Alan Hardisty


Alan Hardisty, also known by the nickname of "Chuck", is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and coached in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and Yorkshire, and at club level for Castleford and Leeds as a, i.e. number 6, and coached at club level for Castleford and York.

Background

Alan Hardisty's birth was registered in Pontefract district, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, he was a pupil, and he played alongside Clive Dickinson and Johnny Ward in the school rugby league team, at Ashton Road Secondary School, Castleford, and he owned a Morris Oxford.

Playing career

International honours

Alan Hardisty won caps for Great Britain while at Castleford in 1964 against France, in 1965 against France and New Zealand, in 1966 against Australia, and New Zealand, in 1967 against France, and in 1970 against Australia.

County honours

Alan Hardisty won caps playing for Yorkshire while at Castleford in the 8-23 defeat by Cumberland at Belle Vue, Wakefield on 11 September 1961, the 14-6 victory over Cumberland at the Recreation Ground, Whitehaven on 9 September 1964, scoring 3-tries in the 33-10 victory over Lancashire at the Boulevard, Hull on 23 September 64, the 3-19 defeat by Cumberland at Craven Park, Hull on 8 September 1965, and scoring 1-drop goal in the 34-8 victory over Lancashire at Wheldon Road, Castleford on 24 February 1971.

Championship Final appearances

Alan Hardisty played, and was captain in Leeds’ 9-5 victory over St. Helens in the Championship Final during the 1971–72 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 20 May 1972, and was sent off in Leeds’ 13-22 defeat by Dewsbury in the Championship Final during the 1972–73 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 19 May 1973.

County League appearances

Alan Hardisty played in Castleford's victory in the Yorkshire County League during the 1964–65 season.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Alan Hardisty played, scored a try, and was captain in Castleford’s 11-6 victory over Salford in the 1968–69 Challenge Cup Final during the 1968–69 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 17 May 1969, in front of a crowd of 97,939, played , and was captain in the 7-2 victory over Wigan in the 1969–70 Challenge Cup Final during the 1969–70 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 9 May 1970, in front of a crowd of 95,255, and played in Leeds' 13-16 defeat by St. Helens in the 1971–72 Challenge Cup Final during the 1971–72 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1972, in front of a crowd of 89,495.

County Cup Final appearances

Alan Hardisty played, and scored 2-goals in Castleford's 11-22 defeat by Leeds in the 1968–69 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1968–69 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Saturday 19 October 1968, played, and scored a try in Leeds' 36-9 victory over Dewsbury in the 1972–73 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1972–73 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 7 October 1972, and played in the 7-2 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1973–74 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1973–74 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 20 October 1973.

BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances

Alan Hardisty played in Castleford's 4-0 victory over St. Helens in the 1965 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1965–66 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 14 December 1965, played in the 7-2 victory over Swinton in the 1966 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1966–67 season at Wheldon Road, Castleford on Tuesday 20 December 1966, and played in the 8-5 victory over Leigh in the 1967 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1967–68 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 16 January 1968.

Player's No.6 Trophy Final appearances

Alan Hardisty played in Leeds' 12-7 victory over Salford in the 1972–73 Player's No.6 Trophy Final during the 1972–73 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 24 March 1973.

Testimonial match

Alan Hardisty's Testimonial match at Castleford took place in 1968.

Club career

With 401-appearances, Alan Hardisty is fourth in Castleford's all-time appearance list behind John Joyner, who has 613-appearances, and Artie Atkinson and Dean Sampson who both have 431-appearances.

Career records

Alan Hardisty holds Castleford's most tries in a career record with 206.

Coaching career

Club career

Alan Hardisty was the coach of Castleford, his first game in charge was on Friday 4 December 1970, and his last game in charge was on Friday 23 April 1971.

Honoured at Castleford

Alan Hardisty is a Tigers Hall of Fame inductee.

Honoured by Arriva Yorkshire

honoured 13 rugby league footballers on Thursday 20 August 2009, at a ceremony at the Jungle, the home of the Castleford. A fleet of new buses were named after the 'Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team'. Members of the public nominated the best ever rugby league footballers to have played in West Yorkshire, supported by local rugby league journalists; James Deighton from BBC Leeds, and Tim Butcher, editor of Rugby League World. The 'Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team' is; Trevor Foster MBE, Neil Fox MBE, Albert Goldthorpe, Alan Hardisty, Stan Kielty, Lewis Jones, Roger Millward MBE, Malcolm Reilly, Garry Schofield, Keith Senior, David Topliss, Dave Valentine and Adrian Vowles.

Genealogical information

Alan Hardisty's marriage to Molly was registered during second ¼ 1963 in Pontefract district. They had children; Ian Michael Hardisty.