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The Swinton Lions are a professional rugby league club based in Swinton, Greater Manchester, England, which competes in the Championship. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. Before 1996, the club was known simply as Swinton RLFC.
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Michael Keith Gregory was an English professional rugby league footballer and coach. As a player, Gregory played either as a second-row or loose forward, and spent most of his club career at Warrington, making over 200 appearances between 1982 and 1994, but also had brief spells with Salford and Australian club Cronulla Sharks. He won 20 caps for Great Britain, nine of them as captain, and took part in the 1988 and 1990 Lions tours.
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Ian Watson is a professional rugby league coach who is the head coach of the Huddersfield Giants in the Betfred Super League, and a former Wales international who played as a scrum-half or hooker in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.
Alan Buckley was an English rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Broughton Park RUFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Swinton, as a left-centre, i.e. number 4. Buckley joined Swinton from Broughton Park RUFC in Chorlton-cum-Hardy near the end of the 1950s, and was virtually an overnight sensation at Station Road tearing through opposing defences with his blistering pace and determined running.
J. Kenneth Gowers was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain (vice-captain), England and Rugby League XIII, and at club level for Newbold Intermediates ARLFC and Swinton, as a goal-kicking fullback, i.e. number 1, and occasionally scrum-half, i.e. number 7.
Hector Halsall was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s, and coached in the 1930 and 1940s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and at club level for Swinton (captain), as a centre, and coached at club level for Barrow.
John "Johnny" Stopford was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s, and coached in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and at club level for Swinton, as a wing. Stopford formed a highly successful wing partnership with his centre, and fellow Great Britain international, Alan Buckley. He coached at representative level for Wellington and at club level for Swinton.
David Robinson was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at club level for Swinton and Wigan, as a second-row or loose forward.
Paul Hulme is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and at club level for the Widnes Vikings, Warrington Wolves (captain) and Swinton Lions as a hooker, or second-row.
Albert Blan was an English 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 England, and at club level for Wigan (A-Team) and Swinton, and coached at club level for Swinton. Blan was the Lions' astute captain during much of his service with the club leading them to their two successive First Division Championships of 1962–63 and 1963–64. Blan was also a skilled place kicker whether a penalty or a conversion. Initially a fullback, until the late 1950s he usually played in the Centre, i.e. number 3 or 4, but as he lost pace he successfully moved to loose forward, i.e. number 13, where his leadership and notable quick thinking football brain sparked off many a try scoring movement. Many Swinton fans often referred to him as "Brainy Blan", and with very good reason.
Jonathan Charles Neill is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. He played at representative level for Scotland and Cumbria, and at club level for St. Helens, Huddersfield Giants and Swinton Lions, as a prop.
Clifford "Cliff" Eccles is a professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. He played at representative level for Ireland, and at club level for Springfield Borough/Chorley Borough, Rochdale Hornets, Salford City Reds, Swinton Lions and Widnes Vikings, as a prop, or second-row, i.e. number 8 or 10, or, 11 or 12.
Rhodri Lloyd is a Welsh professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Swinton Lions in the Betfred Championship and Wales at international level.
Joe Philbin is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a loose forward, second-row and prop for the Warrington Wolves in the Super League. He has played for Ireland, Great Britain and England at international level.
Jack Wells is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for Barrow Raiders in the RFL Championship.
Liam Marshall is an English rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for the Wigan Warriors in the Super League.
Callum Field is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward or centre for Widnes Vikings in the Betfred Championship.
Chris Hankinson is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for Featherstone Rovers in the Super League.
References
- ↑ Hadfield, Dave (16 April 1997). "Wigan raise Rowley bid" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
