Cobden side had lead for the majority of the match.

In 1942, the Cobden senior team were deeply feeling the effects, like many clubs, of players serving abroad in the raging war, and with the need to promote younger players to the senior ranks, a now 17 year old Lindbom was deemed ready, and he comfortably assumed his position at fullback for the side, one he'd fill for many years.

The following year in 1943 would see the now 18 year old Lindbom's promise as a player of the future fulfilled at senior representative level, when he made his West Coast senior debut against Canterbury at Rugby Park, a 26-5 loss to the red and blacks. The Greymouth Evening Star match report stated that he gave a good display at full back. "He handled well, and kicked fairly well, and tackled well when he had a chance, but usually he was opposed by too many of the opposition to do other than tackle one man who had others in support".

Despite the loss, the young Lindbom impressed, and played in all five of West Coast's representative fixtures that season, and would go on to cement his position of fullback in the West Coast side as the teams premier fullback, for over a decade.

In 1944, Lindbom's Cobden side would be crowned West Coast club champions, matching their clubs efforts as winners of the Wallsend-Taylorville Estates Cup in 1939, when it was last awarded, as despite club rugby still being played during the war, no championship had been played for during that period, up until that point. 

One of the club's match reports from their 26-0 victory against Blaketown that season, included an interesting anecdote highlighting that the position of fullback was not often noted for the scoring of tries, as the Greymouth Evening Star reported. "An interesting incident was the scoring of a try by Lindbom, the first scored by a full-back at Greymouth in recent years".

1945 was the year where Lindbom's star really began to shine, and his ability as a fullback of class was now becoming known not just locally, but nationally. He put on a brilliant display against Canterbury at Rugby Park in West Coast's 17-8 win, while also putting on a faultless display for the West Coast-Buller combined team, in their 8-0 win over the Nelson-Marlborough-Golden Bay Motueka combined team in Nelson, a match that served as a South Island trial match.

Following his outstanding form that season, the New Zealand rugby almanac named him in their New Zealand XV of the year, and described his form that year as follows. "Lindbom was impressive on every occasion, never bustled, fielding cleanly, finding touch with lengthy kicks and giving a finished display of full-back play".

The 1946 season would be a poor one for the West Coast side, but Lindboms penalty and conversion would prove vital in yet another home win against Canterbury at Rugby Park, 11-9. Despite his outstanding form again for his province, it was beset with injuries and he didn't manage to reach the heights of the previous year. Lindbom did however get his first taste of international rugby, as he took his place at fullback for the combined Seddon Shields XV, for their clash against the Wallabies in Westport.

The home side lead the Wallabies 9-6 at the break, and 12-9 late on, but the Wallabies proved too strong in the closing stages, and got up for a thrilling 15-12 victory. Lindbom was described as being among the best of the combined sides backs.

West Coast would get their 1947 representative season off to another great start, again defeating Canterbury at home in their first match of the year, with Lindbom kicking three penalty goals in the 16-3 victory. 

Lindbom then had a chance to aim for higher honours, as the South Island selectors were in attendance at Rugby Park, Greymouth, to witness the combined West Coast-Buller sides 18-10 victory over the Nelson-Marlborough-Golden Bay-Motueka XV, a match that served as a South Island trial, and Lindbom did his very best to impress. 

The Greymouth Evening Star reported that Lindbom created one of the highlights of the game, when he fielded a clearing kick about 40 yards out in the centre of the field and drop-kicked a beautiful goal. Despite that wonderful piece of skill, and also later kicking a conversion to contribute to his sides victory, South Island selection sadly eluded him.

Following Lindbom's fine form throughout the season though, he was nominated by the West Coast Union for the New Zealand trials, but did not gain selection to trial, with some observers commenting he was incredibly unlucky not to have been given the opportunity. 

While the 1947 season may have been one of disappointment for Lindbom in not getting a New Zealand trial, the 1948 season finally gave him that very opportunity. 

The representative season was a poor one for West Coast, winning just one of their five matches, but Lindbom and his West Coast team-mates would travel to Christchurch to play Canterbury in return fixture, a 14-32 loss, with that match being given the status of a New Zealand trial.

West Coast's Jim Lindbom, George Nelson and Eric Walker were considered prior to the match, to be potential All Black prospects, and Lindbom did not do his chances any harm at all, with the Grey River Argus reporting, "At full-back Lindbom was faultless, his anticipation was accurate, his kicking excellent and his handling could not have been better".

Lindbom also appeared in a further New Zealand trial that year, in Westport, playing alongside Bill Amberger and Ron Eastgate and against Eric Walker, all of whom were his fellow West Coast representatives. Although not being selected to attend the further trials that year, it was a fine achievement in getting to showcase his ability to the respective selectors in the two trials, who no doubt would have been impressed with his performances. 

Back to club rugby, and in 1949, Lindbom would again star for his Cobden club. Despite not being one of the competitions leading teams the previous year, Cobden made their mark in the opening match of the season, surprising the reigning champions Star, by 19-3, with the Greymouth Evening Star reporting as follows, on Lindbom's performance. " J. Lindbom, was meticulous in his work and played one of his best games. The crispness of his play was in direct contrast to the haphazard tactics of the opposing team, which repeatedly kicked the ball to the Cobden fullback"

The Cobden side would only get better, proving to be the dominant team, taking out the Wallsend-Taylorville Estates Cup, losing just two of their fourteen matches.

During that year, the West Coast selectors were on the lookout for a player to fill the first-five-eight position, but were seemingly at a loss on who to select, with an article in the Greymouth Evening Star, suggesting the following. "That J. Lindbom might solve some of the West Coast selectors’ worries about the first five-eighths position if tried there. There are some fair full-backs about, but few first five-eighths. Who has better hands, speed, elusiveness and an eye for an opening than Lindbom?".

Despite the idea of playing Lindbom in the unfamiliar role, the selectors decided against it, although during the season they interestingly selected him at centre for one match, a 9-11 loss to Ashburton County, in Ashburton  For all other representative matches, Lindbom played in his regular position of fullback, although the team had to do without him for two of those games, as he injured a tendon in his knee, and was forced by a doctor to rest. 

The Coast side struggled that year, winning only one of their nine games, but Lindbom and four of his team-mates did have something to smile about that season when playing for the West Coast-Buller combined side against the Wallabies in Greymouth, as they shocked the visitors at Rugby Park in Greymouth, in an 17-15 victory. 

Lindbom contributed two penalty goals and a conversion in his sides famous victory, and was again nominated by the West Coast Rugby Union for South Island selection, but yet again was overlooked. 

The 1950 club season would bring championship success for Lindbom's Cobden side for the second year in a row, as they defended the Wallsend-Taylorville Estates Cup, winning all bar one of their senior club games, with Lindbom again in fine form for his club. Against Kiwi, he'd score 23 points, with a match report stating, "Coast full-back, J. Lindbom, was in accurate form with his boot, and scored 23 points by converting 10 of the 11 tries scored and kicking a field goal from well out. Some of his kicks were from the side-line, but the one he missed was from a fairly handy angle". 

Lindbom would again play in a rugby international, this time for West Coast against the touring British Isles, at Rugby Park, scoring his teams solitary points, a penalty in a 32-3 loss to the tourists. 

1950 would also see West Coast taste Seddon Shield success, with Lindbom kicking two first half penalties in a hard fought 6-3 thriller over Buller at Victoria Square in Westport. West Coast would then go on to successfully defend the prized Shield three times, against Nelson, Marlborough and Golden Bay-Motueka, respectively, to ensure it remained on the Coast over the summer.

In early 1951, Jim Lindbom announced his retirement from the game, but this decision barely lasted three months, before he was back playing for his club, and province. In his absence, his young 17-year-old nephew, Allan, who was also a keen fullback and a player of great promise, assumed the fullback position for club and province, until his return. 

Cobden, with Jim Lindbom back on board and playing alongside his nephew,  would see his star quality shining through yet again. In his sides 23-3 win over United, the Greymouth Evening Star reported, " J. Lindbom, in his first outing for the season, was outstanding, and it was his performance that made Cobden look so much the better team. He scored 11 points, converting all four Cobden tries and kicking a penalty goal". The Cobden club would again reign supreme in the senior club competition, claiming a hattrick of Wallsend-Taylorville Estates Cups. 

For West Coast, the 1951 was heralded as one of the best ever, with the side defeating Canterbury 18-14 at Rugby Park in Greymouth, while retaining the Seddon Shield following four defences. In total, West Coast played nine games, winning seven, drawing one, with just the one loss, away to Canterbury. 

Allan Lindbom played the first two representative games for West Coast at fullback, including kicking four penalty goals on debut in the win against Canterbury, before being replaced by his uncle in the fullback role, for the remaining of the season. Allan played in further games that season as a wing or five-eight, and such was the promise of the young Lindbom, later that year he'd be selected for the South Island Colts XV.

There had been some pressure on West Coast coach, Ron King, to dispense with Jim Lindbom at fullback for West Coast, but this Grey River Argus article and headline, following West Coast's win over Golden Bay-Motueka, showed why King retained his faith in Lindbom in the side. 

"JIMMY LINDBOM SHOWS HE'S STILL COAST'S MOST BRILLIANT FULL-BACK"

"With the Golden Bay-Motueka forwards chasing long kicks with unflagging vigour, West Coast were lucky last Saturday that full-back Jimmy Lindbom produced the brilliance his admirers know he possesses. His almost faultless positional play, fielding and line-kicking often, stopped dangerous rushes, turned defence into attack, and quietened those who criticised selector Ron King for choosing Lindbom before he had played one game this year".

1952 would see Cobden relinquish their grip of West Coast club rugby dominance, with cross Grey river rivals Blaketown, taking the crown, but Lindbom's contribution at fullback would help West Coast yet again, keep hold of the prized Seddon Shield, for yet another year.

Lindbom and his team-mates would also play a Ranfurly Shield challenge against Waikato in front over 19,000 people at Rugby Park in Hamilton, and despite the Seddon Shield holders travelling North with some confidence, they went down 20-6. Of Lindbom's season, the New Zealand Rugby almanac describing his performances as follows,  "J. H. Lindbom was the regular full-back, and his neat fielding, good positional sense and accurate kicking were invaluable".

That fine form would see him selected for the South Island Minor Unions XV v North Island Minor Unions XV match, played at Athletic Park in Wellington. Lindbom would be joined in the side by West Coast team-mates, George Nelson, who'd captain the side, and Eric Walker. The West Coasters would all combine well in the 24-17 victory, with Walker scoring two tries, and Lindbom kicking three conversions.

There would be further celebration among members of the Lindbom family that year, with Allan being selected for the South Island side to play the North Island team at Carisbrook in Dunedin, which resulted in a 11-3 win to the South Island, with Lindbom kicking a conversion.

1953 would see the end of West Coast's incredible 15-match hold of the Seddon Shield at the hands of Buller, an 8-0 loss at Rugby Park, the final defence of the Shield that year. Again the New Zealand Rugby Almanac praised Lindbom, stating, "J.H Lindbom again impressed as a player of more than average ability".

The almanac also noted that Lindbom, in scoring two tries against Nelson that year, was the only fullback in first-class rugby in New Zealand that season to score more than one try in a single match. Twelve other fullbacks scored a solitary try, but Lindbom was the only one who managed a brace. 

The 1954 season was a non-event for Lindbom through injury, but he was back on the rugby field in 1955, where he helped guide his Cobden club to yet another senior title, and Wallsend-Taylorville Estates Cup glory. Lindbom would play in just two of West Coast's five representative games that year, both against Buller, with the second at Victoria Square, bringing down the curtain on an incredible career, as he retired from both club and representative rugby. 

Lindbom's record at senior club level was nothing short of incredible seeing him crowned West Coast senior club champion five times with his Cobden side, following their Wallsend-Taylorville Estates Cup glories in 1944, 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1955. In Albert Watkin's publication on the history of the Cobden R.F.C, a fitting entry was made on the great career that Lindbom had with the club he loved so dear. "The 1955 Championship win came as a fitting climax to the career of Jim Lindbom. He retired from the game without attaining any of the major honours that should quite justifiably come his way. It is doubtful if any single player ever contributed more towards the success of the senior side. With Jim Lindbom at full back some very mediocre Cobden teams were made to look very good ones".

For West Coast, he'd win a remarkable 75 caps, from his debut in 1943, to his final match in 1955. During those games he scored 3 tries, and kicked 27 conversions, 46 penalties and 1 dropped-goal for a total of 204 points, and throughout his entire career, he'd play 81 games first-class games, scoring a total of 226 points. 

On his career, Lindbom would later credit three men to whom he said he was indebted for much of his success as a rugby player, Fred Baillie, Ron King and his brother Lachie (Alec). Lindbom stated that as coaches they did much to improve his play, while when he commenced playing as a youngster, Dave Dominick and Trevor McDonald as coaches gave him early guidance. 

Throughout Lindbom's illustrious career, and following his retirement from the game, many inches of newspaper columns were filled lauding Lindbom's wonderful career, his incredible skill-set, and his heroics as a match winner. The following from a 1959 newspaper article was one such write-up that perhaps best encapsulates Lindbom's career in the glowing terms it fully deserves.

"The member of a well-known sporting family, Jim Lindbom was described by some of the most ardent Rugby critics on the West Coast, as the best player to occupy the full-back position that they could recall in the province. Jim Lindbom was elevated to Dominion representative Rugby standard in 1943. Apart from one injury season, when injury kept him off the field, he played each year for West Coast, until he retired in 1955. He was the hero of many a hard game. Many matches were won on the skilful kicking of Jim Lindbom. His goal kicking was usually deadly accurate, from the most acute angles".

"He was also a good judge of climatic conditions. Strong cross winds did not seem to bring a marked disadvantage to Jim Lindbom as they have to many other kickers. Invariably, he played at full-back and despite his coolness and style suited to repelling big forwards towards bursting through, Jim Lindbom had pace. When he went “Waterloo” to meet an attacker the West Coast full-back was there. Fast off the mark, Lindbom had an uncanny anticipation".

James "Jim" Hilmar Lindbom, a proud Cobden man throughout his entire life, passed away in Greymouth, on July 7th, 2018, aged 93. A man who gave so much to his club and province, thrilling those who witnessed him in action, truly deserves the title, as a great of Cobden and West Coast Rugby.