Albert Blan (13 January 1930 in Wigan, Lancashire – 27 September 2015[3]) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, and coached in the 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for England, and at club level for Wigan (A-Team) and Swinton, and coached at club level for Swinton. Blan was the Lions' astute captain during much of his service with the club leading them to their two successive First Division Championships of 1962–63 and 1963–64.[1] Blan was also a skilled place kicker whether a penalty or a conversion. Initially a fullback, until the late 1950s he usually played in the Centre, i.e. number 3 or 4, but as he lost pace he successfully moved to loose forward, i.e. number 13, where his leadership and notable quick thinking football brain sparked off many a try scoring movement. Many Swinton fans often referred to him as "Brainy Blan", and with very good reason.
In the late 1960s/early 1970s Albert Blan coached Swinton, including an 11–2 victory over Leigh in the 1969LancashireCounty Cup Final during the 1969–70 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 1 November 1969, an achievement which alluded him as team captain in the three finals against St. Helens in consecutive seasons, 1960–61, 1961–62 and 1962–63.
albert, blan, january, 1930, wigan, lancashire, september, 2015, english, professional, rugby, league, footballer, played, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, coached, 1960s, 1970s, played, representative, level, england, club, level, wigan, team, swinton, coached, club, lev. Albert Blan 13 January 1930 in Wigan Lancashire 27 September 2015 3 was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s 1950s and 1960s and coached in the 1960s and 1970s He played at representative level for England and at club level for Wigan A Team and Swinton and coached at club level for Swinton Blan was the Lions astute captain during much of his service with the club leading them to their two successive First Division Championships of 1962 63 and 1963 64 1 Blan was also a skilled place kicker whether a penalty or a conversion Initially a fullback until the late 1950s he usually played in the Centre i e number 3 or 4 but as he lost pace he successfully moved to loose forward i e number 13 where his leadership and notable quick thinking football brain sparked off many a try scoring movement Many Swinton fans often referred to him as Brainy Blan and with very good reason Albert BlanPersonal informationFull nameAlbert BlanBorn 1930 01 13 13 January 1930Wigan Lancashire EnglandDied27 September 2015 2015 09 27 aged 85 Chorley Lancashire EnglandPlaying informationPositionFullback Centre Stand off Loose forwardClubYears Team Pld T G FG P1949 64 Swinton 447 75 744 0 1713RepresentativeYears Team Pld T G FG P1953 England 1 0 0 0 0Coaching informationClubYears Team Gms W D L W 1968 71 Swinton RLFC 0 0 0 0Source 1 2 Contents 1 Playing career 1 1 International honours 1 2 Championship appearances 1 3 County League appearances 2 Coaching career 3 Genealogical information 4 Death 5 References 6 External linksPlaying career EditInternational honours Edit Blan won a cap for England while at Swinton in 1953 against France 2 Championship appearances Edit Blan played and was captain in Swinton s victories in the Championship during the 1962 63 season and the 1963 64 season These were also the only two seasons between the 1905 06 season and the 1972 73 season in which a playoff wasn t used to determine the Championship winners County League appearances Edit Blan played and was captain in Swinton s victory in the Lancashire County League during the 1960 61 season Blan played loose forward and was captain in Swinton s 9 15 defeat by St Helens in the 1960 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1960 61 season at Central Park Wigan on Saturday 29 October 1960 played loose forward and was captain in the 9 25 defeat by St Helens in the 1961 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1961 62 season at Central Park Wigan on Saturday 11 November 1961 and played loose forward and was captain in the 4 7 defeat by St Helens in the 1962 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1962 63 season at Central Park Wigan on Saturday 27 October 1962 Coaching career EditIn the late 1960s early 1970s Albert Blan coached Swinton including an 11 2 victory over Leigh in the 1969 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1969 70 season at Central Park Wigan on Saturday 1 November 1969 an achievement which alluded him as team captain in the three finals against St Helens in consecutive seasons 1960 61 1961 62 and 1962 63 Genealogical information EditBlan was the younger brother of both Wigan and Salford rugby league loose forward Jackie Blan 1 and rugby league footballer Billy Blan Death EditBlan died in Chorley Hospital on Sunday 27 September 2015 aged 85 years 4 References Edit a b Statistics at rugbyleagueproject org rugbyleagueproject org 31 December 2017 Retrieved 1 January 2018 a b England Statistics at englandrl co uk englandrl co uk 31 December 2017 Archived from the original on 2 December 2013 Retrieved 1 January 2018 Birth details at freebmd org uk freebmd org uk 31 December 2011 Retrieved 1 January 2012 Albert Blan Funeral Details amp Obituary via web archive org swintonlionsrlfc com 31 December 2017 Archived from the original on 2 January 2016 Retrieved 1 January 2018 Sporting positionsPreceded byDai Moses1967 1968 Coach Swinton Lions1968 1971 Succeeded byDavid Mortimer 1971 1972External links Edit archived by web archive org Championship winning team of 1964 with the Cup on his head Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Albert Blan amp oldid 1121305266, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
