MEN 1873-1895
MEN 1895-2024
WOMEN 2018-2024
 

Alec Borthwick

OVERALL STATISTICS

BIRTHAGESIGNED ONFROM
26-6-1862
N/A
Date unknown.
Unknown.
DEBUTLAST MATCHLEFT
13-3-1880 v Widnes
Radcliffe
1891-
CAREERAPPEARANCES (SUBS)
1880-1891
180 (0)
TRIESGOALSDGOALSPTS
2
16
3
43

Biography of Alec Borthwick



HERITAGE NO :
Alexander Samuel Borthwick

BIG JOB FOR A JOINER

Alec Borthwick, as he was universally known to rugby enthusiasts in St. Helens, was born in Liverpool in 1863. His father was Scottish and kept a beer house in Pocket Nook Street, according to the 1871 census, when Alec was eight years old. One decade later, his mother, Mary, who was widowed by this time, had a dressmaker’s shop in Baldwin Street. Alec worked as an apprentice joiner.

In the 1879/80 season Alec was one of the young lads who regularly had watched the Originals play at the Queens Park Ground. He joined the newly formed Eccleston Rangers who played on the same pitch as the St. Helens RFC. He played regularly for that team in that campaign.

His Saints’ debut came on the 13th of March 1880 against Widnes. It was the first match that the former Eccleston Rangers lads were completing the season’s fixtures for the Originals. The contest was marred by almost riotous invasions of the pitch by the local spectators. Our records show that Alec went on to play a total of at least 180 matches for the Saints throughout the 1880s.

By the mid-1880s, Alex was the captain of the team when the club name reverted to St. Helens RFC once more. As a fly-half he was the important ‘go-to’ man in attack. Later on he played in the forwards, right up to the 1890-91 season, when the club had moved to its new ground at Knowsley Road. His final match was in February 1891 in an away fixture against Radcliffe. Alec was named in the forwards that day as the Saints suffered a narrow defeat.

A measure of his ability was demonstrated by his representative appearances for regional teams. He played for Liverpool District against Manchester at Whalley Range on 18th April 1885. He also represented Liverpool against the West Lancs and Border Towns RU at Runcorn on 19th March 1885. In both matches, his team mate William James played.

On Friday 18th September 1885 Alec played in the forwards for West Lancs and Border Towns Union against Batley at Widnes. His team lost by a goal to a goal and four tries. He again played representative football onSaturday 23rd November 1886. Alec played in the forwards for West Lancs and Border Towns Union against West Cumberland at Warrington. The match ended in a draw with team scoring one try apiece.

According to the 1891 census, Alec still lived with his 60-year old mother whose business had moved to Cotham Street and Alec was working as a fully-fledged joiner. They moved later to a house in Arygle Street by the time of the 1901 census. Tragically, the Saints’ lifer got married in the summer of 1901 but passed away in November 1901. . He was buried in the town cemetery and was 39 years of age.
DateMatchPosOpponentsCompVenueFTFTOTGDG
13th Mar 1880 1
N/K
 9 Widnes* FR H VIEW
27th Mar 1880 2
N/K
 9 Widnes* FR A VIEW
9th Oct 1880 3
N/K
 7 St Helens Recs* FR H VIEW
23rd Oct 1880 4
N/K
 7 Birkenhead Rangers* FR H VIEW
4th Dec 1880 5
N/K
 7 St Helens Recs* FR A VIEW
1st Jan 1881 6
N/K
 7 St Helens Recs* FR A VIEW
12th Mar 1881 7
N/K
 7 Tranmere* FR A VIEW
29th Oct 1881 8
N/K
 7 Widnes True Blues* FR H VIEW
12th Nov 1881 9
N/K
 5 Liverpool Resistance* FR H VIEW
21st Jan 1882 10
N/K
 7 Glodwick* FR A VIEW
28th Jan 1882 11
N/K
 6 Widnes Excelsior* FR A VIEW
4th Feb 1882 12
N/K
 6 Newton Le Willows* FR A 1 VIEW
25th Feb 1882 13
N/K
 7 Widnes True Blues* FR H VIEW
4th Mar 1882 14
N/K
 6 St Helens Recs* FR H VIEW
8th Apr 1882 15
N/K
 6 SH and District* FR H VIEW
30th Sep 1882 16
N/K
 5 Glodwick * FR A VIEW
7th Oct 1882 17
N/K
 7 Widnes Wasps* FR H VIEW
21st Oct 1882 18
N/K
 7 New Springs* FR H 2 VIEW
18th Nov 1882 19
N/K
 8 St Helens Recs* FR A VIEW
2nd Dec 1882 20
N/K
 7 Aspull* FR A VIEW
9th Dec 1882 21
N/K
 4 Runcorn* FR H VIEW
23rd Dec 1882 22
N/K
 4 Newton Le Willows* FR A VIEW
1st Jan 1883 23
N/K
 7 Widnes* FR H VIEW
10th Nov 1883 24
N/K
 8 Runcorn* FR H VIEW
8th Dec 1883 25
N/K
 8 Newton* FR H 1 VIEW
22nd Dec 1883 26
N/K
 6 Wigan* FR H VIEW
12th Jan 1884 27
N/K
 7 St Helens Recs* FR H VIEW
9th Feb 1884 28
N/K
 7 Newton le Willows* FR A VIEW
16th Feb 1884 29
N/K
 7 Southport Olympique* FR A VIEW
23rd Feb 1884 30
N/K
 7 Wigan* FR A VIEW
1st Mar 1884 31
N/K
 7 St Helens Recs* FR H VIEW
13th Sep 1884 32
N/K
 5 Birkdale Free Warriors* FR H VIEW
27th Sep 1884 33
N/K
 7 Warrington* FR H VIEW
11th Oct 1884 34
N/K
 7 Tyldesley* FR H VIEW
18th Oct 1884 35
N/K
 7 Southport* FR A VIEW
8th Nov 1884 36
N/K
 7 Bootle* FR H VIEW
15th Nov 1884 37
N/K
 7 Ashton Under Lyme* FR H VIEW
22nd Nov 1884 38
N/K
 7 Walkden* FR A VIEW
14th Feb 1885 39
N/K
 7 Wavertree* FR H 2 VIEW
21st Feb 1885 40
N/K
 7 St Helens Recs* FR H VIEW
7th Mar 1885 41
N/K
 2 St Helens Recs* FR A 1 VIEW
21st Mar 1885 --
N/K
 7 Southport Olympic * FR A VIEW
4th Apr 1885 42
N/K
 2 Ossett* FR H VIEW
26th Sep 1885 43
N/K
 3 Aspull* FR H VIEW
25th Dec 1885 44
N/K
 3 Blackrod* FR H VIEW
26th Dec 1885 45
N/K
 3 Widnes* FR H VIEW
1st Jan 1886 46
N/K
 8 Litherland* FR H VIEW
3rd Jan 1886 47
N/K
 8 Litherland* FR A VIEW
6th Mar 1886 48
N/K
 6 Wavertree* CUP 1R A VIEW
13th Mar 1886 49
N/K
 6 Wavertree* CUP 1R REP H VIEW
20th Mar 1886 50
N/K
 6 Walton* CUP 2R N VIEW
24th Apr 1886 51
N/K
 5 Warrington* FR H VIEW
18th Sep 1886 52
L
 7 Tottington* FR A 1 6 VIEW
25th Sep 1886 53
W
 7 Bootle* FR H 2 0 VIEW
2nd Oct 1886 54
W
 5 Blackley* FR A 3 1 VIEW
16th Oct 1886 55
L
 7 Salford A* FR H 3 8 VIEW
23rd Oct 1886 56
L
 7 Rochdale St.Clements* FR H 0 2 VIEW
30th Oct 1886 57
W
 5 Oldham A* FR H 3 0 VIEW
13th Nov 1886 58
W
 7 Manchester Gymnasium* FR A 11 0 2 VIEW
20th Nov 1886 59
L
 5 Kendal Hornets* FR H 2 5 VIEW
27th Nov 1886 60
L
 5 Birch* FR A 0 4 VIEW
15th Jan 1887 61
W
 5 Blackley* FR H 2 0 VIEW
22nd Jan 1887 62
L
 5 Radcliffe* FR A 0 2 VIEW
19th Feb 1887 63
W
 5 Liverpool Wanderers* FR A 8 0 VIEW
26th Feb 1887 64
L
 7 Eccles* FR A 0 1 VIEW
5th Mar 1887 65
L
 7 Warrington* FR A 0 1 VIEW
19th Mar 1887 66
W
 7 Kendal Hornets* FR A 2 1 VIEW
26th Mar 1887 67
D
 7 Eccles* FR H 2 2 VIEW
2nd Apr 1887 68
W
 7 Birch* FR H 4 0 VIEW
8th Apr 1887 69
W
 7 Widnes* FR H 2 1 VIEW
9th Apr 1887 70
L
 7 Ossett* FR H 0 1 VIEW
10th Sep 1887 71
D
 7 Kendal Hornets* FR N 0 0 VIEW
24th Sep 1887 72
W
 7 Ashton Under Lyme* FR H 21 0 3 VIEW
1st Oct 1887 73
L
 7 Widnes* FR A 0 3 VIEW
8th Oct 1887 74
D
 7 Walkden* FR H 1 1 VIEW
15th Oct 1887 75
W
 7 Morecambe* FR A 4 0 VIEW
17th Oct 1887 76
L
 7 Werneth* FR H 2 3 VIEW
22nd Oct 1887 77
D
 7 Crompton* FR A 2 2 VIEW
29th Oct 1887 78
W
 7 Radcliffe* FR H 3 0 VIEW
5th Nov 1887 79
L
 7 St.Helens Recreation* FR A 2 3 VIEW
12th Nov 1887 80
L
 7 Kendal Hornets* FR H 0 7 VIEW
19th Nov 1887 81
L
 7 Mossley* FR A 1 3 VIEW
26th Nov 1887 82
W
 7 Tyldesley* FR H 3 1 1 VIEW
3rd Dec 1887 83
L
 7 Wigan* FR A 0 3 VIEW
10th Dec 1887 84
L
 7 Barrow* FR A 0 5 VIEW
17th Dec 1887 85
L
 7 Wigan* FR H 0 8 VIEW
24th Mar 1888 86
W
 7 Barrow* FR H 4 3 VIEW
7th Apr 1888 87
L
 7 Wigan* FR A 0 7 VIEW
14th Apr 1888 88
L
 7 Lancaster* FR H 1 2 VIEW
21st Apr 1888 89
L
 7 Kendal Hornets* FR H 2 3 VIEW
28th Apr 1888 90
W
 7 Leigh* FR H 3 2 1 VIEW
1st Sep 1888 91
W
 7 Mr Higsons Salford* FR H 7 0 VIEW
8th Sep 1888 92
L
 7 Batley* FR H 1 9 VIEW
15th Sep 1888 93
L
 7 Rochdale Hornets* FR H 0 3 VIEW
22nd Sep 1888 94
D
 7 Walkden* FR H 0 0 VIEW
29th Sep 1888 95
W
 7 Leigh* FR H 5 2 VIEW
6th Oct 1888 96
W
 7 Audenshaw* FR H 11 0 VIEW
13th Oct 1888 97
W
 7 Bramley* FR H 3 1 VIEW
20th Oct 1888 98
W
 7 Morecambe* FR A 2 0 VIEW
27th Oct 1888 99
W
 7 Manchester Free Wanderers* FR H 6 1 VIEW
3rd Nov 1888 100
W
 7 Birch* FR H 7 0 VIEW
10th Nov 1888 101
D
 7 Stockport* FR H 0 0 VIEW
17th Nov 1888 102
W
 7 Leigh* FR A 1 0 VIEW
24th Nov 1888 103
L
 7 Crompton* FR H 0 5 VIEW
1st Dec 1888 104
D
 7 Eccles* FR A 2 2 VIEW
8th Dec 1888 105
W
 7 Lancaster* FR A 3 2 VIEW
15th Dec 1888 106
L
 7 Widnes* FR H 0 3 VIEW
22nd Dec 1888 107
W
 7 Lancaster* FR H 5 0 VIEW
25th Dec 1888 108
D
 7 Tyldesley* FR H 0 0 VIEW
26th Dec 1888 109
L
 7 Ossett* FR A 1 3 VIEW
29th Dec 1888 110
L
 7 Werneth* FR A 2 3 VIEW
12th Jan 1889 111
W
 7 Audenshaw* FR A 11 0 VIEW
19th Jan 1889 112
W
 7 Werneth* FR A 6 1 VIEW
26th Jan 1889 113
L
 5 Radcliffe* FR H 0 1 VIEW
2nd Feb 1889 114
W
 7 Eccles* FR H 7 0 VIEW
9th Feb 1889 115
D
 7 Stockport* FR A 0 0 VIEW
16th Feb 1889 116
L
 6 Widnes* FR A 0 4 VIEW
23rd Feb 1889 117
L
 7 Kendal Hornets* FR H 1 2 VIEW
2nd Mar 1889 118
W
 7 Aspull* WLC H 1 0 VIEW
9th Mar 1889 119
L
 7 Kendal Hornets* FR H 1 2 VIEW
14th Mar 1889 120
L
 7 Maoris* FR H 0 7 VIEW
23rd Mar 1889 121
W
 7 Askam* FR H 3 0 VIEW
30th Mar 1889 122
W
 7 Crompton* FR A 1 0 VIEW
6th Apr 1889 123
L
 7 Askam* FR A 0 3 VIEW
13th Apr 1889 124
W
 7 Kendal Town* FR H 4 1 VIEW
19th Apr 1889 125
W
 7 Wakefield Trinity* FR H 4 0 VIEW
20th Apr 1889 126
W
 7 Aspull* FR H 4 2 VIEW
22nd Apr 1889 127
W
 5 Ossett* FR H 5 1 VIEW
27th Apr 1889 128
W
 7 Kendal Town* FR A 1 0 VIEW
4th May 1889 129
D
 7 Batley* FR H 0 0 VIEW
7th Sep 1889 130
L
 7 Warrington* FR H 0 2 VIEW
14th Sep 1889 131
L
 7 Morley* FR A 1 3 VIEW
21st Sep 1889 132
D
 7 Millom* FR H 0 0 VIEW
28th Sep 1889 133
W
 7 Bramley* FR H 6 0 VIEW
5th Oct 1889 134
L
 7 Lancaster* FR H 1 3 VIEW
19th Oct 1889 135
L
 7 Radcliffe* FR H 1 2 VIEW
26th Oct 1889 136
D
 7 Widnes* L A 1 1 VIEW
2nd Nov 1889 137
L
 7 Kendal Hornets* FR A 1 2 VIEW
9th Nov 1889 138
L
 7 Rochdale St Clements* FR A 0 2 VIEW
14th Nov 1889 139
W
 7 Maindee* FR H 4 0 VIEW
16th Nov 1889 140
L
 6 Askam* FR A 1 4 VIEW
23rd Nov 1889 141
L
 7 Tyldesley* L A 0 7 VIEW
30th Nov 1889 142
W
 7 Askam* FR H 4 2 VIEW
21st Dec 1889 143
W
 7 Blackley* FR H 4 0 VIEW
28th Dec 1889 144
L
 7 Hunslet* FR A 0 10 VIEW
4th Jan 1890 145
D
 7 Rochdale St Clements* FR H 2 2 VIEW
11th Jan 1890 146
W
 5 Morecambe* FR H 6 0 VIEW
18th Jan 1890 147
W
 7 Widnes* L H 3 0 VIEW
25th Jan 1890 148
L
 7 Leigh* L H 0 2 VIEW
1st Feb 1890 149
L
 7 Tyldesley* L H 1 5 VIEW
8th Feb 1890 150
L
 7 Kendal * FR A 0 6 VIEW
15th Feb 1890 151
L
 7 Radcliffe* FR A 2 3 VIEW
22nd Feb 1890 152
W
 7 Aspull* L H 2 0 VIEW
1st Mar 1890 153
L
 7 Wigan* L H 0 5 VIEW
8th Mar 1890 154
L
 5 Leigh* L A 0 1 VIEW
15th Mar 1890 155
W
 7 Elland* FR H 3 2 VIEW
22nd Mar 1890 156
L
 7 Wigan* L A 0 8 VIEW
29th Mar 1890 157
L
 4 Lancaster* FR A 0 3 VIEW
4th Apr 1890 158
W
 7 Ulverston* F H 5 0 VIEW
5th Apr 1890 159
W
 7 Marylebone* FR H 4 0 VIEW
12th Apr 1890 160
L
 7 Hunslet* FR H 2 6 VIEW
19th Apr 1890 161
W
 7 Kendal Hornets* FR H 4 1 VIEW
6th Sep 1890 162
W
 7 Manchester Rangers* FR H 7 1 1 VIEW
13th Sep 1890 163
L
 7 Wigan* SWLL H 0 8 VIEW
20th Sep 1890 164
W
 7 Kendal Hornets* FR H 4 2 2 VIEW
27th Sep 1890 165
W
 7 Askam* FR H 7 2 2 VIEW
4th Oct 1890 166
L
 7 Walkden* SWLL H 0 2 VIEW
11th Oct 1890 167
L
 7 Kendal Hornets* FR A 0 2 VIEW
18th Oct 1890 168
W
 7 Leigh* SWLL A 6 2 1 VIEW
25th Oct 1890 169
L
 7 Aspull* SWLL A 0 2 VIEW
1st Nov 1890 170
W
 5 Blackley Rangers* FR H 3 2 VIEW
8th Nov 1890 171
L
 7 Oldham* FR A 3 4 VIEW
15th Nov 1890 172
L
 7 Morecambe* FR A 0 2 VIEW
22nd Nov 1890 173
D
 7 Duckinfield* FR A 1 1 VIEW
13th Dec 1890 174
W
 3 Tyldesley* FR A 1 0 VIEW
3rd Jan 1891 175
W
 7 Widnes* FR A 3 0 VIEW
10th Jan 1891 176
W
 7 Salford* FR H 1 0 VIEW
24th Jan 1891 177
D
 7 Aspull* SWLL H 1 1 VIEW
31st Jan 1891 178
W
 7 Rochdale St. Clements* FR H 5 2 VIEW
7th Feb 1891 179
W
 7 Sale* FR A 7 3 1 VIEW
14th Feb 1891 180
L
 7 Radcliffe* FR A 0 4 VIEW
*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub.
WINS : 57 | LOSSES : 57 | DRAWS : 15




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