Bill Sayer
{{short description|GB international rugby league footballer}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Bill Sayer
|fullname = William Sayer
|image =
|imagesize =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1934|6|22}}
|birth_place = Wigan, England
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1989|08|16|1934|6|22}}
|death_place = Wigan, England
|height =
|weight =
|position = {{rlp|HK}}
|club1 = Wigan Highfield
|year1start = ≤1954
|year1end = 54
|appearances1 =
|tries1 =
|goals1 =
|fieldgoals1 =
|points1 =
|club2 = Wigan
|year2start = 1954
|year2end = 65
|appearances2 = 221
|tries2 = 10
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 30
|club3 = St. Helens
|year3start = 1965
|year3end = 70
|appearances3 = 147
|tries3 = 26
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 78
|teamA = Lancashire
|yearAstart = 1962
|yearAend = 68
|appearancesA = 6
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 0
|teamB = Great Britain
|yearBstart = 1961
|yearBend = 63
|appearancesB = 7
|triesB = 0
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 0
|retired = yes
|updated = 16 Sep 2020
|source = {{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/bill-sayer/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}{{Rugby league records |id=9158 |title=Bill Sayer |access-date=22 November 2024}}
}}
William Sayer (22 June 1934 – 16 August 1989), also known by the nickname "Sos", was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and at club level for Wigan Highfield, Wigan and St. Helens, as a {{rlp|hk}}.
Background
Sayer was born in Pemberton, Wigan, and was educated at Pemberton School.{{cite news |title=Rugby mourns legend Bill |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0005367/19890817/511/0022 |work=Wigan Evening Post |date=17 August 1989 |page=22 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}}
Playing career
=Wigan=
Sayer joined Wigan from Wigan Highfield in 1954 after being invited to play in three trial games – he was signed after just two. As well as showing early promise at Rugby League, Sayer was a useful Boxer and Soccer player. He made his Wigan début at Halifax on 4 December 1954 but had to wait until the latter part of 1956–57 for a regular place when he replaced Mather in the number nine shirt. For the next seven years, until changed by Colin Clarke, the shirt was virtually his own property.
Sayer played {{rlp|hk}} in Wigan' 8–13 defeat by Oldham in the 1957 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1957–58 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 19 October 1957.
Bill Sayer played {{rlp|hk}} in Wigan's 13–9 victory over Workington Town in the 1958 Challenge Cup Final during the 1957–58 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 10 May 1958, in front of a crowd of 66,109,{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=436|title=1957–1958 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|accessdate=1 January 2012|archive-date=8 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908025828/http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=436|url-status=dead}} and played {{rlp|hk}} in the 30–13 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1959 Challenge Cup Final during the 1958–59 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 9 May 1959, in front of a crowd of 79,811.{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=437|title=1958–1959 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2012|accessdate=1 January 2013|archive-date=2 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202222948/http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=437|url-status=dead}} Sayer's confrontation with Hull's Tommy Harris was much awaited. Each set of fans hailed their hooker as the best in the business. Sayer proved the best on the day as he won possession two-to-one, just as he had done at Wembley 12-months earlier. He scored a try in the Championship win over Wakefield in 1960 but two more Wembley appearances resulted in loser medals.
=St Helens=
In 1965 he started his second career with St Helens. He added to his club honours by collecting two Championship, and a third Challenge Cup-winners medal. The latter was particularly sweet for Sayer as it was in the 1966 win over Wigan. His last honour, 12 years after his first, was in the 1970 Championship over Leeds.
Sayer played {{rlp|hk}} in St. Helens' 21–2 victory over Wigan in the 1966 Challenge Cup Final during the 1965–66 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 21 May 1966, in front of a crowd of 98,536.{{cite web |title=Memories of St Helens' Wembley winner Bill 'Sos' Sayer |url=https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/19365504.memories-saints-wembley-winner-bill-sos-sayer/ |website=St Helens Star |access-date=22 November 2024 |date=11 June 2021}} A week later, he played {{rlp|hk}} in St. Helens' 35–12 victory over Halifax in the Championship Final at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 28 May 1966, in front of a crowd of 30,165.
He played {{rlp|hk}} in St. Helens 2–2 draw with Warrington in the 1967 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1967–68 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 7 October 1967, played {{rlp|hk}} in the 13–10 victory over Warrington in the 1967 Lancashire Cup Final replay during the 1967–68 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 2 December 1967, and played {{rlp|hk}} in the 30–2 victory over Oldham in the 1968 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1968–69 season at Central Park, Wigan on Friday 25 October 1968.
Sayer played {{rlp|hk}} in St. Helens' 4–7 defeat by Wigan in the 1968–69 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 17 December 1968.{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=441|title=1968-1968 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|accessdate=1 January 2012|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612211418/http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=441|url-status=dead}}
=International honours=
A Lancashire County player, he won the first of his seven Great Britain caps against New Zealand at Leeds in September 1961. The following year he went on the 1962 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia. Sayer won seven caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1961 against New Zealand, in 1962 against France, Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand, and in 1963 against Australia.
Post-playing
Sayer settled in Chorley after retiring from rugby league, where he ran a scrap metal business. He died in a car accident on 16 August 1989, aged 55.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=894 Statistics at wigan.rlfans.com]
- [http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=10&num=16299 Profile at saints.org.uk]
{{Wigan - 1958 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Wigan - 1959 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Wigan - 1959–60 Championship Final winners}}
{{St. Helens - 1966 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{St Helens - 1965–66 Championship Final winners}}
{{Great Britain squad – 1962 Tour}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sayer, William}}
Category:English rugby league players
Category:Great Britain national rugby league team players
Category:Lancashire rugby league team players
Category:Liverpool City (rugby league) players
Category:Rugby league players from Wigan
Category:St Helens R.F.C. players