Quick Facts
Biography
William 'Bill' Kirkbride (January→March 1944 (age 72–73)) born in Workington, Cumberland, is an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, and coach of the 1970s and 1980s, playing at representative level for Cumberland, and at club level for United Steel ARLFC, Workington Town, Halifax, Castleford, Salford, Leigh (Loan), Brisbane Souths, Wakefield Trinity (Heritage #831), York, and Rochdale Hornets, as a Prop, or Second-row, i.e. number 8 or 10, or, 11 or 12, and coaching at club level for Wakefield Trinity, York, and Rochdale Hornets.
Playing career
County honours
Bill Kirkbride won caps for Cumberland while at Workington Town making his début against Lancashire at Derwent Park in 1967, playing in the 17-15 victory over Australia at Derwent Park in 1967, and while at Castleford playing Left-Second-row, i.e. number 11 in the 3-42 defeat by Yorkshire at Hull Kingston Rovers' stadium on 1 October 1969, and playing Left-Second-row in the 15-21 defeat by Yorkshire at Whitehaven's stadium on 14 September 1970.
Challenge Cup final appearances
Bill Kirkbride played Left-Second-row, i.e. number 11, and won the Lance Todd Trophy in Castleford's 7-2 victory over Wigan in the 1969–70 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 9 May 1970.
Players No.6 Trophy final appearances
Bill Kirkbride played Right-Second-row, i.e. number 12, in Salford's 7-12 defeat by Leeds in the 1972-73 Players No.6 Trophy final at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 24 March 1973.
Club career
Bill Kirkbride made his début for Workington Town playing Second-row alongside fellow Cumbrian Frank Foster in the 11-10 victory over Widnes at Naughton Park in the last game of the 1963–64 season on Tuesday 12 May 1964, he joined Halifax in 1968 for a fee of £6,000 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £165,900 in 2013), he made his début for Halifax against Leigh Miners Welfare[1] in the Challenge Cup on Saturday 3 February 1968, he joined Castleford in 1969 for a fee of £5,750, he joined Salford in 1971 for a fee of £6,000.
Coaching career
Challenge Cup final
Bill Kirkbride was the coach in Wakefield Trinity's 3-12 defeat by Widnes in the 1978–79 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 5 May 1979.
Rugby Football League Championship Second Division
Bill Kirkbride was the coach in York's victory in the 1980–81 Rugby Football League Championship Second Division.
Honoured at Castleford Tigers
Bill Kirkbride is a Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee.