Bernard Ganley

William Bernard Ganley (27 January 1927 – 26 June 2009), also known by the nickname of "The Maestro", was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and Lancashire, and at club level for Oldham, as a fullback, i.e. number 1. He was justifiably regarded as one of the greatest goalkickers in the game's history.

Bernard Ganley
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Bernard Ganley
Born(1927-01-27)27 January 1927[1]
Leigh, England
Died26 June 2009(2009-06-26) (aged 82)
Knutsford, England [2]
Playing information
PositionFullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1951–61 Oldham 341 15 1,358 0 2,761
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≥1951–≤61 Lancashire
1957–58 Great Britain 3 1 19 0 41
Source: [3]

Background

Bernard Ganley was born in Leigh, Lancashire, England, and he died aged 82 in Knutsford, Cheshire, England.

Playing career

International honours

Bernard Ganley won caps for Great Britain while at Oldham; he played fullback, and scored 1-try and 5-goals in the 25–14 victory over France at Stadium Municipal, Toulouse on Sunday 3 November 1957, played fullback, and scored 10-goals in the 44–15 victory over France at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 23 November 1957, and played fullback, and scored 4-goals in the 23–9 victory over France at Stade des Alpes, Grenoble on Sunday 2 March 1958.[3]

County Cup Final appearances

About Bernard Ganley's time, there was Oldham's 2-12 defeat by Barrow in the 1954 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1954–55 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 23 October 1954, the 10-3 victory over St. Helens in the 1956 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1956–57 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 20 October 1956, he played fullback, and scored a try, and 2-goals in Oldham's 13-8 victory over Wigan in the 1957 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1957–58 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 19 October 1957, in front of a crowd of 42,497, and played fullback in the 12-2 victory over St. Helens in the 1958 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1958–59 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 25 October 1958, in front of a crowd of 38,780.

Career records

Bernard Ganley holds Oldham's "Most Goals In A Game" record with 14-goals scored against Liverpool City in a match during 1959, and holds Oldham's "Most Points In A Career " record with 2,775 (2,761) points.[4]

Honoured at Oldham

Bernard Ganley is an Oldham Hall of Fame inductee.[5]

Genealogical information

Bernard Ganley was the son of the rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and 1920s for Leigh, Huddersfield and Leeds; W. Herbert "Bert" Ganley.

References
  1. Hadfield, Dave (10 July 2009). "Bernard Ganley: Record-breaking rugby league player for Oldham and Great Britain". The Independent. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  2. "Rugby legend Bernard Ganley dies aged 82 after suffering stroke". knutsfordguardian.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. "Oldham at greyhoundderby.com". greyhoundderby.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  5. "Oldham Hall of Fame". orl-heritagetrust.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
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