Ian Blease
{{short description|English rugby league footballer & RL administrator}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Ian Blease
|fullname = Ian Blease
|image =
|imagesize =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|1|1|df=y}}
|birth_place = Swinton, Lancashire, England
|death_date =
|height =
|weight =
|position = {{rlp|PR|SR}}
|club1 = Salford
|year1start = 1985
|year1end = 97
|appearances1 = 252
|tries1 = 49
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 196
|club2 = Swinton
|year2start = 1998
|year2end = 99
|appearances2 = 48
|tries2 = 3
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 12
|teamA = Lancashire
|yearAstart = 1991
|yearAend =
|appearancesA = 1
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 0
|new = yes
|retired = yes
|source = {{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/ian-blease/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2018|accessdate=1 January 2019}}{{Rugby league records |id=484 |title=Ian Blease |access-date=8 April 2023}}
}}
Ian Blease (born 1 January 1965) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a {{rlp|pr}} or {{rlp|sr}} for Salford and Swinton. He also represented Lancashire on one occasion in 1991.
Playing career
=Salford=
Born in the Swinton suburb in the city of Salford, Blease joined Salford in 1985 from Folly Lane ARL.{{cite book |editor-last1=Fletcher |editor-first1=Raymond |editor-last2=Howes |editor-first2=David |title=Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1985-86 |date=1985 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |isbn=978-0-356-10944-2 |page=374}} He became the team's captain in 1990, and went on to make 252 appearances for the club before moving to Swinton in January 1998.{{cite book|last=Morris|first=Graham|title=100 Greats: Salford Rugby League Club|year=2001|publisher=Tempus|location=Stroud|isbn=978-0-7524-2196-4|page=18}}
Blease played as a substitute (replacing {{rlp|fb}} Peter Williams) in Salford's 17–22 defeat by Wigan in the 1988–89 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1988–89 season at Knowsley Road, St Helens on Sunday 23 October 1988,{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=682|title=1988–1989 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|accessdate=1 January 2012|archive-date=28 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228180318/http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=682|url-status=dead}} and played {{rlp|sr}}, was captain, and scored a try in the 18–24 defeat by Widnes in the 1990–91 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1990–91 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 29 September 1990.{{fact|date=February 2020}}
In 1996, Blease helped Salford win promotion to the Super League by winning the Division One championship. He also played for Salford at Old Trafford in the 19–6 victory against Keighley Cougars in the 1996 Divisional Premiership.
In 1997, Blease was banned sine die for assaulting a touch judge.{{cite web |title=Rugby League: Blease is banned for life |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-blease-is-banned-for-life-1254455.html |website=The Independent |access-date=8 April 2023 |date=5 June 1997}} The ban was reduced to 10 months following an appeal.{{cite web |title=Rugby League: Wigan carpet Cowie |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-wigan-carpet-cowie-1256962.html |website=The Independent |access-date=8 April 2023 |date=19 June 1997}}
=Representative honours=
Blease played one match for Lancashire in September 1991 against Yorkshire at Headingley.{{cite news|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Paul|title=Ashton on the trail|newspaper=The Guardian|date=19 September 1991|page=17|id={{ProQuest|187277308}}}}
Post-playing career
In 2016, Blease was brought back to the club by Salford's former owner Marwan Koukash as Chief Executive Officer.{{cite web |title=Blease returns to Salford as chief executive |url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/38830/blease-returns-to-salford-as-chief-executive |website=Rugby Football League |access-date=8 April 2023 |date=31 October 2016}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{Salford Red Devils Captains}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blease, Ian}}
Category:English rugby league players
Category:Lancashire rugby league team players
Category:Rugby league players from Swinton, Greater Manchester
Category:Rugby league second-rows
Category:Salford Red Devils captains
Category:Salford Red Devils players