Joe Ferguson (rugby league)

Joseph Ferguson (c. 1879 – October 1936) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played between 1899 and 1923. He played at representative level for England, Cumberland and Lancashire, and at club level for Oldham (Heritage No. 54), as a fullback, prop, hooker, or second-row.[2][5]

For other people named Joe Ferguson, see Joe Ferguson (disambiguation).

Joe Ferguson
Personal information
Full nameJoseph Ferguson
Bornc. 1879
Cumberland, England
DiedOctober 1936 (aged c. 56–57)[1]
Oldham, England
Playing information
PositionFullback, Prop, Hooker, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1899–23 Oldham 626 62 540 0 1266
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1905–14 Cumberland 31 2 31 0 68
1900–05 Lancashire 15 0 7 0 14
1904–09 England 4 1 4 0 11
1902–04 Lancashire trial 3 0 0 0 0
Source: [2][3]

[4]

Background

Joe Ferguson was born in Cumberland, and his death aged c. 56–57 was registered in Oldham district, Lancashire, England.

Playing career

International honours

Joe Ferguson won a cap for England in the 3-9 defeat by Other Nationalities at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 5 April 1904,[3] in the first ever international rugby league match, that was an experimental 12-a-side match,[6] he also won caps for England while at Oldham in 1905 against Other Nationalities (a 15-a-side match), in 1908 against New Zealand (a 13-a-side match), and in 1909 against Wales (a 13-a-side match).[7]

Joe Ferguson was considered a "Probable" for the 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, but ultimately he was not selected, as he declined an invitation to tour due to business reasons.[8]

County honours

Joseph Ferguson won caps for Cumberland and Lancashire while at Oldham.

Championship Final appearances

Ferguson played as a forward, i.e. number 9, in Oldham's 3-7 defeat by Wigan in the Championship Final during the 1908–09 season.[9]

County League appearances

Joe Ferguson played in Oldham's victories in the Lancashire County League during the 1900–01 season, 1907–08 season, 1909–10 season and 1921–22 season.[10]

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Joe Ferguson played as a forward, i.e. number 8, in Oldham's 3-17 defeat by Warrington in the 1907 Challenge Cup Final during the 1906–07 season at Wheater's Field, Broughton on Saturday 27 April 1907, in front of a crowd of 18,500, and played as a forward, i.e. number 8, in the 5-8 defeat by Dewsbury in the 1912 Challenge Cup Final during the 1911–12 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 27 April 1912, in front of a crowd of 15,271.[10]

County Cup Final appearances

Joe Ferguson played as a forward, i.e. number 9, in Oldham's 9-10 defeat by Wigan in the 1908 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1910–11 season at Wheater's Field, Broughton, Salford on Saturday 19 December 1908,[11] he played, and scored a drop goal from the half-way line (i.e. 50-metres, 54-yards 25-inches), in the 4-3 victory over Swinton in the 1910 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1910–11 season at Wheater's Field, Broughton, Salford on Saturday 3 December 1910, about Joe Ferguson's time, there was Oldham's victory in the 1913 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1913–14 season on Saturday 6 December 1913, and the 1919 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1919–20 season on Saturday 6 December 1919.[10]

Career records

Joe Ferguson holds Oldham's "Most Career Appearances" record with 626 appearances.[12]

Club career

Joe Ferguson attended, Oldham's 19-9 victory over Hunslet in the 1899 Challenge Cup Final during the 1898–99 season at Fallowfield Stadium, Manchester, as a guest of Oldham, in a successful attempt to convince him to join Oldham rather than Halifax. Joe Ferguson's last game for Oldham was against St. Helens at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 14 April 1923, he was aged forty-four.[10]

Honoured at Oldham

Joe Ferguson is an Oldham Hall of Fame Inductee.[10]

References
  1. "Joe Ferguson - Death of Fine Cumberland Forward". Yorkshire Evening Post. 24 October 1936. p. 4.
  2. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. RL Record Keepers' Club
  5. "Statistics at orl-heritagetrust.org.uk". orl-heritagetrust.org.uk. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  6. "The First International Rugby League Match". rl1895.com. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  7. "Representative Honours". orl-heritagetrust.org.uk. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  8. "Northern Union → The Colonial Football Tour → Probable Players". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  9. "1908–1909 Championship Final". cherryandwhite.co.uk. wigan.rlfans.com. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  10. "Oldham Hall of Fame". orl-heritagetrust.org.uk. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  11. "1908–1909 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  12. "Oldham at greyhoundderby.com". greyhoundderby.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
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