Eddie Cunningham

Eddie Cunningham
Personal information
Born St. Helens, Lancashire, England
Playing information
Position Centre, Second-row, Loose forward/Lock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1969–75 Wigan 100 45 0 0 135
1975–79 St. Helens 144 75 0 0 225
1979–80 Leeds 32 16
1980–83 Widnes 67 26
1984–85 Batley 13 5
Total 356 167 0 0 360
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1975–78 Wales 8 2 0 0 6
1978 Great Britain 1 0 0 0 0
Source: rugbyleagueproject.org englandrl.co.uk

Edward "Eddie" Cunningham (born in St. Helens, Lancashire) is a professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s, playing at representative level for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Wigan, St. Helens, Leeds, Widnes, and Batley, as a Centre, Second-row, or Loose forward/Lock, i.e. number 3 or 4, 11 or 12, or 13, during the era of contested scrums.[1]

Playing career

International honours

Eddie Cunningham won caps for Wales while at St. Helens in the 1975 Rugby League World Cup against England, Australia, England, and Australia, in 1977 against England, in 1978 against France, England, and Australia, and won a cap for Great Britain while at St. Helens in 1978 against Australia.[2]

World Club Challenge final appearances

Eddie Cunningham played Centre, i.e. number 3 in St. Helens 2-25 defeat by the 1975 NSWRFL season premiers, Eastern Suburbs Roosters in the unofficial 1976 World Club Challenge at Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday 29 June 1976.[3]

Challenge Cup final appearances

Eddie Cunningham played Centre, i.e. number 3 and scored a try in St. Helens' 20-5 victory over Widnes in the 1975–76 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 8 May 1976, played in Widnes' 18-9 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1980–81 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 2 May 1981, and was named Man of the match winning the Lance Todd Trophy in the 9-18 defeat by Hull in the 1981–82 Challenge Cup final replay at Elland Road, Leeds on Wednesday 19 May 1982.

County Cup final appearances

Eddie Cunningham played Loose forward/Lock in Wigan's 19-9 victory over Salford in the 1973 Lancashire Cup final during the 1973–74 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 13 October 1973,[4] and played Centre, i.e. number 4, in Widnes' defeat by Leigh in the 1981 Lancashire Cup final during the 1981–82 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 26 September 1981.

Genealogical information

Eddie Cunningham is the father of St. Helens and Widnes Vikings rugby league footballer Gareth Cunningham, and the brother of rugby league footballers Tommy Cunningham, and Keiron Cunningham.

References

  1. ↑ Williams, Graham; Lush, Peter; Farrar, David (2009). The British Rugby League Records Book. London League. pp. 108–114. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6.
  2. ↑ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "World Club Challenge 1976 at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. ↑ "1973–1974 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.

External links