Alvin Ackerley
{{short description|GB & England international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Alvin Ackerley
|fullname = Alvin Ackerley
|nickname =
|image =
|imagesize =
|caption =
|birth_date = fourth ¼ 1927
|birth_place = Dearham, Cumberland, England
|death_date = 1973 (aged 46)
|height = {{convert|5|ft|7|in|m|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|13|st|7|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|HK}}
|club1 = Barrow
|year1start = 1945
|year1end =
|appearances1 = 1
|tries1 =
|goals1 =
|fieldgoals1 =
|points1 =
|club2 = Workington Town
|year2start = 1946
|year2end = 48
|appearances2 = 72
|tries2 =
|goals2 =
|fieldgoals2 =
|points2 =
|club3 = Halifax
|year3start = 1948
|year3end = 59
|appearances3 = 396
|tries3 = 13
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 39
|club4 = {{nowrap|Hull Kingston Rovers}}
|year4start = 1959
|year4end = 62
|appearances4 = 100
|tries4 = 3
|goals4 = 0
|fieldgoals4 = 0
|points4 = 9
|teamA = Cumberland
|yearAstart = 1946
|yearAend = 59
|appearancesA = 16
|triesA =
|goalsA =
|fieldgoalsA =
|pointsA =
|teamB = England
|yearBstart = 1952
|yearBend = 53
|appearancesB = 6
|triesB = 0
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 0
|teamC = Great Britain
|yearCstart = 1952
|yearCend = 58
|appearancesC = 2
|triesC = 0
|goalsC = 0
|fieldgoalsC = 0
|pointsC = 0
|new = yes
|retired = yes
|updated = 12 June 2012
|source = {{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/alvin-ackerley/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Ackerley&submit=Go&c=England|title=England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk|publisher=englandrl.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Ackerley&submit=Go&c=GB|title=Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk|publisher=englandrl.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}
}}
Alvin Ackerley (1927 – 1973) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Cumberland, and at club level for Barrow (trialist), Workington Town, Halifax (captain 1952–53 to 1955–56), and Hull Kingston Rovers, as a {{rlp|hk}}.Gate, Robert (2002). 100 Greats - Cumberland Rugby League. Tempus Publishing Limited. {{ISBN|0-7524-27318}}
Background
Alvin Ackerley was born in Dearham, Cumberland, England, and he died aged 46.
Playing career
=Halifax=
Ackerley played in his first cup final during the 1948–49 season, playing in Halifax's 0–12 defeat by Bradford Northern in the 1948–49 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 7 May 1949.
Ackerley played {{rlp|hk}} in Halifax's 14–24 defeat by St. Helens in the Championship Final during the 1952–53 season.
During the 1953–54 season, Ackerley played in the 7–8 defeat by Warrington in the Championship Final. He also captained the side in the 4–4 draw with Warrington in the 1954 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London, on Saturday 24 April 1954, and also played in the replay (which Halifax lost 4–8) at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Wednesday 5 May 1954, in front of a record crowd of 102,575 or more.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/mud-blood-and-memories-of-the-day-when-102575-made-history-at-odsal-59103.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522115245/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/mud-blood-and-memories-of-the-day-when-102575-made-history-at-odsal-59103.html |archive-date=2015-05-22 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Mud, blood and memories of the day when 102,575 made history at Odsal|publisher=independent.co.uk|date=31 December 2016|accessdate=1 January 2017}}
Ackerley played {{rlp|hk}}, and was captain in Halifax's 22–14 victory over Hull in the 1954 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1954–55 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 23 October 1954.
During the 1955–56 season, he played in the 10–10 draw with Hull in the 1955 Yorkshire Cup Final at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 22 October 1955, and the 7-0 victory in the replay at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Wednesday 2 November 1955. He also played in the 9–10 defeat by Hull in the Championship Final, and played {{rlp|hk}} in the 2–13 defeat by St. Helens in the 1955–56 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 28 April 1956.
Ackerley won the Yorkshire League with Halifax on four occasions, during the 1952–53 season, 1953–54 season, 1955–56 season and 1957–58 season.
=Representative honours=
Ackerley won caps for England while at Halifax in 1952 against Other Nationalities (2 matches), and Wales, in 1953 against France (2 matches), and Wales, and won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax in 1952 against Australia, and in 1958 against New Zealand.
Ackerley also won caps for Cumberland while at Halifax.
Personal life
Alvin Ackerley was the older brother of the rugby league {{rlp|hk}} who played in the 1960s for Workington Town and Bradford Northern; Terry Ackerley (birth registered first ¼ 1940 in Cockermouth district).
Death and legacy
Ackerley is a Halifax RLFC Hall Of Fame Inductee.{{cite web|url=http://www.halifaxrlfc.co.uk/club_information/hall_of_fame |title=Halifax RLFC Hall of Fame |publisher=halifaxrlfc.co.uk |date=31 December 2013 |accessdate=1 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910011008/http://www.halifaxrlfc.co.uk/club_information/hall_of_fame |archivedate=10 September 2013}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Great Britain squad – 1958 Tour}}
{{Halifax RLFC Hall of Fame Inductees}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ackerley, Alvin}}
Category:Barrow Raiders players
Category:Cumberland rugby league team players
Category:England national rugby league team players
Category:English rugby league players
Category:Great Britain national rugby league team players
Category:Halifax Panthers captains
Category:Halifax Panthers players
Category:Hull Kingston Rovers players
Category:Rugby league players from Dearham