John Fish
Encyclopedia
John "Jack"/"Jackie" Fish was an English
professional rugby league
footballer of the 1890s and 1900s who at representative level played for England
, and at club level for Warrington
, playing at , i.e. number 2 or 5.
while at Warrington in 1904 against Other Nations, in 1906 against Other Nations, and in 1908 against Wales.
Jack Fish broke his leg in 1906 match against Other Nations.
Jack Fish was Warrington's first superstar. Born in Runcorn in 1880, he moved to Lostock Gralam where he was soon noticed, and a trial game was organised. Legend has it that as he entered the committee room he was confronted with a table heaped with £50 in silver, and the signing was then a mere formality.
He played in a friendly at home to Barrow on 15/10/1898 and scored from the half-way. His league debut was the following week in a 3-2 victory at Rochdale, and he went on to be the clubs leading try scorer that season' and for the following six seasons! Jack was a stockily built man, at only and . He had fantastic acceleration and a tricky swerve, but he could also stop dead in his tracks whilst running at full speed, which left many would-be tacklers whizzing into touch! He once accepted a £100 sprint challenge with a flying winger called Buckie Green from Wigan, at Springfield Park, and won in a canter.
He was idolised in the town, and supporters could be seen wearing metal fish badges at games. When it came to cup ties he was put in the care of Heesom, a local professional sprinter, who gave the winger special preparation. He was prominent in Challenge Cup Finals, scoring twice including one from half way in 1905 as Warrington beat Hull K.R. 6-0 to win the trophy for the first time.
Two years later, as captain, he scored a sensational try hacking on a wayward Oldham pass, dribbling forward and then picking up the bouncing ball to swerve round the full back, to complete a 17-3 victory.
His testimonial match in 1910 raised over £268, before playing his final match at Coventry in a First Round Challenge Cup match, where he scored his last try to help his club into the next round in an 18-10 victory.His representative honours amounted to playing twice for England and 16 times for Lancashire for whom he scored and amazing 16 tries and 12 goals.
Fish died on 23 October 1940, but he is still the only player in the clubs history to score more than 200 tries and goals.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
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 of the 1890s and 1900s who at representative level played for England
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...
, and at club level for Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
, playing at , i.e. number 2 or 5.
International honours
Jack Fish won caps for EnglandEngland 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...
while at Warrington in 1904 against Other Nations, in 1906 against Other Nations, and in 1908 against Wales.
Jack Fish broke his leg in 1906 match against Other Nations.
Warrington Wolves
First game: 22/10/1898, Last game: 18/2/1911, Played: 321, Tries: 215, Goals: 262, Points: 1,169Jack Fish was Warrington's first superstar. Born in Runcorn in 1880, he moved to Lostock Gralam where he was soon noticed, and a trial game was organised. Legend has it that as he entered the committee room he was confronted with a table heaped with £50 in silver, and the signing was then a mere formality.
He played in a friendly at home to Barrow on 15/10/1898 and scored from the half-way. His league debut was the following week in a 3-2 victory at Rochdale, and he went on to be the clubs leading try scorer that season' and for the following six seasons! Jack was a stockily built man, at only and . He had fantastic acceleration and a tricky swerve, but he could also stop dead in his tracks whilst running at full speed, which left many would-be tacklers whizzing into touch! He once accepted a £100 sprint challenge with a flying winger called Buckie Green from Wigan, at Springfield Park, and won in a canter.
He was idolised in the town, and supporters could be seen wearing metal fish badges at games. When it came to cup ties he was put in the care of Heesom, a local professional sprinter, who gave the winger special preparation. He was prominent in Challenge Cup Finals, scoring twice including one from half way in 1905 as Warrington beat Hull K.R. 6-0 to win the trophy for the first time.
Two years later, as captain, he scored a sensational try hacking on a wayward Oldham pass, dribbling forward and then picking up the bouncing ball to swerve round the full back, to complete a 17-3 victory.
His testimonial match in 1910 raised over £268, before playing his final match at Coventry in a First Round Challenge Cup match, where he scored his last try to help his club into the next round in an 18-10 victory.His representative honours amounted to playing twice for England and 16 times for Lancashire for whom he scored and amazing 16 tries and 12 goals.
Fish died on 23 October 1940, but he is still the only player in the clubs history to score more than 200 tries and goals.