Steve Norton

{{short description|RL coach and GB & England international rugby league footballer}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Steve Norton

|fullname =

|image =

|image_size =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|12|22}}

|birth_place = Castleford, England, United Kingdom

|death_date =

|death_place =

|height =

|weight =

|position = {{rlp|SR|LF}}

|club1 = Castleford

|year1start = 1970

|year1end = 78

|appearances1 = 183

|tries1 = 56

|goals1 = 4

|fieldgoals1 = 1

|points1 = 177

|club2 = {{nowrap|Manly Sea Eagles}}

|year2start = 1976

|year2end = 77

|appearances2 = 26

|tries2 = 1

|goals2 = 0

|fieldgoals2 = 0

|points2 = 3

|club3 = Hull FC

|year3start = 1978

|year3end = 87

|appearances3 = 253+17

|tries3 = 44

|goals3 = 0

|fieldgoals3 = 9

|points3 = 146

|club4 = Wakefield Trinity

|year4start = 1988

|year4end = 89

|appearances4 = 9+1

|tries4 = 3

|goals4 = 0

|fieldgoals4 = 0

|points4 = 12

|teamA = Yorkshire

|yearAstart = 1972

|yearAend = 82

|appearancesA = 13

|triesA = 1

|goalsA = 0

|fieldgoalsA = 0

|pointsA = 3

|teamB = England

|yearBstart = 1975

|yearBend = 81

|appearancesB = 11

|triesB = 2

|goalsB = 0

|fieldgoalsB = 0

|pointsB = 6

|teamC = Great Britain

|yearCstart = 1974

|yearCend = 82

|appearancesC = 11+1

|triesC = 0

|goalsC = 0

|fieldgoalsC = 0

|pointsC = 0

|teamD = GB tour games

|yearDstart = 1974

|yearDend =

|appearancesD = 12+2

|triesD = 5

|goalsD = 0

|fieldgoalsD = 0

|pointsD = 15

|coachteam1 = Barrow

|coachyear1start = 1990

|coachyear1end = 93

|coachgames1 =

|coachwins1 =

| coachdraws1 =

| coachlosses1 =

|new = yes

|retired = yes

|source = RL Record Keepers' Club{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/steve-norton/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=Norton&submit=Go&c=England|title=England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk|publisher=englandrl.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419053134/http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Norton&submit=Go&c=England|archive-date=19 April 2018|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Norton&submit=Go&c=GB|title=Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk|publisher=englandrl.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418230316/http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Norton&submit=Go&c=GB|archive-date=18 April 2018|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/steve-norton/summary.html|title=Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}

}}

Stephen Norton (22 December 1951),{{cite web|title=SPORTING MEMORIES: When Steve Norton took over at Barrow RL|url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/other-sport/16464735.sporting-memories-when-steve-norton-took-over-at-barrow-rl/|publisher=North Western Mail|date=22 July 2015|access-date=22 October 2018}} also known by the nickname of "Knocker", is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s, and coached in the 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Fryston ARLFC, Castleford, Hull FC and Wakefield Trinity, as a {{rlp|sr}} or {{rlp|lf}}, and coached at club level for Barrow.

Background

Steve Norton was born in Castleford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.{{cite web|title=Hull F.C. Hall of Fame|url=https://www.hullfc.com/club/history-stats/hall-of-fame/steve-norton|publisher=HullFC.com|access-date=16 October 2018}} He is the brother-in-law of the rugby league footballer Lee Crooks, and the uncle of the rugby league footballer Ben Crooks.

Playing career

=International honours=

Steve Norton won caps playing {{rlp|lf}} for England while at Castleford in the 7–12 defeat by Wales in Brisbane on 10 June 1975, the 17–17 draw with New Zealand in Auckland on 21 June 1975, the 10–10 draw with Australia in Sydney on 28 June 1975, the 22–16 victory over Wales at Warrington's stadium on 20 September 1975, the 48–2 victory over France in Bordeaux on 11 October 1975, the 27–12 victory over New Zealand at Bradford Northern's stadium on 25 October 1975, the 16–13 victory over Australia at Wigan's stadium on 1 November 1975, and the 15–28 defeat by France in Carcassonne on 20 March 1977, and while at Hull in 1978 against Wales, and in 1981 against Wales (2 matches), and won caps for Great Britain while at Castleford playing as a substitute in the victory over 16–11 Australia in Sydney on 6 July 1974, playing at {{rlp|sr}} in the 8–13 defeat by New Zealand in Auckland on 27 July 1974, and at {{rlp|sr}} in the 17–8 victory over New Zealand in Christchurch on 4 August 1974,{{cite web|url=http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/playerprofile.php?pid=576|title=Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk|date=31 December 2013|access-date=1 January 2014|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216084028/http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/playerprofile.php?pid=576|archive-date=16 February 2012 }} and while at Hull in 1978 against Australia (3 matches), in 1979 against Australia (2 matches), in 1980 against New Zealand, and in 1981 against France (2 matches), and 1982 Australia.

=County honours=

Steve Norton won caps playing {{rlp|lf}} for Yorkshire while at Castleford in the 32–18 victory over Lancashire at Castleford's stadium on 11 October 1972, the 7–10 defeat by Cumberland at Workington Town's stadium on 11 September 1974, the 22–15 victory over Other Nationalities at Hull Kingston Rovers' stadium on 18 September 1974, the 20–14 victory over Lancashire at Keighley's stadium on 25 September 1974, scoring 1-try in the 11–29 defeat by Lancashire at Widnes' stadium on 16 October 1974, the 10–7 victory over Cumbria at Dewsbury's stadium on 19 November 1975, the 16–16 draw with Other Nationalities at Bradford Northern's stadium on 6 December 1975, the 17–7 victory over Lancashire at Wigan's stadium on 20 December 1975, and the 18–15 victory over Lancashire at Castleford's stadium on 1 March 1977.

=Challenge Cup Final appearances=

Steve Norton played {{rlp|lf}}, and was captain in Hull FC's 5-10 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1980 Challenge Cup Final during the 1979–80 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 3 May 1980, in front of a crowd of 95,000, played {{rlp|lf}}, and scored a try in the 14-14 draw with Widnes in the 1982 Challenge Cup Final during the 1981–82 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 1 May 1982, in front of a crowd of 92,147, played {{rlp|lf}} in the 18-9 victory over Widnes in the 1982 Challenge Cup Final replay during the 1981–82 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Wednesday 19 May 1982, in front of a crowd of 41,171, and played {{rlp|lf}} in the 24-28 defeat by Wigan in the 1985 Challenge Cup Final during the 1984–85 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 4 May 1985, in front of a crowd of 99,801,{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=445|title=1984–1985 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|access-date=1 January 2012|archive-date=16 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016210443/http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=445|url-status=dead}} in what is regarded as the most marvellous cup final in living memory,{{cite news|url=http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/complete-history-hull-fc-s-challenge-cup-finals/story-19692285-detail/story.html|title=A complete history of Hull FC's Challenge Cup finals|newspaper=Hull Daily Mail|date=22 August 2013|access-date=1 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203223748/http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/complete-history-Hull-FC-s-Challenge-Cup-finals/story-19692285-detail/story.html|archive-date=3 February 2014}} which Hull narrowly lost after fighting back from 12-28 down at half-time.