Joe Riley (rugby league)

Joe Riley Gledhill (16 June 1882 – 28 February 1950) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1890s, 1900s and 1910s, and coached rugby union in the 1910s and 1920s. He played representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Sowerby Bridge and Halifax, as a centre, stand-off or scrum-half, and coached rugby union (RU) at the newly established Halifax RUFC (formed 1919), with fellow Halifax Hall Of Fame Inductee; Archie Rigg, after both of their playing careers finished.

For other people with the same name, see Joe Riley.

Joe Riley
Personal information
Full nameJoe Riley Gledhill
Born16 June 1882
Sowerby Bridge, England
Died28 February 1950(1950-02-28) (aged 67)
Halifax, England
Playing information
Height5 ft 9.5 in (177 cm)
Weight13 st 10 lb (87 kg)
PositionCentre, Stand-off, Scrum-half
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1899–01 Sowerby Bridge
1901–15 Halifax 419 117 23 0 397
Total 419 117 23 0 397
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Yorkshire 6
1910–11 England 2 1 0 0 3
1910 Great Britain 1 1 0 0 3
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1919–≥19 Halifax RUFC
Source: [1][2][3]

Background

Riley was born on 16 June 1882 in Sowerby Bridge, West Riding of Yorkshire. For most of his non-rugby life, he worked for Smith, Bulmer & Co.,[4] a textile business based in Holmfield. Riley died on 28 February 1950, aged 67.[5] His funeral took place at Sowerby Bridge cemetery.[6]

Playing career

International honours

Riley won caps for England while at Halifax in 1910 against Wales, in 1911 against Australia,[2] and won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax on the 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand against Australia and Australasia.[3][7]

County Honours

Riley won caps for Yorkshire while at Halifax.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Joe Riley played scrum-half in Halifax's 7-0 victory over Salford in the 1902–03 Challenge Cup Final during the 1902–03 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 25 April 1903, in front of a crowd of 32,507,[8] and he played right-centre, and scored a try in the 8-3 victory over Warrington in the 1903–04 Challenge Cup Final during the 1903–04 season at The Willows, Salford on Saturday 30 April 1904, in front of a crowd of 17,041.[9]

Club career

Riley made his début for Halifax on Saturday 7 September 1901, he suffered a badly broken leg in the match against Bradford Northern on Saturday 2 January 1915, this fracture ended his rugby league playing career.[10]

Testimonial match

A testimonial match at Halifax was shared by Joe Riley, and Asa Robinson at Thrum Hall, Halifax in 1920. 20,000 people attended the match, and Riley received a cheque for £400.[4]

Honoured at Halifax

Riley is a Halifax Hall of Fame inductee.[11]

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. "Death of Joe Riley: Former star of Rugby". Halifax Daily Courier & Guardian. 2 March 1950. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "Mr. Joe Riley". Halifax Daily Courier & Guardian. p. 1 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "Funeral of Old Footballer - Mr. Joe Riley Gledhill". Halifax Daily Courier & Guardian. 6 March 1950. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Papers Past – Evening Post – 14 May 1910 – Football". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  8. Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 7 – 1902–03". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
  9. Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 8 – 1903–04". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
  10. Tom Mather (2010). "Best in the Northern Union". Pages 128-142. ISBN 978-1-903659-51-9
  11. "Halifax RLFC Hall of Fame". halifaxrlfc.co.uk. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 10 September 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
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