Albert Firth

Albert Firth
Personal information
Full name Albert Firth
Nickname Budgie
Born July→September 1937 (age 74–75)
Wakefield district
Playing information
Position Prop, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
<1953–1953 Stanley Rangers
1953–1962+ Wakefield Trinity 201+ 68+ 0 0 201+
1963–≥1963 York
Total 201 68 0 0 201
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1959–? Yorkshire ≥1

Albert 'Budgie' Firth (born July→September 1937 (age 74–75) in Wakefield district[1]) is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s, who at club level played for Stanley Rangers, Wakefield Trinity, and York, and at representative level for Yorkshire, playing at Prop, or Second-row, i.e. number 8 or 10, or, 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums.

Contents

County Honours

Albert Firth was selected for Yorkshire County XIII whilst at Wakefield Trinity during the 1959/60 season.[2]

Challenge Cup final appearances

Albert Firth played Left-Second-row, i.e. number 11 in Wakefield Trinity's 38-5 victory over Hull in the 1959–60 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium on 14 May 1960, and played Tighthead-Prop, i.e. number 10, in the 12-6 victory over Huddersfield in the 1961–62 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium on 12 May 1962.[3]

County Cup Final Appearances

Albert Firth played Right-Second-row, i.e. number 12, in Wakefield Trinity's 16-10 victory over Huddersfield in the 1960–61 Yorkshire Cup final at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on 29 October 1960.[3]

Contemporaneous Article Extract

"Outlines - Albert Firth - Albert is one of many players on our present register who commenced his career as a member of the Wakefield City Schools' side. Unlike the majority, however he had to seek his Rugby League football at that stage, for his school in Stanley did not play Rugby. Whilst with the Wakefield City Schools’ team he gained County honours against Cumberland. In those days he played in the forwards; a number of occasions being at loose-forward. Schooldays over, he naturally joined his local team – Stanley Rangers – for whom he made several appearances at centre three-quarter. In whichever position he played, however, his work was so successful that Trinity secured his signature at sixteen years of age. Albert signed for Wakefield in July, 1953 and, after a short period in the “A” team, made his senior début in November, 1953 against Huddersfield here at Belle Vue. There was another appearance in the senior team during that season, but in the following campaign he made his mark and from there he has not looked back. In his first full season of 1954-5, he made thirty appearances and scored 13 tries – his most successful term until this present season. In September he made his County début for Yorkshire against Cumberland at Hull and there are strong hopes that this will form only the first of many similar representative appearances. Still only in his early twenties, with 127 first team appearances (and over forty tries) behind him, he still has much to give Trinity in the important seasons ahead. The continuance of his career and the further fulfilment of much promise will be watched with interest and satisfaction"[4]

Outside of Rugby League

He later became a publican in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

References

  1. ^ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 2010-12-31. http://www2.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?scan=1&r=174183587&d=bmd_1313310960. Retrieved 2011-01-01. 
  2. ^ Lindley, John (1960). Dreadnoughts - A HISTORY OF Wakefield Trinity F. C. 1873 - 1960 [Page 118]. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a
  3. ^ a b Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC - FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-429-9
  4. ^ Lindley, John (16/04/1960). Wakefield Trinity RLFC Official Programme: Keighley. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a

External links