Christopher Hesketh (28 November 1944 – 10 August 2017) was an English World Cup winning professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Lancashire as a , and at club level for Wigan and Salford, as a , or , i.e. number 3 or 4, or 6.

Background

Chris Hesketh was born in Wigan, Lancashire, England, and he died aged 72.

Playing career

International honours

Hesketh won caps for England while at Salford in 1968 against Wales, in 1969 against Wales, and France, and won caps for Great Britain while at Salford in 1970 against New Zealand, in the

1970 Rugby League World Cup The fifth Rugby League World Cup was held in Great Britain in 1970. Britain, fresh from defeating Australia in the Rugby League Ashes, Ashes during their Australasian tour earlier in the year (the last time as of 2017 that they would win The Ash ...

against France (sub), New Zealand (1- try), and Australia (sub); in 1971 against France, France (sub), and New Zealand (3 matches); in the

1972 Rugby League World Cup The sixth Rugby League World Cup was held in France in October and November 1972. Australia started as the favourites to retain the trophy they had won just two years previously. New Zealand had beaten all three of the other nations in 1971 a ...

against Australia, France, New Zealand (1- try), and Australia; in 1973 against Australia (3 matches); and in 1974 against France (2 matches), Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand (3 matches). For the

1974 Great Britain Lions tour The 1974 Great Britain Lions tour was the Great Britain national rugby league team's 15th tour of Australasia and took place from May to August 1974. A total of 28 matches were played against local club and representative sides during the tour, inc ...

to Australia and New Zealand, Hesketh was named as captain.

Rugby League career

Hesketh started his career at Wigan in 1962, and following the rule change to allow of substitutions, along with

Laurie Gilfedder Lawrence "Laurie"/"Gilly" M. Gilfedder (15 May 1935 – 7 January 2019 ) was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Warrington R.U.F.C., Warri ...

he jointly became Wigan's first substitute on Saturday 14 November 1964. He moved to Salford in 1967, with whom he remained until retiring in 1979. Hesketh worked as a salesman before retiring in 2006. His death was announced in August 2017.

County Cup Final appearances

Chris Hesketh played left-, i.e. number 4, in Salford's 25–11 victory over Swinton in the 1972–73 Lancashire

County Cup The county football associations are the local governing bodies of association football in England and the Crown dependencies. County FAs exist to govern all aspects of football in England. They are responsible for administering club and player ...

Final during the 1972–73 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 21 October 1972, he played left- in the 9–19 defeat by Wigan in the 1973–74 Lancashire

Final at and played left- in the 7–16 defeat by Widnes in the 1975–76 Lancashire Cup">1975–76 Lancashire

Final at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 4 October 1975.

BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances

Chris Hesketh played right-, i.e. number 3, in Salford's 0–0 draw with Warrington in the 1974 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy">Warrington Wolves">Warrington in the 1974 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy final at The Willows, Salford on Tuesday 17 December 1974, and played right- in the 10–5 victory in the replay at Wilderspool on Tuesday 28 January 1975.

Player's No.6 Trophy Final appearances

Chris Hesketh played left-, i.e. number 4, in Salford's 7–12 defeat by Leeds in the 1972–73 Player's No.6 Trophy Final during the 1972–73 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 24 March 1973.

Testimonial match

Chris Hesketh's Testimonial match at Salford took place in 1977. In the

1976 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1976 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced on 1 January 1976 to celebra ...

Hesketh was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to rugby league.

References

External links

*(archived by web.archive.org
World Cup 1970
*(archived by web.archive.org
When Great Britain won the World CupPhotograph "Bill Ramsey forces his way over" at rlhp.co.uk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hesketh, Christopher 1944 births 2017 deaths England national rugby league team players English rugby league players Great Britain national rugby league team captains Great Britain national rugby league team players Lancashire rugby league team players Members of the Order of the British Empire Rugby league centres Rugby league five-eighths Rugby league players from Wigan Salford Red Devils captains Salford Red Devils players Wigan Warriors players