Rugby League Fact Book (1991) by Robert Gate, page 124, published by Guinness Publishing Ltd John J. McKeown (5 February 1926 – 5 September 2006), also known by the

nickname A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...

s of "J.J.", and "Mac", was an English 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 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. He played at representative level for

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

and

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 19 ...

, and at club level for

Whitehaven Whitehaven is a town and port on the English north west coast and near to the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. Historically in Cumberland, it lies by road south-west of Carlisle and to the north of Barrow-in-Furness. It is th ...

, as a left-footed toe-end style (rather than round the corner style)

goal A goal is an idea of the future or desired result that a person or a group of people envision, plan and commit to achieve. People endeavour to reach goals within a finite time by setting deadlines. A goal is roughly similar to a purpose or ai ...

-kicking , i.e. number 1.

Background

John McKeown's birth was registered in

Flimby Flimby is an English coastal village and former civil parish in the Allerdale district in Cumbria. It was Historic counties of England, historically in Cumberland. It currently forms part of the parish of Maryport and the Flimby ward of Allerdal ...

, England, he died aged 80, his funeral service was held at St Nicholas' Church,

, on Tuesday 19 September 2006, followed by cremation at

Distington Distington () is a large village and civil parish in Cumbria, England, south of Workington and north of Whitehaven. Historically a part of Cumberland, the civil parish includes the nearby settlements of Common End, Gilgarran and Pica. The ...

Cumbria Cumbria ( ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in North West England, bordering Scotland. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local government, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumb ...

, England.

Playing career

International honours

John McKeown represented

while at Whitehaven in 1956 against France (non-

Test Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to: * Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities Arts and entertainment * ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film * ''Test'' (2014 film), ...

match).Edgar, Harry (2007). ''Rugby League Journal Annual 2008 age-110'. Rugby League Journal Publishing. Along with William "Billy" Banks, Edward "Ted" Cahill,

Gordon Haynes Gordon Haynes (21 December 1928 – 4 July 2015) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and at club level for Swinton and Oldham as a . Backgro ...

Keith Holliday Keith Holliday (6 April 1934 – 9 March 2017) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s, and coached in the 1960s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and Yorkshire ( captain), and a ...

, William "Billy" Ivison, Robert "Bob" Kelly, George Parsons and Edward "Ted" Slevin, John McKeown's only

appearance came against

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

prior to 1957, these matches were not considered as Test matches by the

Rugby Football League The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league in England, and until 1995 for the whole British Isles. The name Rugby Football League previously also referred to the main league competition run by the organisati ...

, and consequently

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were not awarded.

Notable tour matches

John McKeown played , and scored 4-

s in

's 14-11 victory over

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

in the

1956–57 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France The 1956–57 Kangaroo tour was the ninth Kangaroo tour, in which the Australian national rugby league team travelled to Great Britain and France and played twenty-eight matches, including the Ashes series of three Test matches against Great Brit ...

match at the

Recreation Ground A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are green spaces set aside for recreation inside towns and cities. N ...

on Saturday 20 October 1956, in front of a crowd of 10,917.

Career records

John McKeown holds

's "Most Appearances In Season" record with 42 appearances in the 1956–57 season, "Most Goals In A Season" record with 141 goals scored in the 1956–57 season, "Most Appearances In A Career" record with 417 appearances, "Most Goals In A Career" record with 1,050 goals, and "Most Points In A Career" record with 2133 points.

Honoured at Whitehaven

John McKeown is a Whitehaven Hall Of Fame Inductee, and the clubhouse at the

is named the J.J. McKeown Bar

References

External links

Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk (statistics currently missing due to not having appeared for both Great Britain, and England)Whitehaven mourn legend McKeown at whitehaven-news.co.ukWhitehaven mourn legend McKeown at news.bbc.co.uk
*(archived by web.archive.org
Club History
*(archived by web.archive.org
When Haven beat the Aussies
{{DEFAULTSORT:McKeown, John 1926 births 2006 deaths Cumberland rugby league team players English rugby league players Great Britain national rugby league team players Rugby league fullbacks Rugby league players from Maryport Whitehaven R.L.F.C. players