Gary Hetherington

{{short description|English RL administrator, owner, coach and former rugby league footballer}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

| fullname = Gary Hetherington

| image = Gary Hetherington.jpg

| image_size =

| position = {{rlp|HK|SR}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|6|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = Castleford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England

| height =

| weight =

| club1 = Wakefield Trinity

| year1start = 1973

| year1end = 74

| appearances1 = 5

| tries1 = 0

| goals1 = 4

| fieldgoals1 = 0

| points1 = 8

| club2 = York

| year2start = 1974

| year2end = 78

| appearances2 =

| tries2 =

| goals2 =

| fieldgoals2 =

| points2 =

| club3 = Leeds

| year3start = 1978

| year3end = 81

| appearances3 = 53

| tries3 = 9

| goals3 = 54

| fieldgoals3 = 0

| points3 = 135

| club4 = {{nowrap|→ Hunslet (loan)}}

| year4start = 1980

| year4end = 81

| appearances4 = 4

| tries4 = 1

| goals4 = 0

| fieldgoals4 = 1

| points4 = 4

| club5 = Huddersfield

| year5start = 1981

| year5end = 83

| appearances5 = 50

| tries5 = 6

| goals5 = 6

| fieldgoals5 = 1

| points5 = 31

| club6 = Kent Invicta

| year6start = 1983

| year6end = 84

| appearances6 = 18

| tries6 = 1

| goals6 = 0

| fieldgoals6 = 0

| points6 = 4

| club7 = Sheffield Eagles

| year7start = 1984

| year7end = 88

| appearances7 = 65

| tries7 = 5

| goals7 = 0

| fieldgoals7 = 3

| points7 = 23

| coachyear1start = 1986

| coachyear1end = 93

| coachteam1 = Sheffield Eagles

| coachgames1 = 136

| coachwins1 = 55

| coachdraws1 = 3

| coachlosses1 = 78

| coachyear2start = 1993

| coachyear2end = 96

| coachteam2 = Sheffield Eagles

| coachgames2 =

| coachwins2 =

| coachdraws2 =

| coachlosses2 =

| updated = 9 December 2023

| source = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/gary-hetherington/summary.html RLP][http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/gary-hetherington/summary.html RLP coaching]

}}

Gary Hetherington (born 1954) is an English professional rugby league executive and former professional rugby league footballer and coach. He is the chief executive officer of the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League.{{cite web|url=http://www.therhinos.co.uk/club/gary_hetherington.php|title=Gary Hetherington|publisher=Leeds Rhinos|date=2016-09-06|accessdate=2016-09-06}}

As a player, Hetherington played as a {{rlp|hk}} or {{rlp|sr}} forward for Wakefield Trinity, York, Leeds, Hunslet (loan), Kent Invicta and Huddersfield. He finished his playing career at Sheffield Eagles, a club which he founded in 1984.

After several years in roles as coach and general manager, he sold his shares at Sheffield Eagles in 1996 to become chief executive at Leeds Rhinos.

Playing career

Hetherington made his début for Wakefield Trinity in January 1973. In 1978, he joined Leeds from York.{{cite web |title=1978-1979 |url=https://www.therhinos.co.uk/timeline/1970s/1978-1979 |publisher=Leeds Rhinos |access-date=7 January 2024}} In September 1981, he was signed by Huddersfield for a fee of around £5,000.{{cite news |title=Fartown's new set of front-row forwards |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000901/19810907/016/0016 |work=Huddersfield Daily Examiner |date=7 September 1981 |page=16 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}} He left the club in February 1983 after paying Huddersfield £1,000 to be released from his own contract.{{cite news |title=He's bought his own transfer! |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000901/19830218/017/0017 |work=Huddersfield Daily Examiner |date=18 February 1983 |page=17 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}}

Coaching and administrative career

During his playing days, Hetherington played a key role in setting up the first rugby league players' trade union.{{cite web |title=Board of directors |url=https://www.leeds-tykes.com/board-of-directors/ |publisher=Leeds Tykes |access-date=7 January 2024}}

After being turned down for a coaching role at York, Hetherington became interested in forming his own rugby league club,{{cite web |title=Gary Hetherington still going strong after 25 years with Leeds RL |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/gary-hetherington-25-years-at-leeds-and-still-going-strong-3437974 |website=Yorkshire Post |access-date=7 January 2024 |date=29 October 2021}} and founded Sheffield Eagles in 1984.

After retiring as a player, Hetherington remained with Sheffield Eagles as coach. He stepped down as coach in April 1993,{{cite web |title=Rugby League: Hetherington steps sideways |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-hetherington-steps-sideways-1456778.html |website=The Independent |access-date=7 January 2024 |date=21 April 1993}} but took charge again eight months later.{{cite web |title=Rugby League: Gardner takes leave of Sheffield |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-gardner-takes-leave-of-sheffield-1466189.html |website=The Independent |access-date=7 January 2024 |date=8 December 1993}}

He joined Leeds in 1996,{{cite web |title=Leeds' new owners want Yorkshire to stay |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/leeds-new-owners-want-yorkshire-to-stay-1360962.html |website=The Independent |access-date=7 January 2024 |date=30 October 1996}} and rebranded the club in 1997, adding the Rhinos nickname. In his time at Leeds, the club has won eight Super League Grand Finals, three Challenge Cups and three World Club Challenges.{{fact|date=February 2020}}

In 1997, he and Paul Caddick bought Leeds Rhinos rugby league team, and they co-founded Leeds Rugby Limited.{{fact|date=February 2020}}

He was President of the Rugby Football League in 2004. His wife Kath was President of the Rugby Football League in 1995.

References

External links

[http://www.therhinos.co.uk/club/gary_hetherington.php Leeds Rhinos profile]
[http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/gary-hetherington Leeds Rhinos: Pressure’s on us admits Hetherington]
[http://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12204/10221925/gary-hethington-looks-back-at-20-years-of-super-league Gary Hetherington looks back at 20 years of Super League]
[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-broncos-man-to-coach-eagles-2321276.html Broncos man to coach Eagles]

Category:1954 births

Category:Living people

Category:British rugby league administrators

Category:English chief executives

Category:English rugby league coaches

Category:English rugby league players

Category:Huddersfield Giants players

Category:Hunslet R.L.F.C. players

Category:Kent Invicta players

Category:Leeds Rhinos players

Category:Leeds Rhinos

Category:Rugby league players from Castleford