Chris Hesketh

{{Short description|Former GB & England international rugby league footballer}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Chris Hesketh
{{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}}

|fullname = Christopher Hesketh

|image =

|imagesize =

|caption =

|birth_date = {{birth date|1944|11|28|df=yes}}

|birth_place = Wigan, England

|death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|8|10|1944|11|28|df=yes}}

|height =

|weight =

|position = {{rlp|CE|SO}}

|club1 = Wigan

|year1start = 1963

|year1end = 67

|appearances1 = 85

|tries1 = 28

|goals1 = 0

|fieldgoals1 = 0

|points1 = 84

|club2 = Salford

|year2start = 1967

|year2end = 79

|appearances2 = 452

|tries2 = 128

|goals2 = 0

|fieldgoals2 = 0

|points2 = 384

|teamA = Lancashire

|yearAstart = 1967

|yearAend = 74

|appearancesA = 13+2

|triesA = 4

|goalsA = 0

|fieldgoalsA = 0

|pointsA = 12

|teamB = England

|yearBstart = 1968

|yearBend = 69

|appearancesB = 3

|triesB = 0

|goalsB = 0

|fieldgoalsB = 0

|pointsB = 0

|teamC = Great Britain

|yearCstart = 1970

|yearCend = 74

|appearancesC = 23

|triesC = 6

|goalsC = 0

|fieldgoalsC = 0

|pointsC = 18

|retired = yes

|updated = 14 June 2020

|source = {{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/Chris-Hesketh/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Hesketh&submit=Go&c=England|title=England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk|publisher=englandrl.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417192250/http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Hesketh&submit=Go&c=England|access-date=1 January 2018|archive-date=17 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Hesketh&submit=Go&c=GB|title=Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk|publisher=englandrl.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630143029/http://www.rugby-league.com/england|access-date=1 January 2018|archive-date=30 June 2018}}{{cite magazine |title=Chris Hesketh - British Lions captain |magazine=Rugby League Journal |issue=61 |date=Winter 2017 |pages=26–27}}RL Record Keeper's club

}}

Christopher Hesketh {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}} (28 November 1944 – 10 August 2017) was an English World Cup winning professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Lancashire as a {{rlp|ce}}, and at club level for Wigan and Salford, as a {{rlp|ce}}, or {{rlp|so}}.

Background

Chris Hesketh was born in Wigan, Lancashire, England, and he died aged 72.

Playing career

=International honours=

Hesketh won caps for England while at Salford in 1968 against Wales, in 1969 against Wales, and France, and won caps for Great Britain while at Salford in 1970 against New Zealand, in the 1970 Rugby League World Cup against France (sub), New Zealand (1-try), and Australia (sub); in 1971 against France, France (sub), and New Zealand (3 matches); in the 1972 Rugby League World Cup against Australia, France, New Zealand (1-try), and Australia; in 1973 against Australia (3 matches); and in 1974 against France (2 matches), Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand (3 matches). For the 1974 Great Britain Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand, Hesketh was named as captain.

=Rugby League career=

Hesketh started his career at Wigan in 1962, and following the rule change to allow of substitutions, along with Laurie Gilfedder he jointly became Wigan's first substitute on Saturday 14 November 1964.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} He moved to Salford in 1967, with whom he remained until retiring in 1979. Hesketh worked as a salesman before retiring in 2006. His death was announced in August 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.rugby-league.com/article/50736/rugby-football-league-mourns-former-gb-players |title=Rugby Football League mourns former GB players |date=11 August 2017 |access-date=11 August 2017 |publisher=Rugby Football League}}

=County Cup Final appearances=

Chris Hesketh played at {{rlp|ce}} in Salford's 25–11 victory over Swinton in the 1972–73 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1972–73 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 21 October 1972, he played at {{rlp|ce}} in the 9–19 defeat by Wigan in the 1973–74 Lancashire Cup Final at [Wilderspool on Saturday 13 October 1973,{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=2066|title=1973–1974 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|access-date=1 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713171648/http://wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=2066|archive-date=13 July 2018|url-status=dead}} and played at {{rlp|ce}} in the 7–16 defeat by Widnes in the 1975–76 Lancashire Cup Final at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 4 October 1975.

=BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances=

Chris Hesketh played at {{rlp|ce}} in Salford's 0–0 draw with Warrington in the 1974 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy final at The Willows, Salford on Tuesday 17 December 1974, and played at {{rlp|ce}} in the 10–5 victory in the replay at Wilderspool on Tuesday 28 January 1975.

=Player's No.6 Trophy Final appearances=

Chris Hesketh played at {{rlp|ce}} in Salford's 7–12 defeat by Leeds in the 1972–73 Player's No.6 Trophy Final during the 1972–73 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 24 March 1973.

=Testimonial match=

Chris Hesketh's Testimonial match at Salford took place in 1977. In the 1976 New Year Honours Hesketh was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to rugby league.{{London Gazette |date=30 December 1975 |page=14 |issue=46777 |supp=y}}

References

External links

(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20080429211322/http://www.rlhalloffame.org.uk/wc1970.htm World Cup 1970]
(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20080828114607/http://www.rlhalloffame.org.uk/wc1972.htm World Cup 1972]
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7656503.stm When Great Britain won the World Cup]
[https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2008/10/tracking_down_the_heroes_of_19.html#039551 Tracking down the heroes of 1972]
[http://www.rlhp.co.uk/imagedetail.asp?id=876 Photograph "Bill Ramsey forces his way over" at rlhp.co.uk]