Leslie Chamberlain
Encyclopedia
Leslie "Les" Chamberlain (birth registered January→March in Leeds
district) is a former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1950s and '60s who at club level has played for Wakefield Trinity
, Bramley
, Hull Kingston Rovers
, and Leeds
, playing at , , i.e. number 8 or 10, 11 or 12, or, 13, during the era of contested scrums.
final at Wembley Stadium on 14 May 1960.
’s 16-10 victory over Huddersfield
in the 1960–61 Yorkshire Cup
final at Headingley Stadium, Leeds
on the 29 October 1960.
’s 17-12 victory over Australia in the tour match at Belle Vue
on 10 December 1956.
’s Yorkshire Cup
final teams of 1956 and 1958. A broken leg halted his career in October, 1958 and he took no part in senior football during the following season. He came back into our pack in October, 1959, and played in our Wembley side and also in the N.R.L. Championship Final. Last season, mainly at prop forward, he made 25 appearances. His full playing record with us is:- Appearances 110. Tries 14. Points 42."
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
district) is a 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 of the 1950s and '60s who at club level has played for Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
, Bramley
Bramley Buffaloes
Bramley Buffaloes is a rugby league club from the Bramley area of West Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. Previously known simply as Bramley RLFC, the club is a famous name in rugby league, having existed prior to the formation of the Northern Union in 1895...
, Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
, and Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
, playing at , , i.e. number 8 or 10, 11 or 12, or, 13, during the era of contested scrums.
Challenge Cup final appearances
Les Chamberlain played left-, i.e. number 12 in the 38-5 victory over Hull in the 1959–60 Challenge CupChallenge 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 at Wembley Stadium on 14 May 1960.
County Cup Final Appearances
Les Chamberlain played Tighthead-, i.e. number 10, in Wakefield TrinityWakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
’s 16-10 victory over Huddersfield
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
in the 1960–61 Yorkshire Cup
Rugby league county cups
Historically, British rugby league clubs competed for the Lancashire Cup and the Yorkshire Cup, known collectively as the county cups. The leading rugby clubs in Yorkshire had played in a cup competition for several years prior to the schism of 1895...
final at Headingley Stadium, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
on the 29 October 1960.
Notable Tour Match Appearances
Les Chamberlain played /, i.e. number 13, in Wakefield TrinityWakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
’s 17-12 victory over Australia in the tour match at Belle Vue
Belle Vue (Wakefield)
Belle Vue is a rugby league stadium in Wakefield, England. It is the home stadium of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. It is located beside the A638 Doncaster Road, approximately one mile south of Wakefield City Centre.- Description :Currently, the East stand has a covered stand with seating, with some...
on 10 December 1956.
Contemporaneous Article Extract
"Les Chamberlain, a product of Leeds and District Amateur R.L., made his senior début in December 1955. He played regularly at loose-forward and in the second row, appearing in TrinityWakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
’s Yorkshire Cup
Rugby league county cups
Historically, British rugby league clubs competed for the Lancashire Cup and the Yorkshire Cup, known collectively as the county cups. The leading rugby clubs in Yorkshire had played in a cup competition for several years prior to the schism of 1895...
final teams of 1956 and 1958. A broken leg halted his career in October, 1958 and he took no part in senior football during the following season. He came back into our pack in October, 1959, and played in our Wembley side and also in the N.R.L. Championship Final. Last season, mainly at prop forward, he made 25 appearances. His full playing record with us is:- Appearances 110. Tries 14. Points 42."