Ken Roberts (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Kenneth "Ken" Roberts is an English
former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, who at representative level has played for Great Britain
and Lancashire, and at club level for Swinton
, Halifax
, Bradford Northern
, Rochdale Hornets
and Salford
, playing at , or , i.e. number 8 or 10, or, 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums. 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.
whilst at Halifax, in 1963, against Australia where his debut 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, scoring 4 tries and captaining the touring side against Central Queensland, Newcastle, Southern New South Wales, Northern Division and Monaro. Ken remains a committee member of the British Rugby League Lions Association
Combined Salford-Swinton - 1 appearance
at Watersheddings
.
In 1963, Ken was transferred across the Pennines, for a huge £5,000, to Halifax where, on August 24, he made his debut at Thrum Hall
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 January 27, 1967, Ken played his final 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 debut for a victorious Rochdale Hornets
, against York, including a try, on August 17, 1968.
In October 1969, Ken moved to his final club, Salford and made his debut on October 29 with a win against St. Helens, at the Willows. Ken played his 475th and final first-class game on October 20, 1970 for Salford against Widnes in the BBC2 Floodlit Trophy.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, who at representative level has played for Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
and Lancashire, and at club level for Swinton
Swinton Lions
Swinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:...
, Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
, Bradford Northern
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
, Rochdale Hornets
Rochdale Hornets
Rochdale Hornets RLFC is an English professional rugby league club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. They currently play in Championship One...
and Salford
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
, playing at , or , i.e. number 8 or 10, or, 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums. 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.
International honours
Ken Roberts won caps for Great BritainGreat Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
whilst at Halifax, in 1963, against Australia where his debut 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
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
with Great Britain, playing in 19 matches, scoring 4 tries and captaining the touring side against Central Queensland, Newcastle, Southern New South Wales, Northern Division and Monaro. Ken remains a committee member of the British Rugby League Lions Association
County honours
Ken Roberts won 5 caps for Lancashire throughout his career against Yorkshire, Cumberland and New Zealand.Combined Salford-Swinton - 1 appearance
Playing career
Ken Roberts made his debut for Swinton on March 10, 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 1960-61 Lancashire League Championship winning team. Ken won the First Division Championship with Swinton in 1962-63 and on April 23, 1963, played his 202nd and final game for Swinton, a 17-4 victory over OldhamOldham Roughyeds
Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
at Watersheddings
Watersheddings
Watersheddings is an area of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England.Lying on the A672 approximately 2 miles north east of Oldham town centre it is home to Oldham Cricket Club whose ground situated on Broadbent Road is called "The Pollards"....
.
In 1963, Ken was transferred across the Pennines, for a huge £5,000, to Halifax where, on August 24, he made his debut at Thrum Hall
Thrum Hall
Thrum Hall was a rugby league stadium on Hanson Lane in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. It was the home of Halifax RLFC.-Stadium:The site, measuring 55,000 square yards and included a cricket pitch, greyhound track and bowling greens...
against Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...
. 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 January 27, 1967, Ken played his final game for Halifax, against Leeds at Headingley.
The following week he walked out at Odsal
Odsal Stadium
Odsal Stadium is a stadium situated in Odsal, Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. The venue is used for rugby league and has been the home ground of Bradford Bulls/Bradford Northern since 1934...
in the Challenge Cup for Bradford Northern
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
against Featherstone Rovers. Ken would play a total of 39 matches for Bradford before making his debut for a victorious Rochdale Hornets
Rochdale Hornets
Rochdale Hornets RLFC is an English professional rugby league club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. They currently play in Championship One...
, against York, including a try, on August 17, 1968.
In October 1969, Ken moved to his final club, Salford and made his debut on October 29 with a win against St. Helens, at the Willows. Ken played his 475th and final first-class game on October 20, 1970 for Salford against Widnes in the BBC2 Floodlit Trophy.
Honoured at Halifax
Prior to, and throughout his career, Ken Roberts remained Halifax's most capped Test player and the only player to have captained a Great Britain XIII. Ken Roberts is a Halifax Hall Of Fame Inductee.External links
- International Statistics at englandrl.co.uk
- Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
- Photpgraph "A flying tackle" at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph "Ken Roberts covers" at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph "A tired looking Ken Roberts" at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph "Ken Roberts pulled down" at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph "Roberts on the charge" at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com