Sam Devereux

OVERALL STATISTICS

BIRTHAGESIGNED ONFROM
06-08-1880
N/A
Date unknown.
Leigh St.Josephs
DEBUTLAST MATCHLEFT
03-09-1904 v Oldham
Oldham
1904- Leigh Shamrocks
CAREERAPPEARANCES (SUBS)
1904-1904
8 (0)
TRIESGOALSDGOALSPTS
0
0
0
0

Biography of Sam Devereux



HERITAGE NO : 131
Sam Devereux by Alex Service

We did not know too much about this player until we were contacted by relatives of the family, living in New Zealand, who gave us some valuable information. His grandson, of the same name, from Dunedin, tells us that 'My grandfather Sam Devereux played football initially for St Josephs Leigh, Lancs in the very early days of League football. I seem to remember my uncle telling me that Sam was purchased by St.Helens for 100 pounds probably in the mid-1890s. He came to New Zealand in 1913 and refereed the First Test between England and New Zealand at the old Caledonian Grounds in Dunedin, NZ in 1928.' Sam made 8 appearances overall for the Saints, essentially as a utility back, playing centre and wing threequarter. He made his debut against Oldham on 3rd September 1904 in a 4-10 reversal and his last appearance was also against the same team, on 31st December 1904.

The Saints at the time were really struggling and in the 1904-05 campaign lost 24 from 34 matches, finishing next to bottom of the First Division. It appears that Sam played for Birkenhead and Holbeck and went back to the Junior Leagues at one point, to play for Leigh Shamrocks. Sam was a licensee in Leigh for many years and emigrated to New Zealand. The refereeing reference is interesting. Sam did referee the second Test Match at Dunedin, with the Lions winning 5-13. Alf Ellaby, who scored a try and Alf Frodsham were Saints players in the England team that day. Unfortunately, they lost the third Test in Christchurch and therefore the series against New Zealand 2-1. And there`s more. Sam also was a fine bowler and represented South Island and New Zealand.

In Leigh Sam was a Beerhouse Keeper at the Grapes Inn in Bradshawgate, Leigh. Sam died in Dunedin in New Zealand in November 1961 at the age of 81. We must thank the Devereux family for their information, especially about the refereeing connection, which we would not have known about at all!


SEASON STATISTICS

Season (Official Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
1904~05 0 0 0 8
TOTALS:0 0 0 8
Season (Other Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
TOTALS:

ALL MATCHES

DateMatchPosOpponentsCompVenueFTFTOTGDG
3rd Sep 1904 1
L
5 Oldham L H 4 10 VIEW
10th Sep 1904 2
L
2 Wigan L H 7 11 VIEW
17th Sep 1904 3
L
3 Swinton L A 7 17 VIEW
24th Sep 1904 4
L
3 Broughton Rangers L A 5 24 VIEW
8th Oct 1904 5
L
1 Batley L A 10 20 VIEW
22nd Oct 1904 6
W
4 Widnes L A 8 0 VIEW
29th Oct 1904 7
W
4 Salford L H 13 11 VIEW
31st Dec 1904 8
L
3 Oldham L A 3 13 VIEW
*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub.
WINS : 2 | LOSSES : 6 | DRAWS :




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