William Kirkbride

Bill Kirkbride

Personal information
Full name	William Kirkbride
Nickname	Bill
Born	January→March 1944 (age 79–80) Workington, Cumberland
Playing information
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight
Position	Prop, Second-row
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
12 May 1964–68	Workington Town	75	7
1968–69	Halifax	52	8
1969–71	Castleford	43	3	0	1	11
1971–≥71	Salford
≥1971–≥71	Leigh (Loan)
≥1971–≥71	Brisbane Souths
Jan 1979–Apr 80	Wakefield Trinity
Apr 1980–82	York
≤23 Jan 1983–23 Jan 83	Rochdale Hornets
	Total	170	18	0	1	11
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
12 Sep 1967–71	Cumberland	7
Coaching information
Club
Years	Team	Gms	W	D	L	W%
Jan 1979–Apr 80	Wakefield Trinity
1980–82	York
Jun 1982–Sep 84	Rochdale Hornets
	Total	0	0	0	0
Source: rugbyleagueproject.org

William 'Bill' Kirkbride (January→March 1944 (age 79–80)) born in Workington, Cumberland, is an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, and coach of the 1970s and 1980s, playing at representative level for Cumberland, and at club level for United Steel ARLFC, Workington Town, Halifax, Castleford, Salford, Leigh (Loan), Brisbane Souths, Wakefield Trinity (Heritage #831), York, and Rochdale Hornets, as a Prop, or Second-row, i.e. number 8 or 10, or, 11 or 12, and coaching at club level for Wakefield Trinity, York, and Rochdale Hornets.

Playing career

County honours

Bill Kirkbride won caps for Cumberland while at Workington Town making his début against Lancashire at Derwent Park in 1967, playing in the 17-15 victory over Australia at Derwent Park in 1967, and while at Castleford playing Left-Second-row, i.e. number 11 in the 3-42 defeat by Yorkshire at Hull Kingston Rovers' stadium on 1 October 1969, and playing Left-Second-row in the 15-21 defeat by Yorkshire at Whitehaven's stadium on 14 September 1970.

Challenge Cup final appearances

Bill Kirkbride played Left-Second-row, i.e. number 11, and won the Lance Todd Trophy in Castleford's 7-2 victory over Wigan in the 1969–70 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 9 May 1970.

Players No.6 Trophy final appearances

Bill Kirkbride played Right-Second-row, i.e. number 12, in Salford's 7-12 defeat by Leeds in the 1972-73 Players No.6 Trophy final at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 24 March 1973.

Club career

Bill Kirkbride made his début for Workington Town playing Second-row alongside fellow Cumbrian Frank Foster in the 11-10 victory over Widnes at Naughton Park in the last game of the 1963–64 season on Tuesday 12 May 1964, he joined Halifax in 1968 for a fee of £6,000 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £165,900 in 2013), he made his début for Halifax against Leigh Miners Welfare[1] in the Challenge Cup on Saturday 3 February 1968, he joined Castleford in 1969 for a fee of £5,750, he joined Salford in 1971 for a fee of £6,000.

Coaching career

Challenge Cup final

Bill Kirkbride was the coach in Wakefield Trinity's 3-12 defeat by Widnes in the 1978–79 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 5 May 1979.

Rugby Football League Championship Second Division

Bill Kirkbride was the coach in York's victory in the 1980–81 Rugby Football League Championship Second Division.

Honoured at Castleford Tigers

Bill Kirkbride is a Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee.

External links

• Player statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
• Coach statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
• Profile at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk
• Former Wire Greats Return For Centenary
• Lance Todd Winner: I Owe My Career To Brian