Milan Kosanović
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Milan Kosanović | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nickname | Milo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born |
1932 Lika, Yugoslavia (now Croatia) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 1989 (aged 56–57)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 14 st 3 lb (90 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Hooker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Milan "Milo" Kosanović (1932–1989) was a Yugoslav Serb born in Lika, in what is now Croatia, he was a professional rugby leaguefootballer who played in the 1950s, and 1960s, playing at representative level for English League XIII, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Bradford Northern, Wakefield Trinity (Heritage № 673), and Featherstone Rovers (Heritage № 434), as a hooker, i.e. number 9, during the era of contested scrums. The rise of the Croatian nationalism, and fascism during World War II under the Ustaše, and their promotion of genocide against Serb, and Jews, Romani people, and political dissidents, forced Milan Kosanović (aged-15 ) and his family to be relocated from Yugoslavia via a displaced person camop to the United Kingdom in circa-1947, he initially played rugby league in the Halifax junior league.[2]
Playing career
International honours
Milan Kosanović played hooker for English League XIII while at Bradford Northern in the 8-26 defeat by France on Saturday 22 November 1958 at Knowsley Road, St. Helens, and was a reserve Hooker for Great Britain.[3]
County honours
Milan Kosanović was selected for Yorkshire County XIII whilst at Bradford Northern during 1959.
Challenge Cup Final appearances
Milan Kosanović played hooker in Wakefield Trinity's 25-10 victory over Wigan in the 1963 Challenge Cup Final during the 1962–63 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1963, in front of a crowd of 84,492,[4] and was an unused interchange/substitute 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.
County Cup Final appearances
Milan Kosanović played hooker in Wakefield Trinity's 19–9 victory over Leeds in the 1961 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1961–62 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 11 November 1961, and played hooker in Featherstone Rovers' 12-25 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1966 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1966–67 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 15 October 1966.
Club career
Milan Kosanović joined Wakefield Trinity in June 1961, and made his début during August 1961, and made his début for Featherstone Rovers on Saturday 1 February 1964.[5]
Contemporaneous Article Extract
"M. Kosanović - Signed from Bradford N. during last close season and has been a regular member of the side this campaign. Recently out of action through injury. Represented Yorkshire in 1959. Yugoslav-born but has played all his football in Yorkshire. Age 29." [6]
Milan Kosanovic Cup
The Milan Kosanovic Cup is an international rugby league football competition that is named after Milan Kosanović, it is contested by Russia, Ukraine, and Serbia.[7]
Genealogical information
Milan Kosanović's marriage to Sylvia D. (née Leach) was registered during July→September 1956 in Halifax district.[8] They had children; Mark S. Kosanović (birth registered during October→December 1962 (age 54–55) in Halifax district), and Zoran G. Kosanović (birth registered during July→September 1964 (age 52–53) in Halifax district), as of 2009 the brother's run fish and chip shops at West Vale, and Brackenbed, Pellon, Halifax.[1]
Outside of rugby league
Milan Kosanović opened, and was the landlord, of Milan's Wine Bar in Halifax.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 "Soni meets his rugby league hero's family: Whitehaven's Serbian player honours Halifax's Milan". Halifax Courier. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC - FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-429-9
- ↑ Bailey, Ron (20 September 2001). Images of Sport - Featherstone Rovers Rugby League Football Club. The History Press. ISBN 0752422952
- ↑ Lindley, John (05/05/1962). Wakefield Trinity RLFC Official Programme: Featherstone Rovers. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a
- ↑ "Bears Prepared To Face Ukraine". rlef.eu.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ↑ "Marriage details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
External links
- Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
- RUGBY LEAGUE FINAL 1963
- Photograph "1962 Challenge Cup Semi" at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Hooking role a tough one to call
- Milan Kosanovic