Tom McKinney

Thomas McKinney (31 December 1926 – 10 November 1999) was a Northern Irish rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Jed-Forest RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, Other Nationalities, British Empire XIII, Rugby League XIII and Combined Nationalities, and at club level for Salford (two spells), Warrington (Heritage No. 560) and St. Helens (Heritage No. 737) , as a prop, hooker, i.e. number 8 or 10, or 9, during the era of contested scrums.[1][3]

Thomas McKinney
Personal information
Full nameThomas McKinney
Born(1926-12-31)31 December 1926
Ballymena, Northern Ireland
Died10 November 1999(1999-11-10) (aged 72)
Salford
Playing information
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1949–1949 Jed-Forest RFC
Rugby league
PositionProp, Hooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1949–54 Salford 148 4 0 0 12
1955–57 Warrington 64 3 0 0 9
1957–59 St. Helens 93 11 5 0 43
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1954 Combined Nationalities 1 1 0 0 3
1951–55 Other Nationalities 8 0 0 0 0
1952 British Empire XIII 1 0 0 0 0
1954 Rugby League XIII 1 0 0 0 0
1951–57 Great Britain 11+5 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]

[2]

Background

Tom McKinney was born in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.

Playing career

International honours

Tom McKinney represented Combined Nationalities, and scored a try in the 15-19 defeat by France at Stade de Gerland, Lyon on Sunday 3 January 1954, won 7(8?)-caps for Other Nationalities (RL), represented British Empire XIII (RL) while at Salford in 1952 against New Zealand, represented Rugby League XIII while at Salford in 1954 against France, and won caps for Great Britain while at Salford in 1951 against New Zealand, in 1952 against France (non-test), Australia (2 matches), in 1953 against France (non-test), in 1954 against France (non-test), Australia (3 matches), New Zealand, while at Warrington in 1955 against New Zealand (2 matches), France (non-test), New Zealand, in 1956 against France (non-test), while at St. Helens in the 1957 Rugby League World Cup against New Zealand.

In the 1954 Australasian Tour he was brought out of the scrum by Darcy Lawler, Australia's most controversial referee at the time, and accused of biting. A flabbergasted McKinney just opened his mouth to reveal his toothless gums.[4]

Championship Final appearances

Tom McKinney played in Warrington's 7-3 victory over Oldham the Championship Final during the 1954–55 season at Maine Road, Manchester on Saturday 14 May 1955.

County Cup Final appearances

Tom McKinney played hooker in St. Helens 2-12 defeat by Oldham in the 1958–59 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1958–59 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 25 October 1958, and played hooker in the 4-5 defeat by Warrington in the 1959–60 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1959–60 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 31 October 1959.

Club career

Raised in Scotland, Tom McKinney played rugby union for Jed-Forest RFC, in November 1949 he changed to the rugby league code and transferred to Salford, in January 1955 he transferred to Warrington, on Tuesday 22 January 1957 he transferred to St. Helens for £2000 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £101,200 in 2013),[5] winning a Championship medal during the 1958–59 season, after Friday 25 December 1959 he transferred to Salford.

Honoured by Rugby League Ireland

On Thursday 25 March 2004 six footballers were inducted into Rugby League Ireland's inaugural Hall of Fame at the Rugby League Heritage Centre in Huddersfield, they were; John "Jack" Daly (Huddersfield/Featherstone Rovers), Robert "Bob" Kelly (Keighley/Wakefield Trinity/Batley), Seamus McCallion (Halifax/Leeds/Bramley), Thomas "Tom" McKinney, (Salford/Warrington/St. Helens), Terry O'Connor (Salford/Wigan Warriors/Widnes Vikings), Patrick "Paddy" Reid (Huddersfield/Halifax).[6]

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. RL Record Keeper's Club
  3. "Statistics at wolvesplayers.thisiswarrington.co.uk". wolvesplayers.thisiswarrington.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. "Profile at saints.org.uk". saints.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  5. "Measuring Worth – Relative Value of UK Pounds". Measuring Worth. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  6. "Coach gets a double". Evening Chronicle. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
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