Thomas Smales Explained

Tommy Smales
Fullname:Thomas Smales
Birth Date:19 December 1934[1]
Birth Place:Glasshoughton, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Death Place:Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
Height:5feet
Weight:11st
Year1start:1952
Year1end:55
Appearances1:35
Tries1:13
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:39
Club2:Huddersfield
Year2start:1955
Year2end:58
Appearances2:295
Tries2:111
Goals2:1
Points2:335
Club3:Castleford
Year3start:1958
Year3end:60
Appearances3:4
Tries3:0
Goals3:0
Fieldgoals3:0
Points3:0
Club4:Huddersfield
Year4start:1960
Year4end:63
Club5:Bradford Northern
Year5start:1964
Year5end:67
Appearances5:61
Tries5:13
Goals5:0
Points5:39
Club6:North Sydney
Year6start:1967
Appearances6:9
Tries6:0
Goals6:0
Points6:0
Club7:Wakefield Trinity
Year7start:1967
Year7end:68
Appearances7:5
Tries7:0
Goals7:0
Points7:0
Teama:England
Yearastart:1962
Appearancesa:1
Triesa:0
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:0
Teamb:Great Britain
Yearbstart:1962
Yearbend:65
Appearancesb:8
Triesb:2
Goalsb:0
Fieldgoalsb:0
Pointsb:6
Coachteam1:Castleford
Coachyear1start:1969
Coachyear1end:70
Coachgames1:67
Coachwins1:46
Coachdraws1:2
Coachlosses1:19
Coachyear2start:1976
Coachgames2:16
Coachwins2:11
Coachdraws2:1
Coachlosses2:4
Coachteam3:Featherstone Rovers
Coachyear3start:1978
Coachyear3end:79
Coachgames3:22
Coachwins3:6
Coachdraws3:1
Coachlosses3:15
New:yes
Retired:yes
Source:[2] [3] [4]
Updated:19 April 2021

Thomas "Tommy" Smales (19 December 1934 – 26 October 2017) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and coached in the 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Castleford, Huddersfield (captain), Bradford Northern, North Sydney Bears and Wakefield Trinity as a, and coached at club level for Castleford and Featherstone Rovers (two spells).[5] [6]

Background

Tommy Smales's birth was registered in Pontefract, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, he was the landlord of the Traveller's Rest public house, Pontefract Road, Featherstone for 35-years, from 1969 until 2004,[7] and he died aged 82 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.[8]

Playing career

Club career

Tommy Smales made his début for Featherstone Rovers on Saturday 23 August 1952.[9]

Championship final appearances

Tommy Smales played, and was captain in Huddersfield's 14-5 victory over Wakefield Trinity in the Championship Final during the 1961–62 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 19 May 1962.[10]

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Tommy Smales played, and was captain in Huddersfield's 6-12 defeat by Wakefield Trinity in the 1961–62 Challenge Cup Final during the 1961–62 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 12 May 1962, in front of a crowd of 81,263.[11]

County Cup Final appearances

Tommy Smales played, and scored a try in Huddersfield's 15-8 victory over York in the 1957–58 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1957–58 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 19 October 1957,[12] played in the 10-16 defeat by Wakefield Trinity in the 1960–61 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1960–61 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 29 October 1960, and played in Bradford Northern's 17-8 victory over Hunslet in the 1965–66 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1965–66 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 16 October 1965.

International honours

Tommy Smales won a cap for England while at Huddersfield in 1962 against France,[3] and won caps for Great Britain while at Huddersfield in 1962 against France, in 1963 against France, and Australia, in 1964 against France (2 matches), and while at Bradford Northern in 1965 against New Zealand (3 matches).[4]

Coaching career

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Tommy Smales was the coach in Castleford's 7-2 victory over Wigan in the 1969–70 Challenge Cup Final during the 1969–70 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 9 May 1970, in front of a crowd of 95,255.[13]

Club career

Tommy Smales was the coach of Castleford, his first game in charge was on Sunday 3 August 1969, and his last game in charge was on Saturday 28 November 1970.[6]

Genealogical information

Tommy Smales was the uncle of the rugby league footballer; Dale Fennell.

Note

Somewhat confusingly, Tommy Smales played in the same era as the unrelated Wigan, Barrow and Featherstone Rovers of the 1950s and 1960s, Thomas "Tommy" Smales.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Gronow . David . Huddersfield Rugby League Football Club: 100 Greats . 2008 . The History Press . 978-0-7524-4584-7 . 104–5.
  2. Web site: Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  3. Web site: England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk. englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20180629074903/http://www.rugby-league.com/england. 29 June 2018.
  4. Web site: Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk. englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20180629074903/http://www.rugby-league.com/england. 29 June 2018.
  5. Web site: Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  6. Web site: Coach Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110813211957/http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/coachprofile.php?p=coach&id=22. 13 August 2011.
  7. News: 'Rugby pub' is likely to re-start business. Yorkshire Evening Post. 5 March 2007. 1 January 2017.
  8. Web site: Former rugby coach and player passes away. Pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk. 29 October 2017.
  9. Bailey, Ron (20 September 2001). Images of Sport – Featherstone Rovers Rugby League Football Club. The History Press.
  10. Edgar, Harry (2008). Rugby League Journal Annual 2009 [Page-57]. Rugby League Journal Publishing.
  11. Briggs, Cyril & Edwards, Barry (12 May 1962). The Rugby League Challenge Cup Competition - Final Tie - Huddersfield v Wakefield Trinity - Match Programme. Wembley Stadium Ltd. ISBN n/a
  12. Web site: Programme 'Yorkshire County Rugby League - Challenge Cup Final - 1957 - Huddersfield v. York'. huddersfieldrlheritage.co.uk. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  13. Web site: Sat 9th May 1970 – Challenge Cup – Neutral Ground – 95,255. Thecastlefordtigers. 31 December 2011. 1 January 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120216084447/http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/viewreport.php?page=report&id=2590. 16 February 2012.