Malcolm Alker
{{Short description|England international rugby league footballer (1978–2024)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Malcolm Alker
|fullname = Malcolm Alker
|nickname =
|image = Malcolm Alker.jpg
|imagesize = 200px
|caption = Alker in 2009
|position = {{rlp|HK}}
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1978|11|4}}
|birth_place = Wigan, Greater Manchester, England
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2024|1|14|1978|11|4}}
|death_place =
|height = {{convert|6|ft|1|in|m|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|13|st|8|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
|club1 = Salford City Reds
|year1start = 1997
|year1end = 2010
|appearances1 = 360
|tries1 = 75
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 1
|points1 = 301
|teamA = Lancashire
|yearAstart = 2002
|yearAend =
|appearancesA = 1
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 0
|teamB = England
|yearBstart = 2005
|yearBend =
|appearancesB = 2
|triesB = 0
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 0
|retired = yes
|source = {{Rugby league records|id=2646|title=Malcolm Alker|access-date=2 May 2023}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/malcolm-alker.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}
}}
Malcolm Alker (4 November 1978 – 14 January 2024) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played as a {{rlp|hk}}. He spent his entire professional career with the Salford City Reds, making over 350 appearances between 1997 and 2010. He also served as the club's captain for many years.
Background
Malcolm Alker was born in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.
Career
Alker started his junior career with Orrell St James before moving to Wigan St Patricks. He joined Salford in November 1995,{{cite web |title=RL: Reds star tackles record book |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/other-sport/rl-reds-star-tackles-record-1189169 |website=Manchester Evening News |access-date=19 March 2024 |date=17 February 2007}} and he made his first team début in 1997 against the Sheffield Eagles.{{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=9}}
In 2000, Alker captained Salford City Reds for the first time at the age of 21 in the absence of regular captain Darren Brown.{{cite web|title=The Story So Far|url=http://www.thereddevils.net/the-club/the-story-so-far|publisher=Salford Red Devils|accessdate=22 May 2014}}
Alker played his entire professional rugby league career at Salford City Reds. He represented Lancashire in 2002,{{cite web |title=Lancashire seal Origin victory |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/2049929.stm |website=BBC Sport |access-date=9 May 2025 |date=18 June 2002}} and was capped twice by England in 2005.{{cite web |title=France serve notice of intent, but England redress balance |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/oct/24/rugbyleague.englandrugbyleagueteam |website=The Guardian |access-date=9 May 2025 |date=24 October 2005}}{{cite web |title=Hohaia fit to step into Jones role as Calderwood stakes Test claim |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/nov/07/rugbyleague.englandrugbyleagueteam |website=The Guardian |access-date=9 May 2025 |date=7 November 2005}}
Alker reached his testimonial year with Salford City Reds in 2006. His testimonial match took place during the 2007 pre-season against the Wigan Warriors, which the Warriors won 20–15.{{cite web|title=Aussie rule|url=http://www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-warriors/aussie-rule-1-168173|work=Wigan Today|publisher=Johnston Press|accessdate=2 May 2023|date=1 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522235259/http://www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-warriors/aussie-rule-1-168173|archive-date=22 May 2014}}
In January 2009, Alker was stripped of the club captaincy following a breach of club rules during their pre-season training camp in Jacksonville, Florida.{{cite web |title=Parker appointed Salford captain |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/salford/7854215.stm |website=BBC Sport |access-date=5 June 2022 |date=10 February 2009}} He was re-appointed captain two months later.{{cite web |title=Alker returns as Salford captain |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/salford/7939641.stm |website=BBC Sport |access-date=5 June 2022 |date=12 March 2009}}
In August 2010, Alker announced that he would be retiring at the end of the season, but would remain at the club in a coaching role.{{cite news|title=Salford City Reds' Malcolm Alker takes coaching role|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/salford/8790203.stm|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=22 May 2014|date=11 August 2010}}
In March 2011, it was announced that head coach Shaun McRae would be taking sick leave, with Alker jointly taking charge of coaching duties alongside fellow assistant Phil Veivers and Director of Football Steve Simms during his absence.{{cite web |title=Salford City Reds coach Shaun McRae faces month absence |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/salford/9411718.stm |website=BBC Sport |access-date=5 June 2022 |date=2 March 2011}} In April 2011, Alker filed a complaint against Salford after being dismissed from a training session.{{cite web |title=Malcolm Alker files grievance against Salford City Reds |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/13145308 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=5 June 2022 |date=20 April 2011}} After failing to come to an agreement, the club announced that Alker would be "taking time away from the club to undergo surgery on his neck".{{cite web |title=Salford in Alker stand-off |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/salford-in-alker-stand-off-859031 |website=Manchester Evening News |access-date=5 June 2022 |date=21 April 2011}}
Personal life
In 2012, Alker released his autobiography, The Devil Within. In the book, Alker admitted use of cocaine and banned growth hormones during his playing days.{{cite web |title=Malcolm Alker defends The Devil Within ahead of its launch in Manchester |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/news-malcolm-alker-defends-the-devil-within-ahead-of-its-launch-in-manchester/ |website=Love Rugby League |access-date=5 June 2022 |date=11 May 2012}}
Alker was sentenced to four years imprisonment on 12 January 2018 for the armed robbery of a KFC restaurant and a Tesco Express store in Wigan on 31 October 2017.{{cite news|title=KFC and Tesco machete robberies: Ex-rugby star Malcolm Alker jailed|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-42665667|publisher=bbc.co.uk|date=12 January 2017}}
Alker died on 14 January 2024 from multiple organ failure at the age of 45.{{cite web |title=Rest in Peace, Malcolm Alker |url=https://salfordreddevils.net/rest-in-peace-malcolm-alker/ |website=Salford Red Devils |access-date=14 January 2024 |date=14 January 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Scheerhout |first1=John |title=Malcom Alker: Dad reveals tragedy behind Salford rugby star's death in heartbreaking inquest |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/malcolm-alker-death-salford-devils-29308037 |publisher=Manchester Evening News |access-date=12 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312051632/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/malcolm-alker-death-salford-devils-29308037 |archive-date=12 March 2025 |url-status=live}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- (archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20060928192641/http://www.reds.co.uk/squad/alker.html Salford profile]
- [http://www.superleague.co.uk/profile.php?id=409 Super League profile]{{dead link|date=August 2016}}
- {{dead link|date=April 2018|bot=|fix-attempted=yes}} ĎŔƑ [https://web.archive.org/web/20120227134746/http://www.rugbyleague.org/features/content.php?feat_id=401 "My life in rugby league: Malcolm Alker"] interview at TotalRL.com
- [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/Malcolm-Alker/summary.html Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org]
{{Salford Red Devils Captains}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alker, Malcolm}}
Category:21st-century English criminals
Category:England national rugby league team players
Category:English rugby league players
Category:Lancashire rugby league team players
Category:Rugby league players from Wigan
Category:Salford Red Devils captains
Category:Salford Red Devils players