Laurie Gant

Lawrence Gant
Personal information
Full name Lawrence Gant MBE
Nickname Laurie
Born 21 July 1922
Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died 19 October 2004 (aged 82)
Wakefield, England
Playing information
Position Second-row

Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1947–47 Wakefield Trinity
1948–52/53 Featherstone Rovers 112 15 1 0 47
Total 112 15 1 0 47
Coaching information

Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1966–Dec 70 Featherstone Rovers 171 100 7 74 58

Lawrence "Laurie" Gant MBE (21 July 1922[1] — 19 October 2004) born in Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, was an English cobbler, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s, and 1950s, coached in the 1960s, and 1970s, and referee of the 1950s, and 1960s, playing at club level for Wakefield Trinity, and Featherstone Rovers (Heritage № 287),[2] as a second-row, i.e. number 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums, and coaching at club level for Stanley Rangers ARLFC, and Featherstone Rovers.[3] Laurie Gant was the president of St Michael's Cricket club , and the Wakefield branch of the Royal British Legion.[4]

Playing career

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Laurie Gant played left-second-row, i.e. number 11, in Featherstone Rovers' 12-18 defeat by Workington Town in the 1952 Challenge Cup Final during the 1951–52 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 19 April 1952, in front of a crowd of 72,093, he played despite having pneumonia, but following massage with brandy and rum.

Club career

Laurie Gant made his début for Featherstone Rovers on Monday 29 March 1948,[5] he appears to have scored no drop-goals (or field-goals as they are currently known in Australasia), but prior to the 1974–75 season all goals, whether; conversions, penalties, or drop-goals, scored 2-points, consequently prior to this date drop-goals were often not explicitly documented, therefore '0' drop-goals may indicate drop-goals not recorded, rather than no drop-goals scored. In addition, prior to the 1949–50 season, the archaic field-goal was also still a valid means of scoring points.

Coaching career

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Laurie Gant was the coach in Featherstone Rovers' 17-12 victory over Barrow in the 1967 Challenge Cup Final during the 1966–67 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1967, in front of a crowd of 76,290. This was the first Challenge Cup final attended by Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

County Cup Final appearances

Laurie Gant was the coach in Featherstone Rovers' 9-12 defeat by Hull F.C. in the 1969 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1969–70 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 20 September 1969, and the 7-23 defeat by Leeds in the 1969 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1969–70 season at Odsal, Bradford on Saturday 21 November 1970.

Genealogical information

Laurie Gant's marriage to Joan (née Medlock) took place on 27 October 1951 at St Annes Church, Wrenthorpe, Wakefield.[6] They had two children; Christine M. Gant born 22 October 1955 (age 61–62) in Dewsbury district, and Patricia Gant born 17 March 1961 (age 55–56) in Wakefield district).

Note

Gant's forename is stated as Lawrence on the birth registration, but Laurence on the marriage registration.

References

  1. ↑ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. ↑ Bailey, Ron (1956). The Official History Of Featherstone Rovers R.L.F.C.. Wakefield Express. ASIN: B00O1TLDPC
  3. ↑ Lindley, John (1960). Dreadnoughts - A HISTORY OF Wakefield Trinity F.C. 1873 - 1960 [Page118]. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a
  4. ↑ "Laurence (Laurie) Gant, MBE". freepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  5. ↑ Bailey, Ron (20 September 2001). Images of Sport - Featherstone Rovers Rugby League Football Club. The History Press. ISBN 0752422952
  6. ↑ "Marriage details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
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