Ken Roberts (rugby league)
Atherton, Lancashire, England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 8 August 2017 Halifax, West Yorkshire, England | (aged 79)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 16 st 0 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Prop, Second-row | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1]
"A Record of Ken Roberts" by Robert Gate 07.11.90 |
Kenneth Roberts (2 October 1937 – 8 August 2017) was an English
. Ken was one of a rare breed of forwards with an ability to dominate games with sheer physical power and incredible ball-handling skills. At 6' 1" and over sixteen stones Ken was a towering figure, quick runner and a damaging defender who always took the game to the opposition. He was an intimidating scrummager, inspiring pack leader and a player to be feared, respected and admired.Background
Ken Roberts was born in Atherton, Lancashire, England, and he died aged 79.[3]
Playing career
International honours
Ken Roberts won caps for Great Britain whilst at Halifax, in 1963, against Australia where his début helped secure a 16–5 victory. He was also capped in 1964 against France (2 matches), in 1965 against France, and New Zealand (3 matches), and in 1966 against France, and New Zealand (2 matches). In 1966, he also toured Australasia with Great Britain, playing in 19 matches including both Test matches against New Zealand, scoring 4 tries and captaining the touring side against Central Queensland, Newcastle, Southern New South Wales, Northern Division and Monaro. Ken was a committee member of the British Rugby League Lions Association[1]
County honours
Ken Roberts won 5 caps for Lancashire throughout his career against Yorkshire, Cumberland and New Zealand.
Combined Salford-Swinton – 1 appearance
County Cup Final appearances
Ken Roberts played left-
on Saturday 27 October 1962.Championship final appearances
Ken Roberts played in
Club career
Ken Roberts made his début for Swinton on 10 March 1956, scoring a try and a goal from the second-row in a 25–7 victory at Blackpool Borough. He would go on to amass 128 points throughout his seven-year spell at the club. In 1960, 1961 and 1962 he played in three consecutive Lancashire Cup Finals for Swinton and was a member of their
In 1963, Ken was transferred across the Pennines, for a huge £5,000 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £240,900 in 2014),[5] to Halifax where, on 24 August, he made his début at Thrum Hall, Halifax against Featherstone Rovers. The same year, Halifax would win the Yorkshire Cup, beating Featherstone Rovers in the Final. 1964 saw Ken elected as vice-captain at Halifax, then soon after, captain. He was also a member of the team which beat Castleford 20–12 at Fartown to win the Eastern Division Championship that same year. Ken's leadership of a magnificent pack of forwards was a major factor in Halifax's charge towards the Rugby League Championship in 1965. It was their dominance which allowed Halifax to overcome St. Helens 15-7 and Ken had a momentous season himself, making 39 appearances. The following season saw Halifax lose to St Helens in a repeat Championship Final at Swinton, and saw Ken make another incredible 36 appearances, including the fixture against New Zealand. On 27 January 1967, Ken played his last game for Halifax, against Leeds at Headingley.
The following week he walked out at Odsal in the Challenge Cup for Bradford Northern against Featherstone Rovers. Ken would play a total of 39 matches for Bradford before making his début for a victorious Rochdale Hornets, against York, including a try, on 17 August 1968.
In October 1969, Ken moved to his last club, Salford and he made his début on 29 October with a victory over St. Helens, at the Willows. Ken played his 475th and last first-class game on 20 October 1970 for Salford against Widnes in the BBC2 Floodlit Trophy.
Honoured at Halifax
Ken Roberts made 27 appearances for Great Britain, 10 in Test matches, and the only player to have captained a Great Britain XIII. Ken Roberts is a Halifax Hall of Fame Inductee.[6]
References
- ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Programme 'Great Britain v. Australia - Test Match - Headingley, Leeds'". RFL. 30 November 1963. Retrieved 1 January 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "OBITUARY: Ken Roberts". Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
- n/a
- ^ "Measuring Worth – Relative Value of UK Pounds". Measuring Worth. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ^ "Halifax RLFC Hall of Fame". halifaxrlfc.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 September 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
"A Record of Ken Roberts" Robert Gate 1990