Edward "Eddie" Cunningham (born 22 February 1951) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played at international level for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Wigan, St. Helens, Leeds, Widnes and

Batley Batley is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. Batley lies south-west of Leeds, north-west of Wakefield and Dewsbury, south-east of Bradford and north-east of Huddersfield. Batley is part of the ...

, as a , or .

Background

Eddie Cunningham was born in St. Helens, Lancashire, England.

Playing career

Wigan

Cunningham played in Wigan's 19–9 victory over Salford in the

1973 Lancashire Cup Events January * January 1 - The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 15 – Vietnam War: ...

Final during the 1973–74 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 13 October 1973.

St Helens

Cunningham played at , and scored a try in St. Helens' 20–5 victory over Widnes in the

1976 Challenge Cup Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 Phila ...

Final during the 1975–76 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 8 May 1976, in front of a crowd of 89,982. Cunningham played at in St. Helens 2–25 defeat by the

1975 NSWRFL season The 1975 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 68th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve teams, including six of 1908's foundation clubs and another six from across Sydney ...

premiers, Eastern Suburbs Roosters in the unofficial

1976 World Club Challenge The 1976 World Club Challenge was an unofficial trial of what would later become the World Club Challenge concept, with the 1975 NSWRFL season's premiers, Eastern Suburbs hosting the 1975–76 Northern Rugby Football League season's Premiership a ...

Sydney Cricket Ground The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is a sports stadium in Sydney, Australia. It is used for Test cricket, Test, One Day International and Twenty20 cricket, as well as, Australian rules football and occasionally for rugby league, rugby union and as ...

on Tuesday 29 June 1976. Cunningham played at , and scored try in St. Helens' 11–26 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers in the

1977 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Events January * January 8 – Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group. * January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (now the Democrati ...

Final during the 1977–78 season at Craven Park, Kingston upon Hull on Tuesday 13 December 1977, and played at in the 7–13 defeat by Widnes in the 1978 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1978–79 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 12 December 1978.

Widnes

After spending one season at Leeds, Cunningham was signed by Widnes in August 1980 for a fee of £20,000. Cunningham played at in Widnes' 18–9 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the

1981 Challenge Cup Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 10 – Salvadoran Civil War: The Farabundo Martí National Liberation Fr ...

Final during the 1980–81 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 2 May 1981, in front of a crowd of 92,496, played at , and scored 2- tries, and was named Man of the match winning the Lance Todd Trophy in the 14–14 draw with Hull F.C. in the

1982 Challenge Cup __NOTOC__ Year 198 (CXCVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Sergius and Gallus (or, less frequently, year 951 ''Ab u ...

Final during the 1981–82 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 1 May 1982, in front of a crowd of 92,147, and played at in the 9–18 defeat by Hull F.C. in the

Final

replay Replay may refer to: * Replay (sports), a replayed match between two sport teams Technology * Game replay, a recording of a game session. * Instant replay, in motion pictures and television, a showing again of part of a film * Replay Professional, ...

during the 1981–82 season at

Elland Road Elland Road is a football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, which has been the home of Premier League club Leeds United since the club's formation in 1919. The stadium is the 14th largest football stadium in England. The g ...

, Leeds on Wednesday 19 May 1982, in front of a crowd of 41,171. Cunningham played at in Widnes' defeat by

Leigh Leigh may refer to: Places In England Pronounced : * Leigh, Greater Manchester, Borough of Wigan ** Leigh (UK Parliament constituency) * Leigh-on-Sea, Essex Pronounced : * Leigh, Dorset * Leigh, Gloucestershire * Leigh, Kent * Leigh, Sta ...

in the

1981 Lancashire Cup Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 10 – Salvadoran Civil War: The Farabundo Martí National Liberation Fr ...

Final during the 1981–82 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 26 September 1981.

International honours

Eddie Cunningham won caps for Wales while at St. Helens in the

1975 Rugby League World Cup The 1975 Rugby League World Championship (also referred to as the World Series) was the seventh tournament for the Rugby League World Cup. The format differed from that employed in previous competitions; no single country hosted the matches, whi ...

against England, Australia, England, and Australia, in 1977 against England, in 1978 against France, England, and Australia, and won a cap for Great Britain while at St. Helens in 1978 against Australia.

Genealogical information

Eddie Cunningham is the father of St. Helens and Widnes Vikings rugby league footballer Gareth Cunningham, and the brother of rugby league footballers Tommy Cunningham and Keiron Cunningham.

References

External links

Profile at saints.org.ukStatistics at wigan.rlfans.comStatistics at rugby.widnes.tv
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunningham, Eddie 1951 births Living people Batley Bulldogs players English rugby league players Great Britain national rugby league team players Lancashire rugby league team players Lance Todd Trophy winners Leeds Rhinos players Rugby league centres Rugby league locks Rugby league players from St Helens, Merseyside Rugby league second-rows St Helens R.F.C. players Wales national rugby league team players Welsh rugby league players Widnes Vikings players Wigan Warriors players