Billy Benyon

Last updated

Billy Benyon
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Benyon
Born (1945-03-07) 7 March 1945 (age 79)
St. Helens, England
Playing information
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight12 st 11 lb (81 kg) [1]
Position Centre, Stand-off
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1961–77 St. Helens 51415410464
1974 Cronulla-Sutherland 51003
Oct 1977–Apr 81 Warrington 91+3160048
Total61317110515
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1966–73 Lancashire 123009
1968–70 England 20000
1971–72 Great Britain 640012
Coaching information
Club
YearsTeamGmsWDLW%
1978–82 Warrington 1549365560
1982–85 St Helens 1368754464
1986–90 Leigh 1096104856
Total3992411114760
Source: [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

William Benyon (born 7 March 1945 [7] ) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s, and coached in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at club level for St Helens, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Warrington, as a centre or stand-off, [2] and coached at club level for St Helens and Leigh. [5]

Contents

Background

Billy Benyon was born in St. Helens, Lancashire, England.

Playing career

International honours

Billy Benyon won caps for England while at St Helens in 1968 against Wales, in 1970 against Wales, [3] and won caps for Great Britain while at St Helens in 1971 against France (2 matches), New Zealand, and New Zealand (interchange/substitute), and in 1972 against France (2 matches). [4]

World Club Challenge appearances

Billy Benyon played stand-off in St. Helens' 2–25 defeat by the 1975 NSWRFL season premiers, Eastern Suburbs Roosters in the unofficial 1976 World Club Challenge at Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday 29 June 1976. [8]

Championship final appearances

Billy Benyon played left-centre in St. Helens' 35–12 victory over Halifax in the Championship Final during the 1965–66 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 28 May 1966, in front of a crowd of 30,165.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Billy Benyon played left-centre in St. Helens' 21–2 victory over Wigan in the 1966 Challenge Cup Final during the 1965–66 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 21 May 1966, in front of a crowd of 98,536, played right-centre in the 16–13 victory over Leeds in the 1972 Challenge Cup Final during the 1971–72 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1972, and played stand-off in the 20–5 victory over Widnes in the 1976 Challenge Cup Final during the 1975–76 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 8 May 1976.

County Cup Final appearances

Billy Benyon played stand-off in St. Helens' 7–4 victory over Swinton in the 1962 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1962–63 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 27 October 1962, played left-centre and scored a try in the 12–4 victory over Swinton in the 1964 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1964–65 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 24 October 1964, played left-centre in the 2–2 draw with Warrington in the 1967 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1967–68 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 7 October 1967, played right-centre in the 13–10 victory over Warrington in the 1967 Lancashire Cup Final replay during the 1967–68 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 2 December 1967, played right-centre in the 30–2 victory over Oldham in the 1968 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1968–69 season at Central Park, Wigan on Friday 25 October 1968, and played right-centre in the 4–7 defeat by Leigh in the 1970 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1970–71 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 28 November 1970.

BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances

Billy Benyon played left-centre in St. Helens' 0–4 defeat by Castleford in the 1965 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1965–66 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 14 December 1965, played right-centre in the 4–7 defeat by Wigan in the 1968 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1968-69 season at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 17 December 1968. [9] played right-centre in the 5–9 defeat by Leeds in the 1970 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1970–71 season at Headingley, Leeds on Tuesday 15 December 1970, played right-centre in the 8–2 victory over Rochdale Hornets in the 1971 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1971–72 season at Headingley, Leeds on Tuesday 14 December 1971, and played right-centre and scored a try in the 22–2 victory over Dewsbury in the 1975 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1975–76 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 16 December 1975.

Player's No.6/John Player Trophy Final appearances

Billy Benyon played right-centre in Warrington's 9–4 victory over Widnes in the 1977–78 Players No.6 Trophy Final during the 1977–78 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 28 January 1978, and played left-centre in the 4–16 defeat by Widnes in the 1978–79 John Player Trophy Final during the 1978–79 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 28 April 1979.

Notable tour matches

Billy Benyon played right centre ie number three in St Helens 11-7 victory over Australia national rugby league team at Knowsley Road on 13 November 1973. Billy had a superb game in an under strength Saints side who beat a team contains Australian legends Bobby Fulton and Artie Beetson amongst others.

Billy Benyon played left-centre in Warrington's 15–12 victory over Australia at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Wednesday 11 October 1978. [10]

Coaching career

County Cup Final appearances

Billy Benyon was the coach in Warrington's 26–10 victory over Wigan in the 1980 Lancashire Cup Final replay during the 1980–81 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 4 October 1980, in St. Helens' 0–16 defeat by Warrington in the 1982 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1982–83 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 23 October 1982, and in the 26–18 victory over Wigan in the 1984 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1984–85 season at Central Park, Wigan on Sunday 28 October 1984.

Honoured at St Helens R.F.C.

Billy Benyon is a St Helens R.F.C. Hall of Fame inductee. [11]

Related Research Articles

Alexander James Murphy OBE is an English former professional rugby league footballer, and coach of the mid to late 20th century. Known as 'Murphy the Mouth' and regarded as one of the greatest halfbacks in the history of the British game, he represented Great Britain in 27 Tests and his club career was played at three clubs, St. Helens, Leigh and Warrington. Murphy assumed a player-coach role of the last two clubs and expanded his coaching role toward the end of his playing career to include clubs such as Wigan, Salford and Huddersfield. He later returned to both Warrington and Leigh respectively as a football manager. He was the first player to captain three different clubs to victory in the Challenge Cup Final.

Eric Hughes is a retired English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and coached rugby league in the 1980s and 1990s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for England (Under-15s), and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Widnes, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, St Helens and the Rochdale Hornets, as a wing, centre or stand-off, and coached at club level for Widnes, Rochdale Hornets, St Helens, Leigh and Wigan Warriors. He unwittingly added confusion to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs team as he was unrelated but played at the same time as the three Australian brothers named Hughes; Garry, Graeme and Mark.

Charles Douglas Laughton is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and coached in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain (captain), winning 15 caps in all, winning a further cap for England, and Lancashire, and at club level for St. Helens, Wigan, Widnes, and Canterbury-Bankstown, as a second-row, or loose forward, and coached at club level for Widnes and Leeds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Ashton</span> England rugby league footballer (1935–2008)

Eric Ashton MBE was an English World Cup winning professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s, and coached in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Thomas Kelvin Coslett is a Welsh former dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s, and coached rugby league in the 1970s and 1980s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Wales, and at club level for Aberavon RFC and Llanelli RFC, as a goal-kicking full-back, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales and Other Nationalities, and at club level for St. Helens (captain), and Rochdale Hornets, as a toe-end kicking style goal-kicking fullback, prop, second-row, or loose forward, and coached at club level for Rochdale Hornets, Wigan and St. Helens.

Leslie "Les" Jones is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at club level for St. Helens, as a wing, or centre.

John Mantle was a Welsh dual-code international rugby player. He was capped for Wales at rugby union, and Great Britain and Wales in rugby league.

Kevin Ashcroft is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s, and coached in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and Lancashire, and at club level for the Rochdale Hornets, Dewsbury, Leigh, Warrington and Salford, as a hooker. and coached at club level for Leigh and Salford. Ashcroft is a Warrington Hall of Fame inductee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Chisnall (rugby league)</span> Great Britain and England international rugby league footballer

David Chisnall was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Leigh, Warrington (captain), Swinton, St. Helens and Barrow, as a prop.

David Eckersley is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Leigh, St Helens, Widnes, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Fulham RLFC, as a goal-kicking fullback, centre or stand-off.

Kenneth Kelly is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for St. Helens, Bradford Northern and Warrington, as a stand-off, or scrum-half.

Eric Chisnall is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for St Helens and Leigh, as a prop or second-row.

Douglas John Warlow is a Welsh former dual-code international rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Wales, and at club level for Felinfoel RFC and Llanelli RFC, as a prop, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, and at club level for St. Helens, Widnes and the Rochdale Hornets, as a prop or second-row.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parry Gordon</span> England international rugby league footballer

John Parry-Gordon was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for England and Lancashire, and at club level for Warrington, as a scrum-half.

John Brian Hogan was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for England and Lancashire, and at club level for St. Helens, Wigan, Workington Town, Bradford Northern, Widnes, and Oldham, as a prop, or second-row.

Graham Liptrot, also known by the nickname of "Lippy", is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for England, and at club level for St. Helens, as a hooker.

Frank Wilson is a Welsh former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Cardiff RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for St. Helens, Workington Town, Warrington, Salford and Cardiff City (Bridgend) Blue Dragons, as a wing, centre or stand-off.

Alan Whittle is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played at club level for St Helens, Barrow, Warrington, Wigan and Oldham RLFC, as a wing, centre, stand-off, or scrum-half.

Clifford Haudel "Cliff" Evans was a Welsh professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s, and coached in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Wales, and at club level for Salford and Leeds, as a centre, stand-off, or scrum-half, and coached at club level for Swinton, St. Helens and Salford.

Malcolm Aspey is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and coached in the 1980s. He played at club level for Fulham RLFC, Wigan, and Salford, as a centre, and coached at club level for Salford.

References

  1. ↑ Who's who in Rugby League (1984) edited by David Emery, published by Queen Anne Press, page 14 ISBN   0356104362
  2. 1 2 "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. ↑ The official Warrington Wolves Miscellany (2012) by Gary Slater page 136 published by The History Press ISBN   9780752464725
  7. ↑ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "World Club Challenge 1976 at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  9. ↑ "1968-1968 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  10. ↑ "Warrington :: 15 - Australia :: 12 - date: 11th October 1978". wire2wolves.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  11. ↑ "St Helens Hall of Fame". saints.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.