Eddie Szymala
{{short description|GB & England international rugby league footballer}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Eddie Szymala
|fullname = Edmund Szymala
|image =
|imagesize =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1954|6|24}}{{cite book |last1=Emery |first1=David |url=https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinrugbyle0000unse |title=Who's Who in Rugby League |date=1984 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |isbn=978-0-356-10435-5 |page=116}}
|birth_place = Barrow-in-Furness district, England
|death_date =
|height =
|weight =
|position = {{rlp|SR}}
|club1 = Barrow
|year1start = 1973
|year1end = 84
|appearances1 = 205
|tries1 = 41
|goals1 = 68
|fieldgoals1 =
|points1 = 264
|teamA = Great Britain U-24
|yearAstart = 1976
|yearAend =
|appearancesA = 2
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 0
|teamB = England
|yearBstart = 1979
|yearBend =
|appearancesB = 1
|triesB = 0
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 0
|teamC = Great Britain
|yearCstart = 1981
|yearCend =
|appearancesC = 2
|triesC = 0
|goalsC = 0
|fieldgoalsC = 0
|pointsC = 0
|retired = yes
|source = RL Record Keepers' Club{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/eddie-szymala/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}{{Rugby league records |id=9204 |title=Eddie Szymala |access-date=19 January 2024}}
}}
Edmund Szymala (born 24 June 1954), also known by the nickname of "Smiler", is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Barrow, as a {{rlp|sr}}.
Background
Eddie Szymala's birth was registered in Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire.
Playing career
=Club career=
Eddie Szymala appeared as a substitute (replacing {{rlp|hk}} Howard Allen) in Barrow's 5–12 defeat by Warrington in the 1980–81 John Player Trophy Final during the 1980–81 at Central Park, Wigan, on Saturday 24 January 1981.
Eddie Szymala played right-{{rlp|sr}} in Barrow's 12–8 victory over Widnes in the 1983 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1983–84 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 1 October 1983,{{cite web|url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/raiders/news/no_title_1_581659?referrerPath=raiders/news|title=1983–1984 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=nwemail.co.uk|date=31 December 2011|accessdate=1 January 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304062231/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/raiders/news/no_title_1_581659?referrerPath=raiders%2Fnews|archivedate=4 March 2012}} the entire Barrow team was inducted into the Barrow Hall of Fame in 2003.
Derek Hadley, and Eddie Szymala shared a Testimonial match/Benefit season at Barrow during the 1983–84 Rugby Football League season.{{cite web |title=Rugby League Heroes: Eddie Syzmala |url=https://www.totalrl.com/rugby-league-heroes-eddie-syzmala/ |website=Total Rugby League |access-date=17 August 2023 |date=7 October 2021}}
=International honours=
Szymala won a cap for England while at Barrow in 1979 against France (sub), and won caps for Great Britain while at Barrow in 1981 against France (sub), and France.
Honoured at Barrow Raiders
David Cairns and Szymala were both inducted into the Barrow Hall of Fame as individuals in 2010, having previously been inducted as part of 1983–84 Lancashire Cup winning team in 2003.{{cite web|url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/raiders/news/cairns-and-szymala-set-for-barrow-rl-hall-of-fame-again-1.778370?referrerPath=home|title=Cairns and Szymala set for Barrow RL Hall of Fame – again|publisher=North-West Evening Mail|date=10 November 2010|accessdate=1 January 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226070603/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/raiders/news/cairns-and-szymala-set-for-barrow-rl-hall-of-fame-again-1.778370?referrerPath=home|archivedate=26 February 2014}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- (archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20120601234058/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/raiders/barrow-rl-s-great-britons-1.906283?referrerPath=raiders Barrow RL's great Britons]
- (archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20140226070603/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/raiders/news/cairns-and-szymala-set-for-barrow-rl-hall-of-fame-again-1.778370?referrerPath=home Cairns and Szymala set for Barrow RL Hall of Fame – again]
{{Barrow Raiders Hall of Fame Inductees}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Szymala, Edmund}}
Category:Barrow Raiders players
Category:England national rugby league team players
Category:English rugby league players
Category:Great Britain national rugby league team players
Category:Great Britain under-24 national rugby league team players
Category:Rugby league second-rows