Kenneth Rollin

Last updated

Ken Rollin
Personal information
Full nameKenneth Rollin
Born3 December 1937
Sharlston Common, Wakefield, England
Died18 August 2024(2024-08-18) (aged 86)
Playing information
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight12 st 0 lb (76 kg)
Position Stand-off, Scrum-half
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1955–65 Wakefield Trinity 1506600198
1965–67 Leeds 78180054
Total2288400252

Kenneth "Ken" Rollin (1937-2024) was an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played at club level for Wakefield Trinity and Leeds as a stand-off or scrum-half. [1]

Contents

Background

Rollin was born in Sharlston Common, Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.

Playing career

Championship final appearances

Rollin played stand-off in Wakefield Trinity's 3–27 defeat by Wigan in the Championship Final during the 1959–60 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 21 May 1960. [2]

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Rollin played stand-off, and scored the second fastest try ever in a Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London in the 38–5 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1959–60 Challenge Cup Final during the 1959–60 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 14 May 1960. [3]

County Cup Final appearances

Rollin played scrum-half in Wakefield Trinity's 23–5 victory over Hunslet in the 1956–57 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1956–57 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 20 October 1956, played scrum-half in the 20–24 defeat by Leeds in the 1958–59 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1958–59 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 18 October 1958, and played scrum-half in the 16–10 victory over Huddersfield in the 1960–61 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1960–61 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 29 October 1960. [3]

Notable tour matches

Rollin played stand-off and scored a try in Wakefield Trinity's 17–12 victory over Australia in the 1956–57 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France match at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Monday 10 December 1956. [3]

Contemporaneous Article Extract

"Outlines - Ken RollinThe first round of a Yorkshire Cup competition is a testing occasion indeed on which to make a senior début, but such was Ken Rollin's introduction to Trinity's first team, against Leeds at Headingley on 27 August 1955. The opposition scrum-half was international Jeff Stevenson - but Ken's display was a most satisfactory one and there was a try for him too as some reward. He went on to make twenty-four appearances in that season and has been a regular member ever since, mostly at scrum-half. Ken is one of many players who began their career in the Wakefield Schools R.L. He was a member of the Technical School teams and Wakefield City Boys' team. He joined our own Trinity Juniors side from which he was signed, at seventeen, by Trinity in April 1955. Although he was named as a reserve for the 1957 World Cup party, and has several times been named as Yorkshire County reserve half-back, he still awaits his first representative match. He was named in Yorkshire's side, alongside Keith Holliday, in 1957, but illness prevented the appearance of this Trinity partnership. In recent times he has occupied the stand-off half berth and has proved himself to be equally at home in that position. His utility value is therefore a great one and, at still only twenty-two years of age, he has much promise for Trinity's fortunes in the future. He has, behind him, the experience of 151 games for Trinity, including appearances at Wembley, in the last N.R.L Final, and in the 1956 and 1958 Yorkshire Cup Finals." [4]

Outside of Rugby League

Rollin was a commentator for a United States television broadcaster for Leeds' 11–10 victory over Wakefield Trinity in the 1968 Challenge Cup "Watersplash" Final during the 1967–68 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1968, in front of a crowd of 87,100. He was left with Aphasia (Loss of the ability to produce and/or comprehend language) following a stroke in 1999 and could say only a few words. This was a cruel blow, as before his stroke, he had been a well-known public speaker in West Yorkshire, England. After working with Speakability and having speech therapy, Ken's communication skills went from near zero to 70 per cent, in 2002 Ken became Chairman of the new Wakefield Speakability Group, in June 2007 Ken met with the Cherie Blair to rally support for Speakability and raise awareness of Aphasia, and in December 2008 Ken was a guest speaker at the UK Stroke Forum Conference 2008.

He was employed in his youth in the mining department at Richard Sutcliffe Ltd near Wakefield and a member of the Association of Engineering and Shipbuilding Draughtsmen.

Ken lived in Middlestown, Wakefield, and was a member of the Wakefield Chantry Rotary Club.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Valentine</span> Former GB international rugby league & Scotland international rugby union footballer

David Donald Valentine was a Scottish representative rugby union and World Cup winning rugby league footballer, a dual-code rugby international who played in the 1940s and 1950s, and coached in the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Traill</span> English rugby league coach (1926–2002)

Kenneth Traill was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s, and coached in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Hunslet, Bradford Northern, Halifax and Wakefield Trinity, as a loose forward, and coached at club level for Wakefield Trinity.

Neil Fox MBE is an English former professional rugby league footballer and player-coach who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and coached in the 1970s and 1980s.

Alan Leslie Skene was a South African dual-code international rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played representative level rugby union for South Africa, and at provincial level for Western Province, as a centre, and representative level rugby league for South Africa and Rugby League XIII, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity, and South Sydney Rabbitohs, as a centre, or stand-off.

Jack Wilkinson was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, and coached in the 1960s. A Halifax and Wakefield Trinity Hall of Fame inductee, he was a Great Britain and England international forward. Wilkinson also represented Yorkshire, and ended his career as captain-coach of Bradford Northern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derek Turner</span> English rugby player and coach (1932–2015)

Derek Turner, also known by the nickname of "Rocky", was an English World Cup winning professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, and coached in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England, Yorkshire and Great Britain & France, and at club level for Hull Kingston Rovers, Oldham and Wakefield Trinity (captain), with whom he won three Challenge Cup Finals, as a second-row, or more usually loose forward, and coached at club level for Castleford, Leeds and Wakefield Trinity.

Geoffrey "Geoff" Oakes is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played at club level for Wakefield Trinity and Warrington as a hooker.

Fred "Freddy" Smith was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played at representative level for Yorkshire, and at club level for Leeds and Wakefield Trinity, as a wing.

Keith Holliday 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 at club level for Eastmoor ARLFC, Wakefield Trinity (captain), and Bramley, as a centre, stand-off, or scrum-half, and coached at club level for Bramley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray Owen (rugby league)</span> English rugby league footballer

Raymond "Ray" Owen was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, and a chairman of the 1980s and 1990s. He played at club level for Widnes and Wakefield Trinity, as a scrum-half, and he was chairman for Widnes from 1987 to 1991.

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

Harold Poynton also known by the nicknames "Fishcake", "Poynton the Pippin", and "Prince of Bamboozlers", was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and Yorkshire, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity (captain), as a stand-off, or scrum-half.

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

Herbert Goodfellow, also known by the nickname of "Goody", was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. He played at representative level for England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity (captain), Batley, Castleford and Oldham, as a scrum-half.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Robinson (rugby league)</span> GB & England international rugby league footballer and coach

Donald Robinson was an English World Cup winning professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, and coached in the 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England, Yorkshire and Rugby League XIII, and at club level for St Joseph's School, Airedale Youth Club, Fryston Colliery, Kippax Juniors, Newmarket Colliery, Wakefield Trinity (captain), Leeds and Doncaster, as a centre, prop, second-row or loose forward, and coached at Doncaster and Bramley (late-1970s).

Thomas "Tommy" Smales was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and coached in the 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Castleford, Huddersfield (captain), Bradford Northern, North Sydney Bears and Wakefield Trinity as a scrum-half, and coached at club level for Castleford and Featherstone Rovers.

Jeff Stevenson was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, Great Britain & France and Rugby League XIII, and at club level for Leeds, York and Hunslet, as a scrum-half.

Sydney Hynes was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s and coached rugby league in the 1970s and 1980s. He played club level rugby union for the sports club of the Leeds branch of National and Local Government Officers' Association (NALGO), as well as rugby league at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Leeds RLFC. Hynes played at centre and coached at club level for Leeds.

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

Michael "Mick" D. Shoebottom, also known by the nickname "Shoey", was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Bison ARLFC and Leeds, as a fullback, centre, stand-off or scrum-half.

William Martin Banks was a Welsh rugby union and World Cup winning professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Maesteg RFC, as a scrum-half and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, Wales, Other Nationalities, British Empire and Combined Nationalities, and at club level for Leeds, Wakefield Trinity, Huddersfield, Whitehaven and Salford, as a stand-off, or scrum-half.

Kevin Harkin is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Wide Bay Division, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity, Sunshine Coast, York and Hull FC, as a stand-off or scrum-half.

Terry Day is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at club level for Dewsbury, York, Wakefield Trinity (captain), Hull FC and Warrington, as a wing, centre, or stand-off.

References

  1. ↑ "Ken Rollin RIP". www.therhinos.co.uk.
  2. ↑ "1959-1960 Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 21 October 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC - FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN   1-85983-429-9
  4. ↑ Lindley, John (27 August 1960). Wakefield Trinity RLFC Official Programme: Halifax. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a
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.