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

John Appleton

OVERALL STATISTICS

BIRTHAGESIGNED ONFROM
12-10-1870
N/A
Date unknown.
Unknown.
DEBUTLAST MATCHLEFT
5-12-1891 v Ulverston
Widnes
1895-
CAREERAPPEARANCES (SUBS)
1891-1895
131 (0)
TRIESGOALSDGOALSPTS
27
0
1
62

Biography of John Appleton



HERITAGE NO :
John Appleton

ELUSIVE CHARACTER

It seems remarkable that we know so much about John Appleton and yet we have never been absolutely certain that we have tackled him properly. To the outsider matters may seem straightforward. We know his family background, his brother Edward also played for the Saints, he played in our first ever match in the Northern Union, we have a couple of photographs of the player and he even stayed on with the Club to become a trainer. And what of the surname Appleton surely an easy catch? Well St Helens at the turn of the century probably had more Appletons than apple trees!

John was born on the 12th of October 1871 in St Helens. He was brought up in the Thatto Heath area of the the town in Springfield Lane. He was one of nine children and his father, John, worked in a local coal mine as an engine tender. John followed his father down the pit and by the time he made his debut for the Saints John had moved to Dunriding Lane, St Helens opposite the Knowsley Road ground. He had married Margaret Hill and already had a baby son, Matthew who tragically died two years later.

John was a prolific player for the Saints and before the commencement of the Northern Union he had played 131 matches for the Saints scoring 26 tries and kicking one drop goal in the process. He made his debut against Ulverston on the 5th of September 1871. The home fixture ended in a draw. That day John played in the forwards and he remained in the pack for much of the following three seasons. At the start of the 1893-4 campaign John started as a three-quarter and soon his true potential was realised. He became a regular try scorer in a very successful season for the Saints. On the 10th of March 1894 the Saints played Mossley at Knowsley Road and prevailed by 56 points to 3. John Appleton crossed for a hat trick of tries that day.

NORTHERN UNION ERA

In the Northern Union, when he started well playing in the first ever fixture against Rochdale Hornets. However, he faded somewhat in terms of appearances. By 1896-97 he had gone to rivals St Helens Recs, who had initially stayed with the RFU in 1895-96, but had turned by this time and actually took part in the inaugural Challenge Cup.

By the 1897-98 season he had returned to Knowsley Road and for the next six seasons, he played a dominantly utility role, filling in at left centre, but also in both half-back positions. John seemingly retired at the end of the 1902-03 campaign, when the Saints had an established pair of half-backs called Banks and Hall in the First Team.

John played the most matches in the pre-Northern Union days and as far as his completed record goes, he played in 135 matches from 1891-92 to 1894-95, scoring 27 tries. He made 70 appearances in the Northern Union itself. His combined total would therefore exceed 200 for the club. He was obviously a splendid servant to St.Helens RFC.. He appears on a team picture as one of the backroom staff in 1907-08, so perhaps that was the role he adopted when his playing career came to an end.

John and Margaret had six daughters as well as a son who sadly died aged just two years old. For twenty years John and his brood lived with his parents and several siblings at 98 Dunriding Lane, St Helens. Tragedy struck in 1911 when his wife Margaret died. When John finished his toils down the coal mines as a Colliery Fireman John retained the lure of the Saints and Dunriding Lane must have been irresistible. John relocated across the road to spend the rest of his days at 55 Dunriding Lane in and close to the Knowsley Road ground. He died in St Helens in October 1943 at the age of 42.

DateMatchPosOpponentsCompVenueFTFTOTGDG
5th Sep 1891 1
D
 14 Ulverston* FR H 0 0 VIEW
12th Sep 1891 2
D
 14 Wigan* FR H 0 0 VIEW
10th Oct 1891 3
W
 14 Sale* FR H 24 0 VIEW
15th Oct 1891 4
L
 14 Runcorn* Charity A 2 7 VIEW
17th Oct 1891 5
W
 14 Elland* FR H 7 2 VIEW
24th Oct 1891 6
L
 14 Rockcliffe* Tour A 0 14 VIEW
26th Oct 1891 7
W
 14 Percy Park* Tour A 9 7 VIEW
7th Nov 1891 8
L
 14 Aspull* FR H 0 4 VIEW
21st Nov 1891 9
W
 14 Tyldesley* FR H 6 2 VIEW
28th Nov 1891 10
D
 2 Blackley* FR A 0 0 VIEW
5th Dec 1891 11
W
 14 Morecambe* FR H 2 0 VIEW
17th Dec 1891 12
L
 14 Widnes* FR A 4 5 VIEW
26th Dec 1891 13
L
 14 Wigan* FR A 4 5 VIEW
1st Jan 1892 14
W
 14 Runcorn* FR H 4 2 VIEW
2nd Jan 1892 15
W
 14 Widnes* FR H 4 0 VIEW
9th Jan 1892 16
L
 14 Ulverston* FR A 2 6 VIEW
23rd Jan 1892 17
L
 14 Birkenhead Wanderers* FR A 0 2 VIEW
30th Jan 1892 18
W
 14 Duckinfield* FR H 4 0 VIEW
27th Feb 1892 19
D
 14 Rochdale St. Clements* FR A 7 7 VIEW
5th Mar 1892 20
W
 14 Salford* FR H 6 0 VIEW
12th Mar 1892 21
L
 14 Elland* FR A 0 4 VIEW
19th Mar 1892 22
W
 14 Lancaster* FR H 9 5 VIEW
9th Apr 1892 23
W
 14 Tuebrook* FR H 24 0 VIEW
15th Apr 1892 24
W
 14 Aspatria* FR H 6 0 VIEW
16th Apr 1892 25
W
 14 Leicester* FR H 6 0 VIEW
20th Apr 1892 26
W
 14 Leigh* FR A 2 0 VIEW
23rd Apr 1892 27
D
 14 Blackley* FR H 7 7 VIEW
28th Apr 1892 28
W
 14 Liverpool* Benefit H 20 0 2 VIEW
30th Apr 1892 29
L
 14 Tyldesley* FR A 0 10 VIEW
1st Sep 1892 30
L
 11 Wigan* FR H 0 5 VIEW
3rd Sep 1892 31
W
 11 Kendal* FR H 6 2 VIEW
10th Sep 1892 32
W
 11 Lancaster* FR H 8 0 1 VIEW
12th Sep 1892 33
D
 11 Leigh* FR A 2 2 VIEW
17th Sep 1892 34
W
 11 Duckinfield* FR A 19 0 VIEW
24th Sep 1892 35
W
 11 Ulverston* FR H 16 0 VIEW
1st Oct 1892 36
W
 11 Manchester Rangers* FR A 4 0 VIEW
15th Oct 1892 37
W
 11 Sale* FR A 4 0 1 VIEW
22nd Oct 1892 38
W
 11 Stockport* FR H 17 0 VIEW
29th Oct 1892 39
W
 11 Sale* FR H 22 0 2 VIEW
5th Nov 1892 40
W
 11 Morecambe* FR A 11 9 VIEW
12th Nov 1892 41
W
 11 Tyldesley* FR A 2 0 VIEW
19th Nov 1892 42
D
 11 Runcorn* FR H 0 0 VIEW
3rd Dec 1892 43
D
 11 Leigh* FR H 0 0 VIEW
17th Dec 1892 44
D
 11 Tyldesley* FR H 0 0 VIEW
31st Dec 1892 45
D
 11 Rockcliffe* Tour N 0 0 VIEW
2nd Jan 1893 46
W
 11 West Hartlepool* Tour A 4 0 VIEW
3rd Jan 1893 47
W
 11 South Shields* Tour A 2 0 VIEW
14th Jan 1893 48
W
 11 Aspull* FR H 14 0 VIEW
21st Jan 1893 49
D
 11 Wigan* FR A 0 0 VIEW
28th Jan 1893 50
W
 11 Widnes* FR A 5 0 VIEW
11th Feb 1893 51
W
 11 Kendal* FR A 9 0 VIEW
18th Feb 1893 52
W
 11 Duckinfield* FR H 25 0 1 VIEW
25th Feb 1893 53
W
 11 Birkenhead Wanderers* FR H 20 0 1 VIEW
4th Mar 1893 54
W
 11 Tuebrook* FR A 27 0 VIEW
11th Mar 1893 55
W
 11 Rochdale Hornets* FR A 5 0 VIEW
18th Mar 1893 56
D
 1 Barton* FR A 0 0 VIEW
25th Mar 1893 57
L
 11 Stockport* FR A 2 6 VIEW
31st Mar 1893 58
W
 11 Barton* FR H 15 0 VIEW
3rd Apr 1893 59
D
 11 Runcorn* FR A 0 0 VIEW
8th Apr 1893 60
L
 11 Salford* FR A 2 6 VIEW
13th Apr 1893 61
W
 11 Cross's County Team* Charity H 6 4 VIEW
15th Apr 1893 62
W
 3 Widnes* FR H 9 2 VIEW
19th Apr 1893 63
L
 11 Wigan* FR A 0 2 VIEW
22nd Apr 1893 64
D
 1 Tuebrook* FR H 4 4 VIEW
27th Apr 1893 65
W
 11 Wigan* FR H 2 0 VIEW
29th Apr 1893 66
W
 11 Rochdale Hornets* FR H 10 0 1 VIEW
2nd Sep 1893 67
W
 3 Holbeck* FR H 17 4 VIEW
9th Sep 1893 68
W
 14 Wigan* FR H 6 0 VIEW
16th Sep 1893 69
W
 3 Birkenhead Wanderers* FR H 17 4 VIEW
23rd Sep 1893 70
L
 10 Runcorn* FR A 0 10 VIEW
30th Sep 1893 71
L
 3 Lancaster* LCC A 0 6 VIEW
7th Oct 1893 72
W
 3 Aspull* LCC H 8 5 VIEW
14th Oct 1893 73
W
 3 Walkden* LCC A 3 0 VIEW
21st Oct 1893 74
W
 3 Mossley* LCC A 16 0 2 VIEW
28th Oct 1893 75
W
 3 Widnes* LCC H 3 0 VIEW
4th Nov 1893 76
W
 4 Morecambe* FR H 8 0 VIEW
11th Nov 1893 77
W
 3 Blackley* LCC A 11 0 VIEW
18th Nov 1893 78
W
 3 Tuebrook* FR H 25 3 VIEW
25th Nov 1893 79
D
 4 Swinton* FR A 6 6 VIEW
2nd Dec 1893 80
L
 4 Ulverston* LCC A 3 18 VIEW
9th Dec 1893 81
W
 4 Rochdale St. Clements* LCC H 9 0 VIEW
16th Dec 1893 82
W
 3 Kendal* FR A 10 0 1 VIEW
23rd Dec 1893 83
W
 6 Tuebrook* FR A 8 4 VIEW
25th Dec 1893 84
D
 4 Leigh* LCC H 0 0 VIEW
26th Dec 1893 85
L
 4 Wigan* FR A 3 5 VIEW
29th Dec 1893 86
L
 4 Stockport* FR A 0 6 VIEW
1st Jan 1894 87
W
 4 Runcorn* FR H 8 0 1 VIEW
13th Jan 1894 88
W
 4 Blackley* LCC H 21 5 1 VIEW
20th Jan 1894 89
W
 3 Lancaster* LCC H 21 0 VIEW
27th Jan 1894 90
D
 4 Leigh* LCC A 3 3 VIEW
3rd Feb 1894 91
W
 4 Tyldesley* FR A 4 0 VIEW
10th Feb 1894 92
W
 4 Ulverston* LCC H 11 0 VIEW
17th Feb 1894 93
W
 4 Rochdale St. Clements* LCC A 3 0 VIEW
24th Feb 1894 94
W
 4 Widnes* LCC A 14 0 VIEW
3rd Mar 1894 95
W
 4 Aspull* LCC A 17 0 VIEW
10th Mar 1894 96
W
 4 Mossley* LCC H 56 3 3 VIEW
17th Mar 1894 97
W
 4 Walkden* LCC H 18 0 VIEW
23rd Mar 1894 98
L
 4 Warrington* FR A 3 5 VIEW
24th Mar 1894 99
W
 4 Barton* FR H 5 4 VIEW
26th Mar 1894 100
W
 4 Kendal* FR H 38 0 1 VIEW
31st Mar 1894 101
W
 4 Birkenhead Wanderers* FR A 8 0 VIEW
5th Apr 1894 102
W
 4 Swinton* FR H 6 3 VIEW
7th Apr 1894 103
W
 4 Warrington* FR H 3 0 VIEW
11th Apr 1894 104
W
 4 Aspull* LCC A 9 3 VIEW
19th Apr 1894 105
W
 4 Stockport* FR H 15 10 2 VIEW
21st Apr 1894 106
W
 4 Broughton Rangers* LCCPO N 12 5 VIEW
28th Apr 1894 107
W
 4 Tyldesley* FR H 11 0 VIEW
1st Sep 1894 108
W
 3 Birkenhead Wanderers* FR H 16 3 1 VIEW
8th Sep 1894 109
W
 3 Blackley* FR H 16 0 1 VIEW
15th Sep 1894 110
W
 3 Ulverston* FR H 27 0 1 VIEW
22nd Sep 1894 111
W
 3 Tranmere Wanderers* FR H 20 0 VIEW
6th Oct 1894 112
W
 3 Tyldesley* LSC H 16 0 1 VIEW
13th Oct 1894 113
W
 3 Warrington* LSC H 9 0 VIEW
20th Oct 1894 114
L
 3 Oldham* LSC A 0 6 VIEW
27th Oct 1894 115
L
 3 Broughton Rangers* FR H 0 3 VIEW
17th Nov 1894 116
D
 4 Ulverston* FR A 0 0 VIEW
24th Nov 1894 117
W
 4 Broughton Rangers* FR A 10 3 VIEW
1st Dec 1894 118
W
 4 Millom* FR H 24 0 VIEW
8th Dec 1894 119
W
 4 Rochdale Hornets* LSC H 5 3 VIEW
15th Dec 1894 120
D
 3 New Brighton* FR A 0 0 VIEW
2nd Feb 1895 121
L
 4 Runcorn* FR H 0 7 VIEW
2nd Mar 1895 122
W
 4 Stockport* FR H 13 0 VIEW
9th Mar 1895 123
W
 4 Oldham* LSC H 8 3 1 VIEW
16th Mar 1895 124
W
 3 Salford* FR A 8 6 VIEW
23rd Mar 1895 125
D
 4 Swinton* LSC H 0 0 VIEW
30th Mar 1895 126
W
 4 Rochdale Hornets* LSC A 11 5 VIEW
12th Apr 1895 127
L
 4 Tyldesley* LSC A 0 11 VIEW
15th Apr 1895 128
W
 4 Broughton Rangers* FR H 23 0 2 VIEW
20th Apr 1895 --
L
 4 Runcorn* FR A 0 10 VIEW
25th Apr 1895 --
L
 1 Wigan* FR H 3 7 VIEW
27th Apr 1895 --
W
 4 Widnes* FR H 18 0 1 VIEW
*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub.
WINS : 86 | LOSSES : 25 | DRAWS : 20




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