Geoff Pimblett
Encyclopedia
Geoff Pimblett is an English
former professional rugby league
footballer whose career rose to prominence in the late 1970s. He played for St. Helens as fullback and captain, and also represented England internationally.
A history teacher by profession, Pimblett signed from rugby union with St. Helens in early 1971 aged 26. Inititally playing somewhat of a utility back role with the club, he soon established himself at fullback, and later, as goal-kicker. He helped St. Helens to victory in the 1972 Challenge Cup
final. Pimblett went on to become the first player to be have received both the Lance Todd Trophy
(in the 1976 Challenge Cup
final) and the Harry Sunderland Trophy
(in the 1977 Premiership
final).
Pimblett travelled with St Helens to Sydney for the unofficial 1976 World Club Challenge
match against their champions, Eastern Suburbs Roosters.
In 1978 he played one match for England's national team
, a record 60-point thrashing of Wales
, in which he scored a try and kicked nine goals, setting a new team record for most goals in a match for England.
After retiring, Pimblett became the president of the Saints' Past Players Association.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer whose career rose to prominence in the late 1970s. He played for St. Helens as fullback and captain, and also represented England internationally.
A history teacher by profession, Pimblett signed from rugby union with St. Helens in early 1971 aged 26. Inititally playing somewhat of a utility back role with the club, he soon established himself at fullback, and later, as goal-kicker. He helped St. Helens to victory in the 1972 Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final. Pimblett went on to become the first player to be have received both the Lance Todd Trophy
Lance Todd Trophy
The Lance Todd Trophy is awarded to the Man-of-the-Match in rugby league football's Challenge Cup Final.The trophy was introduced in 1946, in memory of Lance Todd, the New Zealand-born player and administrator, who was killed in a road accident during the Second World War...
(in the 1976 Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final) and the Harry Sunderland Trophy
Harry Sunderland Trophy
The Harry Sunderland Trophy is awarded to the Man-of-the-Match in the Super League Grand Final by the Rugby League Writers' Association. It is named after Harry Sunderland, who was an Australian rugby league football administrator in both Australia and the United Kingdom...
(in the 1977 Premiership
Rugby League Premiership
The Rugby League Premiership was a competition for British rugby league clubs that operated between 1973 and 1995. As the Super League Premiership the competition continued to operate until 1997....
final).
Pimblett travelled with St Helens to Sydney for the unofficial 1976 World Club Challenge
1976 World Club Challenge
The inaugural World Club Challenge was actually an unofficial trial of the concept, with 1975 NSWRFL season premiers, Eastern Suburbs playing against 1975–76 Northern Rugby Football League season Challenge Cup winners St. Helens...
match against their champions, Eastern Suburbs Roosters.
In 1978 he played one match for England's national team
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
, a record 60-point thrashing of Wales
Wales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
, in which he scored a try and kicked nine goals, setting a new team record for most goals in a match for England.
After retiring, Pimblett became the president of the Saints' Past Players Association.