Frank Dyson

Frank Dyson (14 March 1931 – 31 October 1979), also known by the nickname of "Spanky", 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, and at club level for Huddersfield and Oldham, as a prolific left-footed goal-kicking Template:Rlp, and he coached at club level for Oldham.<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Background

Dyson was born in Huddersfield, West Riding of Yorkshire, following his retirement from rugby, he was the landlord of The Harp public house on Bradford Road in Fartown during the 1960s, and 1970s,<ref name="huddersfieldexaminer" /> and he died aged 48.

Playing career

Dyson made his début for Huddersfield in 1949. His testimonial match for the club took place in 1959. Later that year, during the 1959–60 Kangaroo tour, he won his only cap for Great Britain in the 11-10 victory over Australia at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 21 November 1959, in front of a crowd of 30,301.<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/>

Dyson won cap(s) for Yorkshire while at Huddersfield.

Dyson played Template:Rlp in Huddersfield's 6-12 defeat by Wakefield Trinity in the 1961–62 Challenge Cup Final during the 1961–62 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 12 May 1962, in front of a crowd of 81,263.<ref>Briggs, Cyril & Edwards, Barry (12 May 1962). The Rugby League Challenge Cup Competition - Final Tie - Huddersfield v Wakefield Trinity - Match Programme. Wembley Stadium Ltd. ISBN n/a</ref> He also played at Template:Rlp in Huddersfield's 14-5 victory over Wakefield Trinity in the Championship Final during the 1961–62 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 19 May 1962.<ref name="Edgar, Harry 2008">Edgar, Harry (2008). Rugby League Journal Annual 2009 [Page-57]. Rugby League Journal Publishing. Template:ISBN</ref> With 2,072 points, he became Huddersfield's record point scorer.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Dyson played Template:Rlp, and scored 3-conversions in Huddersfield's 15-8 victory over York in the 1957–58 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1957–58 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on 19 October 1957,<ref name="Programme 'Yorkshire County Rugby League - Challenge Cup Final - 1957 - Huddersfield v. York'">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and played Template:Rlp, and scored 2 conversions in the 10-16 defeat by Wakefield Trinity in the 1960–61 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1960–61 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on 29 October 1960.

Dyson left Huddersfield in 1963 and joined Oldham, scoring 7-tries and 206 conversions in two seasons at the club.

External links

• Statistics at orl-heritagetrust.org.uk Template:Webarchive
• Search for "Frank Dyson" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk