George Ballantyne


George Ballantyne is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Yorkshire, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity, Bramley, York, Keighley, Hunslet and Castleford, as a, or i.e. number 8 or 10, or 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums.

Background

George Ballantyne was born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.

Playing career

County honours

George Ballantyne won caps for Yorkshire while at Wakefield Trinity against Cumberland at Bramley's stadium 1973, and while at Castleford he played left-, i.e. number 8, in the 7-23 defeat by Lancashire at Widnes' stadium on 27 September 1978.

County Cup Final appearances

George Ballantyne played as an interchange/substitute, i.e. number 15, in Wakefield Trinity's 2-7 defeat by Leeds in the 1973 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1973–74 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 20 October 1973, and played, i.e. number 8, in the 13-16 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1974 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1974–75 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 26 October 1974.

Club career

George Ballantyne made his début for Wakefield Trinity playing left-, i.e. number 11, in the 14-23 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Monday 27 January 1969, he is the youngest forward to make his début for Wakefield Trinity aged 16-years and 8-months, he was transferred from Wakefield Trinity to Castleford in 1978 for a then Castleford club record fee of £11,000.

Genealogical information

George Ballantyne is the younger brother of Paul Ballantyne, and Pauline Ballantyne, and the older brother of June Ballantyne, and is the grandfather of the for Leeds Rhinos, Hunslet Parkside Hawks, and Wakefield Trinity, James Healey.