Frank Dyson

For the English astronomer and Astronomer Royal, see Frank Watson Dyson.
Frank Dyson
Personal information
Nickname Spanky
Born 14 March 1931[1]
Died 31 October 1979 (aged 48)[1]
Playing information
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 13 st 4 lb (84.4 kg; 186.0 lb)
Position Fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1949–63 Huddersfield 367 52 958 2072
1963–65 Oldham 60 7 206 433
Total 427 59 1164 0 2505
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Yorkshire
1959 Great Britain 1 0 0 0
Source: rugbyleagueproject.org englandrl.co.uk

Frank "Spanky" Dyson (14 March 1931 – 31 October 1979) was a British professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s, playing at representative level for Great Britain and Yorkshire, and at club level for Huddersfield and Oldham, as a fullback, i.e. number 1. He was left-footed, and one of rugby league's most prolific goal-kickers.[2]

Playing career

Dyson made his debut for Huddersfield in 1949. His testimonial match for the club took place in 1959. Dyson won his only cap for Great Britain while at Huddersfield in 1959 against Australia.[3]

Dyson played in Huddersfield's 6-12 defeat by Wakefield Trinity in the 1962 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 12 May 1962.[4] He also played at fullback in Huddersfield's 14–5 victory over Wakefield Trinity in the Championship final during the 1961–62 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 19 May 1962.[5] With 2,072 points, he became Huddersfield's record point scorer.[6]

Dyson played Fullback, and scored 3-conversions in Huddersfield's 15-8 victory over York in the 1957 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1957–58 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 19 October 1957, and played Fullback, and scored 2-conversions in the 10-16 defeat by Wakefield Trinity in the 1960 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1960–61 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 29 October 1960.

Dyson left Huddersfield in 1963 and joined Oldham, scoring 7-tries and 206-conversions in two seasons at the club.

Post-playing

Following his retirement from rugby, Dyson was the landlord of The Harp on Bradford Road in Fartown during the 1960s and 1970s.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sutcliffe, Robert (6 April 2013). "Time may be up for ‘Spanky’s’ old pub The Harp in Fartown". Huddersfield Examiner. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  2. ↑ Hannan, Tony (April 1999). "Huddersfield's Hall of Fame". League Express. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  3. ↑ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. ↑ Briggs, Cyril & Edwards, Barry (12 May 1962). The Rugby League Challenge Cup Competition - Final Tie - Huddersfield v Wakefield Trinity - Match Programme. Wembley Stadium Ltd. ISBN n/a
  5. ↑ Edgar, Harry (2008). Rugby League Journal Annual 2009 [Page-57]. Rugby League Journal Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9548355-4-5
  6. ↑ Roberts, Chris (30 April 2014). "Huddersfield Giants captain Danny Brough closes in on 1,000 points for the club". Huddersfield Examiner. Trinity Mirror North West. Retrieved 25 September 2014.

External links