Alan Mason (1934-2014) was an Australian professional

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played for Balmain and

Canterbury-Bankstown Canterbury-Bankstown is a customary region of Sydney, Australia, in the south-western suburbs. The area is located around the Bankstown railway line, to the west of the St George region and to the south of the Inner West region. The suburbs o ...

in the

New South Wales Rugby League The New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory and is a member of the Australian Rugby League Commission. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was ...

(NSWRL) competition. Mason later coached the club in the 1970s.

Playing career

Mason made his first grade debut for Canterbury against

Manly-Warringah The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based in Sydney's Northern Beaches. The team colours are maroon and white, while their namesake and logo is the sea eagle. They compete in Australia's premier rugb ...

in 1954. Mason left Canterbury at the end of the 1955 season. In total, he played 29 games for the club across all grades. In 1956, Mason joined Balmain and in his first season at the club was unlucky not gain selection in the team which made the 1956 NSWRL grand final which Balmain lost against

St George Saint George (Greek language, Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin language, Latin: Georgius, Arabic language, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christians, Christian who is venerated as a sa ...

. Mason played with Balmain up until the end of 1962 before signing with Monaro in the Canberra competition. He captain-coached a Monaro representative team against a touring South African side in 1963.

Coaching career

In 1968, Mason became coach of the Balmain third grade side which won the premiership that year. After coaching the third grade side for a number of years, he became coach of the Balmain Under 23 side which won the premiership against Newtown in 1973. In 1974,

Leo Nosworthy Leo Nosworthy (21 November 1927 – 13 April 2021) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. In 1969, he became the premiership winning coach of the Balmain Tigers rugby league team. Playing career Nosworthy ...

stepped down as head coach of Balmain and Mason was named as the replacement. Mason's one season in charge was not successful as Balmain finished last on the table claiming the wooden spoon. Mason then suffered an acquired brain injury after a workplace accident which made him unable to continue coaching.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mason, Alan 1934 births 2014 deaths Australian rugby league coaches Australian rugby league players Balmain Tigers coaches Balmain Tigers players Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players Rugby league five-eighths Rugby league players from Sydney