John Donovan

OVERALL STATISTICS

BIRTHAGESIGNED ONFROM
07-12-1940
N/A
17-03-1960
Local Junior
DEBUTLAST MATCHLEFT
15-04-1960 v Wigan
Workington Town
1962- Oldham
CAREERAPPEARANCES (SUBS)
1959-1962
34 (0)
TRIESGOALSDGOALSPTS
12
4
0
44

Biography of John Donovan



HERITAGE NO : 772
John Donovan by SHS

John Donovan was born in St.Helens and was a county representative at amateur level before he signed for the Saints. He can be regarded as the archetypal utility back. Wherever he played in the threequarter or half-back line he would always do a good job. John had pace and a deceptive sidestep and made his debut in front of over 33,000 fans at Knowsley Road in the St.Helens versus Wigan League match on 15th April 1960, which was won 12-4 by the home side, with John at stand-off.

His best season was in 1960-61 when he made 18 appearances, scoring 7 tries. Although he played in the Championship semi-final at Knowsley Road against Leeds, the Saints lost 4-11 and John was unlucky not to be in the Wembley squad for the Challenge Cup final against Wigan. John did pick up a winners medal after the 1962 Lancashire Cup final against Swinton at Central Park, when the Saints won a tight match 7-4.

We are grateful to Johns daughter Linda for providing further details of her dads sporting career after leaving St.Helens.

"Dad moved to Oldham and played there until 1969 before moving to Bradford Northern where he played for a year before he retired from first team rugby league. He moved to Yorkshire shortly before moving to Northern and still lives in Halifax, after playing veterans rugby union for the Old Brodleians until the age of 65. His birth date is 7/12/1940 and he left Saints at the start of 1963. His signing date for Saints was St Patricks Day in 1960."


SEASON STATISTICS

Season (Official Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
1959~60 0 0 0 1
1960~61 7 4 0 18
1961~622 0 0 3
1962~63 3 0 0 12
TOTALS:12 4 0 34
Season (Other Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
1961~620001
1962~632002
TOTALS:2003

ALL MATCHES

DateMatchPosOpponentsCompVenueFTFTOTGDG
15th Apr 1960 1
W
 6 Wigan L H 12 4 VIEW
21st Sep 1960 2
W
 6 Swinton L A 15 7 VIEW
26th Sep 1960 3
W
 6 Halifax L H 32 4 VIEW
12th Oct 1960 4
W
 6 Australia Tour H 15 12 VIEW
22nd Oct 1960 5
W
 6 Wigan L H 11 6 1 VIEW
5th Nov 1960 6
W
 3 Whitehaven L H 18 8 VIEW
12th Nov 1960 7
W
 6 Rochdale Hornets L A 38 5 1 VIEW
19th Nov 1960 8
W
 6 Barrow L A 29 15 1 VIEW
26th Nov 1960 9
W
 6 Workington Town L H 47 2 1 VIEW
3rd Dec 1960 10
L
 6 Hunslet L A 5 10 VIEW
4th Mar 1961 11
W
 5 Liverpool City L A 52 2 2 VIEW
11th Mar 1961 12
W
 5 Swinton CC3 H 17 9 VIEW
18th Mar 1961 13
W
 6 Halifax L A 19 12 VIEW
21st Mar 1961 14
W
 6 Barrow L H 31 2 1 VIEW
1st Apr 1961 15
L
 6 Workington Town L A 11 12 VIEW
8th Apr 1961 16
W
 6 Hull L A 9 4 1 VIEW
25th Apr 1961 17
W
 6 Blackpool Borough L H 28 4 3 VIEW
29th Apr 1961 18
W
 3 Featherstone Rovers L H 38 0 VIEW
6th May 1961 19
L
 3 Leeds ChSF A 4 11 VIEW
12th Aug 1961 --
W
 6 Liverpool City* Fr Charity Cup H 29 14 VIEW
25th Nov 1961 20
W
 4 Workington Town L H 16 7 1 VIEW
16th Dec 1961 21
L
 5 Oldham L H 8 9 1 VIEW
2nd May 1962 22
W
 1 Huddersfield L A 16 9 VIEW
7th May 1962 --
W
 1 SHAPE Indians* Fr H 43 8 1 VIEW
10th Aug 1962 --
W
 4 Liverpool City* Fr Charity Cup H 33 2 1 VIEW
18th Aug 1962 23
W
 4 Salford WDC A 35 24 1 VIEW
22nd Aug 1962 24
W
 4 Leigh WDC H 21 3 VIEW
25th Aug 1962 25
W
 6 Blackpool Borough WDC H 21 12 VIEW
15th Sep 1962 26
W
 4 Leigh WDC A 20 10 VIEW
18th Sep 1962 27
W
 4 Blackpool Borough LC2 A 14 3 VIEW
22nd Sep 1962 28
W
 4 Liverpool City WDC H 32 3 VIEW
20th Oct 1962 29
W
 3 Huddersfield L A 22 9 1 VIEW
27th Oct 1962 30
W
 3 Swinton LCF N 7 4 VIEW
3rd Nov 1962 31
L
 3 Leeds L A 7 14 VIEW
10th Nov 1962 32
L
 3 Warrington L H 2 4 VIEW
17th Nov 1962 33
W
 3 Castleford L A 8 7 VIEW
1st Dec 1962 34
L
 2 Workington Town L A 5 8 1 VIEW
*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub.
WINS : 30 | LOSSES : 7 | DRAWS :

GALLERY





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