Laurie Gant

Laurence GantMBE(21 July 1922– 19 October 2004) was an English professionalrugby leaguefootballer who played as asecond-rowforward in the 1940s and 1950s,coachedin the 1960s and 1970s, andrefereedin the 1950s and 1960s.

Laurie Gant

Personal information
Full name	Laurence GantMBE
Born	21 July 1922 Wakefield,England
Died	19 October 2004(2004-10-19)(aged 82) Wakefield,England
Playing information
Position	Second-row
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1948–52/53 Featherstone Rovers 112 15 1 0 47
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 1966–70 Featherstone Rovers 171 100 7 74 58 1973 York Total 171 100 7 74 58
Source:

He played at club level forWakefield Trinity(A-Team), andFeatherstone Rovers,and coached at club level forStanley RangersARLFC,Featherstone RoversandYork.Laurie Gant was the president of St Michael's Cricket club[1],and the Wakefield branch of theRoyal British Legion.

Background

Laurie Gant was born inWakefield,West Riding of Yorkshire,England, he worked as acobblerinWrenthorpe,in the1981 New Year Honours,Gant was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to rugby league,and he died aged 82 inWakefield,West Yorkshire,England.

Playing career

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Laurie Gant played atsecond-rowinFeatherstone Rovers' 12–18 defeat byWorkington Townin the1951–52 Challenge CupFinal during the1951–52 seasonatWembley Stadium,London on Saturday 19 April 1952, in front of a crowd of 72,093, he played despite havingpneumonia,but followingmassagewithbrandyandrum.

Club career

Laurie Gant made his début for Featherstone Rovers on Monday 29 March 1948,he appears to have scored no drop-goals (or field-goals as they are currently known in Australasia), but prior to the1974–75 seasonall goals, whether;conversions,penalties,ordrop-goals,scored 2-points, consequently prior to this date drop-goals were often not explicitly documented, therefore '0' drop-goals may indicate drop-goals not recorded, rather than no drop-goals scored. In addition, prior to the1949–50 season,the archaicfield-goalwas also still a valid means of scoring points.

Coaching career

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Laurie Gant was the coach inFeatherstone Rovers' 17–12 victory overBarrowin the1966–67 Challenge CupFinal during the1966–67 seasonatWembley Stadium,London on Saturday 13 May 1967, in front of a crowd of 76,290. This was the first Challenge Cup final attended byElizabeth IIandPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

County Cup Final appearances

Laurie Gant was the coach inFeatherstone Rovers' 9–12 defeat byHull F.C.in the1969–70 Yorkshire CupFinal during the1969–70 seasonatHeadingley,Leedson Saturday 20 September 1969, and the 7–23 defeat byLeedsin the1970–71 Yorkshire CupFinal during the1970–71 seasonatOdsal,Bradfordon Saturday 21 November 1970.

External links

• Search for "Gant" at rugbyleagueproject.org
• Laurie Gant at marklaspalmas.blogspot
• Stanley Rangers History