Michael Sullivan(12 January 1934 – 5 April 2016) was an English professionalrugby leaguefootballer andcoachwho played as awing.He started his playing career atHuddersfieldbefore joiningWiganfor arecord transfer feein 1957. He won twoChallenge Cupswith the club, and won a third Challenge Cup medal withSt Helensafter signing with the club for another record fee in 1961.
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| Full name | Michael Sullivan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 12 January 1934 Pudsey,England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 5 April 2016(aged 82) Wakefield,England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Wing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Coaching information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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At international level, he won twoWorld CupswithGreat Britain(1954 and 1960), and made 46 appearances for the team during his career, making him Great Britain's joint-most capped player alongsideGarry Schofield.He also holds the record for the most rugby leaguetest matchtries by a player of any nationality with 44.
Background
editMick Sullivan was born inPudsey,West Riding of Yorkshire,England,[6]and was educated atDewsbury Technical School.[7]
Playing career
editClub career
editSullivan signed withHuddersfieldin 1952 as an 18-year-oldwinger.He played on thewinginHuddersfield's 15–8 victory overYorkin the1957–58 Yorkshire CupFinal during the1957–58 seasonatHeadingley,Leedson Saturday 19 October 1957.[8]
Shortly after theYorkshire Cupvictory, Sullivan handed in a transfer request, and was signed byWiganfor a record fee of £9,500.[9]He played on thewingand scored atryinWigan's 13–9 victory overWorkington Townin the1957–58 Challenge CupFinal during the1957–58 seasonatWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 10 May 1958, in front of a crowd of 66,109,[10]and played on thewing,and scored atryin the 30-13 victory overHull F.C.in the1958–59 Challenge CupFinal during the1958–59 seasonatWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 9 May 1959, in front of a crowd of 79,811.[11]
In January 1961, he was signed bySt Helensfor a new world record fee of £11,000.[12]Sullivan played his first game for St. Helens in January 1961. While at St. Helens, Sullivan played for England in 1962 against France. He played on thewinginSt. Helens12-6 victory overWiganin the1960–61 Challenge CupFinal during the1960–61 seasonatWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 13 May 1961, in front of a crowd of 94,672. He also played, and scored atry,inSt. Helens' 25–9 victory overSwintonin the1961–62 Lancashire CupFinal during the1961–62 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Saturday 11 November 1961, and played on thewingin the 7–4 victory overSwintonin the1962–63 Lancashire CupFinal during the1962–63 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Saturday 27 October 1962.
Sullivan moved toYorkbefore finishing his career withDewsbury.He later moved to Australia and captain-coached theJuneeteam in theGroup 9competition in southernNew South Walesfor three years from 1966 until 1968.
International honours
editHe made his début forGreat Britainduring the1954 World Cupin France against theAustralian team.Sullivan went on to appear in the final and help Great Britain to claim the first ever World Cup. In 1956, he helped Great Britain regainThe Ashes,playing in all three Tests against Australia. Sullivan also took part in the1957 World Cup,and was selected for the1958 Lions tour,scoring a tour record 38 tries in 19 appearances.[13]He scored a try against Australia in Great Britain's successful1960 World Cupcampaign, becoming the only British player to win theRugby League World Cuptwice.[6]
Sullivan was dropped for the first Test against New Zealand in 1961,[14]ending a run of 36 consecutive appearances since his debut.[6]However, he returned to the side for the next game, and received his second Lions tour invitation in1962.He made his final Great Britain appearance in 1963, and was capped 46 times overall, a joint-record withGarry Schofield.[a]
He was selected to play forEnglandwhile at Huddersfield in 1955 againstOther Nationalities,and in 1956 against France. Sullivan also represented a Great Britain & France team in the 37–31 victory over New Zealand atCarlaw Park,Aucklandon 3 July 1957.
Coaching career
editSullivan was the coach ofBatleyfrom June 1970 to October 1970, during this period he also worked apipefitterduring the building ofFiddlers Ferry power station.
Death and legacy
editIn 2013, Sullivan was inducted into theRugby League Hall of Fame.[17]
It was announced on 5 April 2016 that he had died in the previous week, aged 82.[15]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^"Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org".rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017.Retrieved1 January2018.
- ^"Player Summary: Mick Sullivan".Rugby League Records.Rugby League Record Keepers Club.Retrieved4 June2024.
- ^"Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org".rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017.Retrieved1 January2018.
- ^Morris, Graham (2005).Wigan Rugby League Football Club: 100 Greats.Stroud: Tempus Publishing. pp. 118–9.ISBN978-0-7524-3470-4.
- ^Williams, Graham (2015).Sully's Way: Mick Sullivan Rugby League Legend.London League Publications Ltd.ISBN978-1909885097.
- ^abc"Mick Sullivan, rugby player - obituary".Daily Telegraph.6 April 2016.Retrieved4 June2024.
- ^"Nostalgia with Margaret Watson: Rugby league legends were true Dewsbury greats".Dewsbury Reporter.1 July 2013.Retrieved4 June2024.
- ^"Programme 'Yorkshire County Rugby League - Challenge Cup Final - 1957 - Huddersfield v. York'"(PDF).huddersfieldrlheritage.co.uk. 31 December 2017.Retrieved1 January2018.
- ^"Sullivan Signed By Wigan".The Manchester Guardian.24 October 1957. p. 4.ProQuest480100148.
- ^"1957–1958 Challenge Cup Final".wigan.rlfans. 31 December 2011.Retrieved1 January2012.
- ^"1958–1959 Challenge Cup Final".wigan.rlfans. 31 December 2012.Retrieved1 January2013.
- ^"Sullivan joins St Helens".The Guardian.London. 12 January 1961. p. 5.ProQuest184727662.
- ^Martini, Peter (5 April 2016)."Rugby league legend and former York star Mick Sullivan dies, aged 82".York Press.Retrieved16 April2016.
- ^"Mick Sullivan's Test Run Ends".Hull Daily Mail.21 September 1961. p. 12 – viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^ab"Mick Sullivan: Two-time World Cup winner dies aged 82".BBC Sport.5 April 2016.Retrieved4 June2024.
- ^Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1995).Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1995-96.London: Headline Publishing Group.ISBN978-0-7472-7817-7.
- ^"Legendary Saints wing Mick Sullivan joins Rugby League Hall of Fame".St Helens Star.31 October 2013.Retrieved4 June2024.