Bill Kirkbride

Bill Kirkbride

Personal information
Full name	William Kirkbride
Born	(1944-01-28) 28 January 1944 Workington, England
Playing information
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	14 st 0 lb (89 kg)
Position	Prop, Second-row
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1964–68 Workington Town 75 7 1968–69 Halifax 52 8 1969–71 Castleford 43 3 0 1 11 1971–≥71 Salford ≥1971(Loan) → Leigh 5 0 0 0 0 ≥1971–≥71 Brisbane Souths 1979–80 Wakefield Trinity 1980–82 York 1983–83 Rochdale Hornets Total 175 18 0 1 11 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1967–71 Cumberland 7
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 1979–80 Wakefield Trinity 1980–81 York 67 30 2 35 45 1982–84 Rochdale Hornets 37 11 6 20 30 Total 104 41 8 55 39
Source:

William Kirkbride (born 28 January 1944) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and coached in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Cumberland, and at club level for United Steel ARLFC, Workington Town, Halifax, Castleford, Salford, Leigh (Loan), Brisbane Souths, Wakefield Trinity, York and Rochdale Hornets, as a prop or second-row, and coached at club level for Wakefield Trinity, York and Rochdale Hornets.

Background

Kirkbride's birth was registered in Workington, Cumberland, England.

Playing career

Early career

Kirkbride made his début for Workington Town playing second-row alongside fellow Cumbrian Frank Foster in the 11-10 victory over Widnes at Naughton Park in the last game of the 1963–64 season on Tuesday 12 May 1964. He joined Halifax in 1968 for a fee of £6,000 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £165,900 in 2013). He made his début for Halifax against Leigh Miners Welfare in the Challenge Cup.

Castleford

In September 1969, he joined Castleford for a fee of £5,750. Kirkbride played at second-row and was man of the match winning the Lance Todd Trophy in Castleford's 7–2 victory over Wigan in the 1970 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium, London during the 1969–70 season on 9 May 1970.

Salford

He joined Salford in 1971 for a fee of £6,000.

Kirkbride played at second-row in Salford's 7–12 defeat by Leeds in the 1972–73 Players No.6 Trophy final at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 24 March 1973.

County honours

Kirkbride won caps for Cumberland while at Workington Town making his début against Lancashire at Derwent Park in 1967, playing in the 17–15 victory over Australia at Derwent Park in 1967, and while at Castleford playing at second-row in the 3–42 defeat by Yorkshire at Hull Kingston Rovers' stadium on 1 October 1969, and Left-Second-row in the 15-21 defeat by Yorkshire at Whitehaven's stadium on 14 September 1970.

Coaching career

Wakefield Trinity

Kirkbride was the coach in Wakefield Trinity's 3-12 defeat by Widnes in the 1979 Challenge Cup Final during the 1978–79 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 5 May 1979, in front of a crowd of a crowd of 94,218.

York

Kirkbride was the coach in York's victory in the 1980–81 Championship Second Division.

Honours

Kirkbride is a Castleford Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee.

External links

• Former Wire Greats Return For Centenary
• Lance Todd Winner: I Owe My Career To Brian