Harry Beverley (rugby league, born 1947)

Harry Beverley (11 April 1947 – 29 March 2022) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Dewsbury, Workington Town (two spells), Carlisle and Fulham RLFC, as a prop^[3]

Harry Beverley

Personal information
Full name	Harry Glenn Beverley^[1]
Born	11 April 1947 Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died	29 March 2022 (aged 74)^[1]
Playing information
Position	Prop
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1971–77 Dewsbury 1977–80 Workington Town 1980–84 Fulham RLFC 106 3 0 0 9 1984–84 Carlisle 1984–86 Workington Town Total 106 3 0 0 9 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1975–79 Yorkshire 4 1975–79 England 2 0 0 0 0
Source: ^[2]

Background

Beverley was born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. He died on 29 March 2022, aged 74.^[1]

Playing career

Beverley's professional career began in 1971 when he joined Dewsbury. Two years later Beverley played prop in Dewsbury's 22–13 victory over Leeds in the Championship Final during the 1972–73 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 19 May 1973.^[4] Another final appearance was in the 22–2 defeat by St. Helens in the 1975 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 16 December 1975.

After six seasons with Dewsbury, Beverley joined Workington in 1978 and played in two Lancashire Cup finals, ending up on the losing side both times. Workington lost 13–15 to Widnes in the 1978–79 Lancashire Cup Final at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 7 October 1978 and again lost to Widnes the following year 0–11 at The Willows, Salford on Saturday 8 December 1979.

In September 1980, Beverley was signed by Fulham RLFC for a fee of £20,000,^[5] becoming a member of the team in their inaugural season. He spent four seasons in London before returning to Cumbria. After a short spell with Carlisle, he ended his career with another year at Workington, retiring in 1986.

International and representative honours

Beverley made four appearances for Yorkshire in the County Championship.^[3]

Two international caps for England came his way. The first while at Dewsbury when he played prop in England's 0–25 defeat by Australia in the 1975 Rugby League World Cup Final at Headingley, Leeds on 12 November 1975.^[2] The second was in 1979 in the 15–7 victory over Wales during the 1979 European Rugby League Championship.^[2]

References

1. Dempsey, Bridget (7 April 2022). "Tributes paid to a 'gentle giant' of rugby league". Times and Star. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
2. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
3. "International prop who played key role in Dewsbury's perfect day". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3233. 11 April 2022. p. 32.
4. "Harry Beverley". Forty20. Vol. 12, no. 4. April 2022. p. 41.
5. Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1981). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1981-82. Rothmans Publications. p. 12. ISBN 978-0-907574-07-1.