Cecil Mountford

Last updated • 4 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Cecil Mountford
MBE
Personal information
Full nameCecil Ralph Mountford
Born(1919-06-16)16 June 1919
Blackball, New Zealand
Died19 July 2009(2009-07-19) (aged 90)
Playing information
Position Stand-off
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1946–51 Wigan 21070550320
1952 Warrington
Total21070550320
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1950–50 Other Nationalities 20000
Coaching information
Club
YearsTeamGmsWDLW%
195261 Warrington
197273 Blackpool Borough
Total0000
Representative
YearsTeamGmsWDLW%
197982 New Zealand
As of 2 February 2021
Relatives Bill Mountford (brother)
Ken Mountford (brother)

Cecil Ralph Mountford MBE (16 June 1919 – 19 July 2009), also known by the nickname of "The Blackball Bullet", was a New Zealand rugby league footballer and coach. [1] [2]

Contents

Mountford was one of ten siblings, he and four of his brothers played rugby league for the South Island whilst Bill Mountford and Ken Mountford played for New Zealand. Mountford also played for West Coast, along with Bill and Ken, in inter-provincial matches.

Early years

Mountford played soccer at school, as he was considered too small to play rugby league. In 1935 at the age of 16 he joined Blackball Rugby League club, where he earned the nickname 'The Blackball Bullet' due to his speed on the field.

Playing career

Wigan

Mountford signed for Wigan Rugby League Club in 1946, he shared in one of Wigan’s finest moments in the 1949/50 campaign when, as captain – in place of usual captain Joe Egan who was on tour with seven other Wigan stars – he led his side to a sensational 20-2 Championship Final win over Huddersfield at Maine Road.

Mountford played in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium on two occasions, the first being in 1948, when they beat the current title holders Bradford Northern 8–3 in a nail biting final. [3] The second visit, in 1951, Mountford led the team to a 10-0 victory over Barrow in a rain-soaked Wembley final. He also became the first overseas player to receive the Lance Todd Trophy.

Cecil Mountford played stand-off in Wigan's 9-3 victory over Belle Vue Rangers in the 1946–47 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1946–47 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 26 October 1946, [4] played stand-off in the 14-8 victory over Warrington in the 1948–49 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1948–49 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 13 November 1948, [5] played stand-off in the 20-7 victory over Leigh in the 1949–50 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1949–50 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 29 October 1949, [6] and played stand-off in the 28-5 victory over Warrington in the 1950–51 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1950–51 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 4 November 1950. [7]

International career

Internationally he missed out on playing for New Zealand, but he did represent Other Nationalities in two European Championships, in a team labelled "The Rest", in 1950, watched by a crowd of 25,000 fans. He requested, and was granted, permission from Wigan to join the 1947-8 New Zealand tour of Great Britain but the Management decided that injuries were not bad enough to bring him in. [8] Instead, during the Kiwis tour Cecil played for Wigan against the Kiwis, which included his brother Ken.

Mountford was appointed head coach of the New Zealand team in 1979, leading the Kiwis on their 1980 tour of Great Britain and France and the 1982 tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea. New Zealand won 6 games, lost 8 and drew 1 under Mountford's coaching. He was replaced in 1983 by Graham Lowe.

Coaching career

In 1951 Mountford qualified as a first grade coach, being offered a 10-year contract at Warrington, despite Wigan initially refusing to release him as a player. Mountford made his first appearance for Warrington in October 1952 initially as a player coach.

Cecil Mountford was the coach in Warrington's 8–7 victory over Halifax the Championship Final during the 1953–54 season at Maine Road, Manchester on Saturday 8 May 1954, in front of a crowd of 36,519.

Cecil Mountford was the coach in Warrington's 8–4 victory over Halifax in the 1953–54 Challenge Cup Final replay during the 1953–54 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Wednesday 5 May 1954, in front of a record crowd of 102,575 or more. [9] At the time, this was a world record attendance for a rugby match of either code. [10]

After completing his tenure as a coach, he returned to New Zealand in May 1961, before heading back to England as Manager of Blackpool Borough in 1972, which was short-lived when he resigned in June 1973. Mountford returned to New Zealand in 1974, initially providing coaching courses before being signed as the manager-coach of the New Zealand national rugby league team from 1979 to 1982.

Honours

In the 1987 Queen's Birthday Honours, Mountford was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to rugby league [11] and in 1990 he was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame. In 2000 he was inducted as one of the New Zealand Rugby League Legends of League. [12]

Related Research Articles

Nathan "Nat" Douglas Silcock was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, and coached in the 1960s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England, Rugby League XIII, Lancashire, and Australia’s Newcastle team, and at club level for Wigan, St. Helens, Warrington, South Newcastle and Eastern Suburbs, as a wing, prop, or second-row, and coached at club level for South Newcastle and Eastern Suburbs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerry Helme</span> English rugby league footballer and coach

Gerard "Gerry" J. Helme was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s, and coached. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England, Combined Nationalities and Lancashire, and at club level for Warrington, as a scrum-half, and coached at club level. Helme played almost all of his club career for Warrington, with whom he won three Championship Finals and two Challenge Cup Finals and became a Warrington Wolves Hall of Fame inductee.

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

Joseph Egan was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, and coached in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England and Lancashire, and at club level for Wigan from 1938 to 1950, Oldham and Leigh, as a hooker, or second-row, and coached at club level for Leigh, Wigan, Widnes, Warrington and Blackpool Borough. Egan is a Wigan Hall of Fame inductee, and was a life member at Wigan, Egan later became coach of Wigan, taking them to Championship success in the 1959–60 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Gee</span> Great Britain and England international rugby league footballer

Kenneth Gee was an English rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. He played at representative level for Great Britain winning 17 caps between 1946 and 1951, England winning 18-caps between 1943 and 1951, and Lancashire, and at club level for Wigan and Oldham, as a prop. He is an inductee of the Wigan Hall of Fame, having featured in Wigan's Rugby Football League Championship wins of 1945–46, 1946–47 and 1949–50 as well as their Challenge Cup victories of 1948 and 1951. He also won Lancashire Cup winner's medals seven times.

William Hudson was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s, and coached in the 1950s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Batley, Wigan and Wakefield Trinity (captain), as a prop, second-row, or loose forward, and coached at club level for Featherstone Rovers.

Stanley "Stan"/ "Mac" McCormick was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s, and coached in the 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at club level for Broughton Rangers/Belle Vue Rangers, Oldham RLFC, Huddersfield, St Helens and Warrington, with whom he won the 1953–54 Challenge Cup, as a wing. and coached at club level for St. Helens and Salford. McCormick is a St Helens R.F.C. Hall of Fame inductee.

Ronald Brindle Knowelden was an English professional rugby league and association football (soccer) footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s, and coached rugby league in the 1950s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Barrow, Warrington (captain), and Hull Kingston Rovers, as a wing, centre or stand-off, and coached at club level for Hull Kingston Rovers. He also played association football (soccer) for Morecambe and Liverpool (reserves).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Featherstone</span> Great Britain and England international rugby league footballer

James "Jim"/"Jimmy" J. Featherstone was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at club level for Ince Rangers ARLFC, Wigan, Warrington, Belle Vue Rangers and Rochdale Hornets, as a prop, second-row, or loose forward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albert Johnson (rugby league, born 1918)</span> GB & England international rugby league footballer

Albert E. Johnson was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Warrington, as a wing. He also appeared for St Helens and Wigan as a World War II guest player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harold Palin</span> GB & England international rugby league footballer

Harold Palin, also known by the nickname of "Moggy", was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Warrington (captain), Swinton, Halifax and Keighley (captain), as a goal-kicking fullback or loose forward. Harold Palin's nickname of 'Moggy' was given to him as a child due to cat-like abilities, however he was not particularly fond of the nickname.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Ryan (rugby league)</span> GB & England international rugby league footballer

Robert Ryan was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Triangle Valve ARLFC and Warrington, as a second-row, or loose forward.

Ronald Ryder is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Warrington as a centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernie Ashcroft</span> Former Great Britain and England international rugby league footballer

Ernest "Ernie" J. Ashcroft was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, and coached in the 1950s and 1960s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England, British Empire XIII and Lancashire, and at club level for Wigan, and Huddersfield, as a fullback, wing, or centre, and coached at club level for Huddersfield and Warrington.

William Blan was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at club level for Wigan, Leeds, St. Helens and Rochdale Hornets, as a second-row or loose forward.

Jack Cunliffe was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England as a utility Back, e.g. fullback, wing, centre, stand-off or scrum-half. Jack Cunliffe played for Wigan in four decades; he made his début for Wigan on Saturday 9 December 1939, and he played his last match for Wigan on Saturday 9 January 1960.

Gordon W. Ratcliffe was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Wigan and later arch-rivals St Helens, as a wing, or centre.

Frank Barton was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and British Empire XIII, and at club level for Wigan and Barrow, as a prop, or hooker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Ward</span> Former GB & Wales international rugby league footballer

Edward H. Ward was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, and coached rugby league in the 1950s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Amman United RFC, Llanelli RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Wigan, Oldham and Cardiff RLFC, as a goal-kicking centre, and coached club level rugby league (RL) for Wigan.

William Derbyshire was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played at representative level for England, and at club level for Liverpool Stanley and Warrington, as a prop.

Brian Carl Lloyd Nordgren was a New Zealand rugby league player who played professionally for Wigan.

References

  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. "1947-1948 Challenge Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  4. "1946-1947 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  5. "1948-1949 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  6. "1949-1950 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  7. "1950-1951 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  8. Coffey and Wood The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League ISBN   1-86971-090-8
  9. "Mud, blood and memories of the day when 102,575 made history at Odsal". The independent. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  10. Baker, Andrew (20 August 1995). "100 years of rugby league: From the great divide to the Super era". Independent, The . independent.co.uk. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  11. "No. 50950". The London Gazette (4th supplement). 13 June 1987. p. 32.
  12. "New Zealand Rugby League Annual Report 2008" (PDF). NZRL. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2009.

Further reading

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Joe Egan
1970-1972
Coach
Blackpoolcolours.svg
Blackpool Borough

1972-1973
Succeeded by
Albert Fearnley
1978-1979