Alan Prescott
Personal information | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born | [1] Widnes, Lancashire, England | 17 June 1927|||||
Died | 20 September 1998 71)[1] Wigan, England | (aged|||||
Playing information | ||||||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | |||||
Position | Wing, Prop, Loose forward | |||||
Club | ||||||
Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
Halifax | ||||||
1949–60 | St Helens | 404 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 93 |
Total | 404 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 93 | |
Representative | ||||||
Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
1950–56 | England | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1951–58 | Great Britain | 28 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
Coaching information | ||||||
Club | ||||||
Years | Team | Gms | W | D | L | W% |
1960–61 | St Helens |
George Alan Prescott (17 June 1927 in Widnes, Lancashire[2] – 20 September 1998) was an English rugby league footballer and coach of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, playing initially at Wing, and then later at Prop, Second-row or Loose forward/Lock. In 404 matches for St. Helens. Prescott scored 31 tries for a total of 93 points. He played 14 times for Lancashire, 12 times for England, once for Rugby League XIII, once for British Empire, and made 31 Great Britain appearances (10 as captain).
Prescott made his senior rugby league début on the Wing for Halifax at the age of 15.
St. Helens signed him from Halifax on 11 January 1949 and he made his first team début four days later against Belle Vue Rangers. Prescott was captain and Lance Todd Trophy winner at Wembley in 1956.
His test début against Australia was at Headingley in 1952. When he arrived in Australia as captain of Great Britain in 1956, he had not missed a Test against Australia since making his début. He is best remembered for leading his side to victory over Australia at Brisbane in 1958, having broken his arm after just four minutes but continuing to play.[3] The match became known as "Prescott’s Match"[4] or "The Battle of Brisbane".
Alan Prescott represented Great Britain & France in the 37–31 victory over New Zealand at Carlaw Park, Auckland on 3 July 1957,
His final appearance for St. Helens was against Halifax on 19 March 1960. He took over from Jim Sullivan as St. Helens' coach. Alan coached St. Helens to Lancashire Cup success and a Challenge Cup win over Wigan in 1961.
Playing career
International honours
Alan Prescott also represented Great Britain while at St. Helens between 1952 and 1956 against France (3 non-Test matches).[5]
Challenge Cup final appearances
Alan Prescott played Left-Prop, i.e. number 8, in St. Helens' 10-15 defeat by Huddersfield in the 1953 Challenge Cup final during the 1952-53 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 25 April 1953.[6]
County Cup final appearances
Alan Prescott played Left-Prop, i.e. number 8, in St. Helens' 5-22 defeat by Leigh in the 1952 Lancashire Cup final during the 1952–53 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 29 November 1952, played Left-Prop in the 16-8 victory over Wigan in the 1953 Lancashire Cup final during the 1953–54 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 24 October 1953, played Left-Prop in the 3-10 defeat by Oldham in the 1956 Lancashire Cup final during the 1956–57 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 20 October 1956, and played Right-Prop, i.e. number 10, in the 5-4 defeat by Warrington in the 1959 Lancashire Cup final during the 1959–60 season at Central Park, Wigan Saturday 31 October 1959.
References
- 1 2 Hadfield, Dave (22 September 1998). "Obituary: Alan Prescott". The Independent. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
- ↑ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ↑ Richards, Martin (28 April 2004). "A tooth stuck in head - but hooker plays on". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ↑ "The History Of Rugby League". Rugby League Information. napit.co.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- ↑ Edgar, Harry (2007). Rugby League Journal Annual 2008 Page-110. Rugby League Journal Publishing. ISBN 0-9548355-3-0
- ↑ McCorquodale, London S.E (25 April 1953). The Rugby League Challenge Cup Competition - Final Tie - Huddersfield v St. Helens - Match Programme. Wembley Stadium Ltd. ISBN n/a
External links
- Alan Prescott at eraofthebiff.com
- Alan Prescott at rlhalloffame.org.uk
- Profile at saints.org.uk
- England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk
- Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk
- U.K. League Hooker in Doubt
- Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
- Obituary: Alan Prescott