Peter Metcalfe | |||||||
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OVERALL STATISTICS | |||||||
BIRTH | AGE | SIGNED ON | FROM | ||||
DEBUT | LAST MATCH | LEFT | |||||
CAREER | APPEARANCES (SUBS) | ||||||
TRIES | GOALS | DGOALS | PTS | ||||
Biography of Peter Metcalfe |
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HERITAGE NO : 713 Peter Metcalfe by Dave Dooley: Peter Metcalfe was potentially one the club`s all-time greats when his career was tragically cut short after he broke his knee cap. as a stand off. He made his debut against Wakefield Trinity on the 27th. December 1952. In only 71 matches for the Saints Peter scored 29 tries, kicked 234 goals for a total points aggregate of 555 points. In the 1953-54 season Peter was the game`s top goalkicker with 153 goals and the league`s top points scorer with 369 points. This lively, creative stand off was rewarded with caps for Lancashire and England. Peter was a member of the 1953 Lancashire Cup winning team that defeated Wigan by 16 points to 8. In this match Peter kicked five goals to punish the Wigan outfit. The first ever Cup Final between the deadly rivals went the way of St Helens. One of his career highlights must have been the 1953 Championship Final when Peter completely dominated his more experienced opponents. The match was characterised by Metcalfe`s shrewd handling, body swerves, side-steps and neat off-loads setting up tries for his team mates and finishing off a fine move to sink Halifax in the first quarter of the match. His personal haul of a try and three goals was a major contribution to the crowning of Saints as champions for only the second time in their history. His final match for the Club was against York on the 3rd. of September, 1955. Peter cruelly was forced to retire after breaking his knee cap at the age of 24 years. Peter Metcalfe Passes Supporters of a particular generation were saddened to hear of the passing of our former stand-off Peter Metcalfe, on 13th February, 2016. He was in his mid 80s. Peter originally came from Greenbank and the family later moved to Thatto Heath. Yet Peter remained at Sacred Heart School and after a spell in the Army, Peter joined the Saints. Signed after an amateur career with Pilkington Recs [he worked at Sheet Works originally] and United Services, Peter made rapid strides in the A Team, before making a successful debut against Wakefield Trinity at Belle Vue on 27th December 1952. The visitors won 20-11 and Peter scored a try, with his partner at scrum-half, John Dickinson, another local lad, notching a brace! Just seven games into his senior career at Knowsley Road he was selected at stand-off for the 1953 Championship final against Halifax at Manchester City's Maine Road ground. In front of over 50,000, Peter scored a try and three goals as Saints won their second Championship 24-14. Although he was a specialist goal-kicker, Peter had all the attributes of a great stand-off with the ball in hand: swerve, step, eye for the gap and great handling skills. It was no surprise that both county and international recognition came his way in what was a brilliant season for him in 1953-54. He also played in the 1953 Lancashire Cup final against Wigan at Swinton and kicked 5 goals for good measure in the Saints' 16-8 success ' the first time the two old rivals had clashed in a major final! At the end of the 1953-54 season he was the league's leading points scorer, with 369 and shared the leading goalkicker's tag with Warrington's Harry Bath [153]. Unfortunately, Peter suffered a severe knee injury, which eventually forced him into premature retirement from the game he loved. His last match for the Saints was at home to York, on 3rd September 1955. Although St. Helens won 26-18, he could not carry on. According to his wife, Joan [a Haresfinch girl ' they married in 1952], they were involved in a number of business enterprises over the years and they also migrated to Australia for a couple of years [Brisbane] where Peter did some coaching locally. He did continue his local rugby league links with his former club, Pilkington Recs and coached them to their first-ever match against a professional club when they played at Hull KR in 1961. Peter and Joan had a hotel on the front at Southport for several years, before moving to the Scarborough area, where they had, at various times, three hotels and a chip shop. They remained on the Yorkshire coast until Peter's death. We need to mention one of Peter`s friends, Joe Wadsworth, for additional information for this article. |
SEASON STATISTICS | ||||
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Season (Official Matches) | Tries | Goals | DGoals | Matches |
1952~53 | 5 | 16 | 0 | 7 |
1953~54 | 21 | 145 | 0 | 42 |
1954~55 | 3 | 73 | 0 | 21 |
1955~56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
TOTALS: | 29 | 234 | 0 | 71 |
Season (Other Matches) | Tries | Goals | DGoals | Matches |
1952~53 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
1953~54 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
1954~55 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
TOTALS: | 1 | 15 | 0 | 3 |
ALL MATCHES |
Date | Match | Pos | Opponents | Comp | Venue | FT | FTO | T | G | DG | ||
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27th Dec 1952 | 1 | W |
6 | Wakefield Trinity | L | A | 20 | 11 | 1 | VIEW | ||
3rd Apr 1953 | 2 | W |
6 | Wigan | L | A | 16 | 5 | 1 | 5 | VIEW | |
6th Apr 1953 | 3 | D |
6 | Huddersfield | L | A | 10 | 10 | VIEW | |||
11th Apr 1953 | 4 | W |
6 | Belle Vue Rangers | L | H | 38 | 9 | 1 | VIEW | ||
18th Apr 1953 | 5 | W |
6 | Oldham | L | A | 14 | 13 | 1 | VIEW | ||
2nd May 1953 | 6 | W |
6 | Huddersfield | ChSF | H | 46 | 0 | 8 | VIEW | ||
7th May 1953 | 7 | W |
6 | Halifax | ChF | N | 24 | 14 | 1 | 3 | VIEW | |
16th May 1953 | -- | W |
6 | Workington / Whitehaven* | Fr Benefit | A | 53 | 26 | 1 | 7 | VIEW | |
8th Aug 1953 | -- | W |
6 | Barrow* | Fr Ward Cup | H | 29 | 20 | 4 | VIEW | ||
15th Aug 1953 | 8 | W |
6 | Liverpool City | L | A | 46 | 0 | 1 | 5 | VIEW | |
22nd Aug 1953 | 9 | D |
6 | Widnes | L | A | 11 | 11 | 4 | VIEW | ||
26th Aug 1953 | 10 | W |
6 | Barrow | L | H | 23 | 10 | 1 | VIEW | ||
29th Aug 1953 | 11 | W |
6 | Huddersfield | L | H | 12 | 9 | 1 | VIEW | ||
5th Sep 1953 | 12 | L |
6 | Barrow | LC1(1) | A | 13 | 14 | 1 | 2 | VIEW | |
9th Sep 1953 | 13 | W |
6 | Barrow | LC1(2) | H | 21 | 17 | 2 | VIEW | ||
12th Sep 1953 | 14 | W |
6 | Bradford Northern | L | A | 19 | 14 | 1 | 4 | VIEW | |
19th Sep 1953 | 15 | W |
6 | Bramley | L | H | 49 | 16 | 1 | 8 | VIEW | |
23rd Sep 1953 | 16 | W |
6 | Swinton | LC2 | H | 38 | 9 | 1 | 4 | VIEW | |
30th Sep 1953 | 17 | W |
6 | Warrington | LCSF | A | 17 | 10 | 2 | 3 | VIEW | |
3rd Oct 1953 | 18 | W |
6 | Bradford Northern | L | H | 22 | 12 | 1 | 5 | VIEW | |
10th Oct 1953 | 19 | W |
6 | Belle Vue Rangers | L | A | 27 | 5 | 1 | 6 | VIEW | |
17th Oct 1953 | 20 | W |
6 | Castleford | L | H | 35 | 9 | 4 | VIEW | ||
24th Oct 1953 | 21 | W |
6 | Wigan | LCF | N | 16 | 8 | 5 | VIEW | ||
31st Oct 1953 | 22 | W |
6 | Workington Town | L | H | 20 | 5 | 4 | VIEW | ||
11th Nov 1953 | 23 | W |
6 | Castleford | L | A | 31 | 14 | 8 | VIEW | ||
14th Nov 1953 | 24 | W |
6 | Swinton | L | H | 2 | 0 | 1 | VIEW | ||
28th Nov 1953 | 25 | W |
6 | Whitehaven | L | A | 12 | 4 | 3 | VIEW | ||
5th Dec 1953 | 26 | W |
6 | Belle Vue Rangers | L | H | 38 | 7 | 1 | 7 | VIEW | |
12th Dec 1953 | 27 | W |
6 | Oldham | L | H | 21 | 9 | 3 | VIEW | ||
19th Dec 1953 | 28 | W |
6 | Salford | L | A | 11 | 7 | 1 | VIEW | ||
25th Dec 1953 | 29 | W |
6 | Leigh | L | H | 11 | 9 | 4 | VIEW | ||
26th Dec 1953 | 30 | W |
6 | Wigan | L | H | 14 | 4 | 4 | VIEW | ||
2nd Jan 1954 | 31 | L |
6 | Warrington | L | H | 2 | 7 | 1 | VIEW | ||
9th Jan 1954 | 32 | W |
6 | Swinton | L | A | 8 | 0 | 1 | VIEW | ||
16th Jan 1954 | 33 | W |
6 | Rochdale Hornets | L | H | 28 | 5 | 2 | VIEW | ||
23rd Jan 1954 | 34 | W |
6 | Barrow | L | A | 15 | 11 | 3 | VIEW | ||
30th Jan 1954 | 35 | W |
6 | Salford | L | H | 29 | 0 | 1 | 4 | VIEW | |
13th Feb 1954 | 36 | W |
6 | Featherstone Rovers | CC1(1) | H | 26 | 7 | 1 | 4 | VIEW | |
17th Feb 1954 | 37 | W |
6 | Featherstone Rovers | CC1(2) | A | 27 | 16 | 1 | 6 | VIEW | |
20th Feb 1954 | 38 | D |
6 | Halifax | L | H | 5 | 5 | 1 | VIEW | ||
27th Feb 1954 | 39 | L |
6 | Warrington | L | A | 8 | 12 | 4 | VIEW | ||
6th Mar 1954 | 40 | L |
4 | Huddersfield | CC2 | A | 5 | 12 | 1 | VIEW | ||
20th Mar 1954 | 41 | W |
6 | Liverpool City | L | H | 18 | 0 | 1 | 6 | VIEW | |
24th Mar 1954 | 42 | W |
6 | Workington Town | L | A | 15 | 7 | 3 | VIEW | ||
3rd Apr 1954 | 43 | W |
6 | Whitehaven | L | H | 34 | 12 | 5 | VIEW | ||
7th Apr 1954 | 44 | L |
6 | Leigh | L | A | 13 | 14 | 2 | VIEW | ||
10th Apr 1954 | 45 | W |
6 | Bramley | L | A | 25 | 12 | 2 | 5 | VIEW | |
16th Apr 1954 | 46 | W |
6 | Wigan | L | A | 14 | 8 | 4 | VIEW | ||
17th Apr 1954 | 47 | W |
6 | Widnes | L | H | 28 | 4 | 1 | 5 | VIEW | |
19th Apr 1954 | 48 | L |
6 | Huddersfield | L | A | 13 | 29 | 1 | 2 | VIEW | |
1st May 1954 | 49 | L |
6 | Warrington | ChSF | A | 0 | 11 | VIEW | |||
7th Aug 1954 | -- | L |
6 | Barrow* | Fr Ward Cup | A | 17 | 31 | 4 | VIEW | ||
14th Aug 1954 | 50 | W |
6 | Widnes | L | H | 31 | 3 | 5 | VIEW | ||
18th Aug 1954 | 51 | W |
6 | Belle Vue Rangers | L | A | 20 | 11 | 1 | 7 | VIEW | |
21st Aug 1954 | 52 | W |
6 | Blackpool Borough | L | A | 34 | 2 | 5 | VIEW | ||
25th Aug 1954 | 53 | W |
6 | Swinton | L | H | 28 | 9 | 2 | VIEW | ||
28th Aug 1954 | 54 | L |
6 | Oldham | L | H | 16 | 23 | 2 | VIEW | ||
4th Sep 1954 | 55 | L |
6 | Halifax | L | A | 2 | 22 | 1 | VIEW | ||
25th Sep 1954 | 56 | W |
6 | Huddersfield | L | H | 20 | 7 | 1 | 4 | VIEW | |
2nd Oct 1954 | 57 | W |
6 | Liverpool City | L | A | 30 | 14 | 1 | 6 | VIEW | |
9th Oct 1954 | 58 | W |
6 | Leeds | L | H | 13 | 6 | 5 | VIEW | ||
16th Oct 1954 | 59 | W |
6 | Salford | L | A | 19 | 2 | 2 | VIEW | ||
23rd Oct 1954 | 60 | W |
6 | Whitehaven | L | H | 30 | 3 | 6 | VIEW | ||
30th Oct 1954 | 61 | W |
6 | Widnes | L | A | 8 | 2 | 1 | VIEW | ||
6th Nov 1954 | 62 | L |
6 | Workington Town | L | A | 11 | 15 | 4 | VIEW | ||
29th Jan 1955 | 63 | W |
6 | Blackpool Borough | L | H | 13 | 2 | 2 | VIEW | ||
19th Mar 1955 | 64 | L |
6 | Workington Town | CC3 | A | 4 | 14 | 2 | VIEW | ||
21st Mar 1955 | 65 | W |
6 | Rochdale Hornets | L | H | 23 | 3 | 4 | VIEW | ||
26th Mar 1955 | 66 | W |
6 | Salford | L | H | 16 | 8 | 1 | VIEW | ||
8th Apr 1955 | 67 | L |
6 | Wigan | L | A | 12 | 16 | 6 | VIEW | ||
9th Apr 1955 | 68 | W |
1 | Halifax | L | H | 14 | 8 | 4 | VIEW | ||
11th Apr 1955 | 69 | L |
1 | Huddersfield | L | A | 11 | 35 | 4 | VIEW | ||
18th Apr 1955 | 70 | L |
1 | Barrow | L | A | 3 | 26 | VIEW | |||
3rd Sep 1955 | 71 | W |
6 | York | L | H | 26 | 18 | VIEW |
*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub. |
WINS : 56 | LOSSES : 15 | DRAWS : 3 |
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GALLERY |
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