John Cunningham (rugby league)

Last updated

John Cunningham
Personal information
Full nameJohn Cunningham
Born (1952-03-03) 3 March 1952 (age 72)
Barrow-in-Furness, England
Playing information
Position Prop, Second-row, Loose forward
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1970–75 Barrow 132+32518111
1975 Balmain Tigers 0+515114
1975–80 Hull Kingston Rovers 32+570324
1980–82 Workington Town 27+32017
Total20735235156
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1973–80 Cumbria 61014
1975 England 20000
Source: [1] [2]

John Cunningham (born 3 March 1952 [3] ) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for England and Cumbria, and at club level for Roose ARL FC, Salford 'A', Barrow, Balmain Tigers, Hull Kingston Rovers, Workington Town, Cooma Stall ions (alongside Dane Carter ), and Corporation Combine ARLFC (now Hindpool Tigers ARLFC of the North West Men's League) as a prop , second-row, or loose forward. [1]

Contents

Background

John Cunningham was born in Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, England.

Playing career

International honours

John Cunningham won caps for England while at Barrow in 1975 against France, and Wales.

County honours

John Cunningham represented Cumbria.

BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances

John Cunningham played at prop in Hull Kingston Rovers' 26–11 victory over St. Helens in the 1977–78 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at Craven Park, Hull on Tuesday 13 December 1977. [4]

Notable tour matches

John Cunningham made his début, and scored a try in Barrow's 10–14 defeat by New Zealand at Craven Park on Wednesday 4 November 1970. [4]

Club career

John Cunningham joined Barrow in July 1970, his last match for Barrow was against Huddersfield at Craven Park on Friday 14 March 1975, he was transferred from Barrow to Hull Kingston Rovers for £6,000 on 17 July 1975 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £64,780 in 2013), [5] he suffered several knee injuries that limited his appearances for Hull Kingston Rovers, he was transferred from Hull Kingston Rovers to Workington Town for £18,000 in 1980 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £98,020 in 2013). [5]

Genealogical information

John Cunningham is married to Julie, and is the uncle of the rugby league footballers, Liam Harrison and Ben Harrison. [6]

Outside of rugby league

John Cunningham has been the landlord of; The Derby Hotel, 246–248 Dalton Road, Barrow-In-Furness; The Furness Hotel, 13 Bath St, Barrow-In-Furness which is now named Cunningham's after him; and The Old Bank, 107–109 Duke Street, Barrow-In-Furness. [6]

References

  1. 1 2 "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. "Player Summary: John Cunningham". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  3. "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Trio Inducted into Barrow RL Hall of Fame". nwemail.co.uk. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Measuring Worth – Relative Value of UK Pounds". Measuring Worth. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Profile at barrowrlfc.com". nwemail.co.uk. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.