James Valentine (rugby)

For other people named James Valentine, see James Valentine (disambiguation).
James Valentine
Personal information
Full name James Valentine
Nickname Jim
Born 29 July 1866(1866-07-29)
Salford, Lancashire, England
Died 25 July 1904(1904-07-25) (aged 37)
Barmouth, Wales
Playing information
Rugby union
Position Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1883–1896 Swinton
Lancashire 60
Total 60 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1890–1896 England 4 0 1 0 2
Rugby league
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1896–1901 Swinton
Source: scrum.com

James "Jim" Valentine (born 29 July 1866 in Salford[1] — died 25 July 1904 in Barmouth[2]) was a rugby union and semi-professional Northern Union footballer of the 1880s, 1890s and 1900s who at representative level played rugby union (RU) for England, and at club level for Swinton,[3] playing at centre, i.e. number 12 or 13, and at club level played rugby league (RL) for Swinton. Prior to 2 June 1896, Swinton were a rugby union club.

Contents

Rugby union career

Jim Valentine was first selected for England while at Swinton in 1888, but due to internal arguments with the other Home Nation unions, England failed to play an international game until 1890. A prolific scorer, during the 1889-1890 season he scored 61 tries, kicked 5 drop goals and kicked 35 goals.[4] He gained his first international cap in 1890 against Wales, and again in 1896 against Wales, Ireland and Scotland.[5] He also played at county level making 60 appearances for Lancashire.[4]

Change of code

When Swinton converted from the rugby union code to the Northern Rugby Football Union code on the 2 June 1896, Jim Valentine was banned by the Rugby Football Union from playing rugby union as he remained with the club when it turned professional.[4] A club favourite, he led Swinton to their first Northern Union Challenge Cup victory during the 1899-1900 season, with a victory over local rivals Salford at Fallowfield in Manchester.[6] He remained with the club until 1901.[6]

Career records

Jim Valentine holds Swinton's "Most Tries in a Rugby Union Season" record, with 48-tries scored during the 1888–89 season. However, Johnny Stopford holds Swinton's "Most Tries in a Rugby League Season" record, with 42-tries scored during the 1963–64 season.

Death and legacy

A licensee by trade,[4] Valentine died after he was struck by lightning while on holiday in Barmouth in Wales on the 25th of July 1904.[6] He is buried at St. John's churchyard in Pendlebury. Valentine is also believed to one of two people after whom the Valentine Cup, a long running amateur rugby competition in the Manchester area, is named.[6]

Note

Jim Valentine was 37 when he was killed, being 4-days short of his 38th birthday, 29th July, 1904, which sadly turned out to be the day of his funeral.

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=40368364&d=bmd_1315303973. Retrieved 2011-01-01. 
  2. ^ "Death details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 2010-12-31. http://www2.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?scan=1&r=112122607&d=bmd_1315303973. Retrieved 2011-01-01. 
  3. ^ Graham Williams, Peter Lush, David Farrar (November 2009). "The British Rugby League Records Book [Page-178]". London League Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6
  4. ^ a b c d Maule, Raymond (1992). The Complete Who's Who of England Rugby Union Internationals. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 166. ISBN 1-873626-10-X. 
  5. ^ "International Statistics at scrum.com". scrum.com. 31 December 2008. http://www.scrum.com/england/rugby/player/923.html. Retrieved 1 January 2009. 
  6. ^ a b c d "Mystery Cup Returns to The Willows". therfl.co.uk. 2010. http://www.therfl.co.uk/~therflc/home/news_item.php?id=18750. Retrieved 5 March 2011. 

External links