Frank Stirrup

Francis "Frank" Stirrup (1925[2] – 2 February 2013[3]), also known by the nickname of "Mr Football", was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played at representative level for Lancashire, and at club level for Culcheth ARLFC (near Warrington), Leigh (Heritage № 538), Salford and Oldham (captain) (Heritage № 562), as a fullback, wing, stand-off, or scrum-half, i.e. number 1, 2 or 5, 6, or 7.[1]

Frank Stirrup
Personal information
Full nameFrancis Stirrup
Born1925
Leigh, England
Died2 February 2013 (aged 88)
Playing information
PositionFullback, Wing, Stand-off, Scrum-half
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1946–48 Leigh 12 1 0 0 3
≤1950–50 Salford
1951–60 Oldham 224 49 8 163
Total 236 50 8 0 166
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Lancashire
Source: [1]

Personal life

Frank Stirrup's birth was registered in Leigh, Lancashire, England. He was the son of Oliver Stirrup, who also played rugby. In 1950, he signed up for Oldham from Salford. His career debuted on January 21, 1951.[4]

Death

On 2 February 2013, Frank died. His funeral service was held at the St Josephs R.C. Church.[5]

Playing career

Championship final appearances

Frank Stirrup played in Oldham's 3–7 defeat by Warrington in the Championship Final during the 1954–55 season, and played, and was captain, in the 15–14 victory over Hull F.C. in the Championship Final during the 1956–57 season. After the victory, he became the first person to Oldham skipper to lift a trophy since a victory that happened 20 years before.[6]

County Cup Final appearances

About Frank Stirrup's time, there was Oldham's 2–12 defeat by Barrow in the 1954 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1954–55 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 23 October 1954, he played stand-off, and was captain in Oldham's 10–3 victory over St. Helens in the 1956 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1956–57 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 20 October 1956, through injury he missed the 13–8 victory over Wigan in the 1957 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1957–58 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 19 October 1957, and played scrum-half, and was captain in the 12–2 victory over St. Helens in the 1958 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1958–59 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 25 October 1958.

Club career

Frank Stirrup was transferred from Salford to Oldham during November 1950, and he made his début for Oldham against Belle Vue Rangers on Saturday 20 January 1951.

Honoured at Oldham

Frank Stirrup is an Oldham Hall Of Fame Inductee.[7]

References
  1. "Frank Stirrup Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. Frank Stirrup
  4. "StackPath". www.culchetheagles.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  5. "Frank Stirrup". Leigh Journal. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  6. "Frank Stirrup - ORL Heritage Trust". orl-heritagetrust.org.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  7. "Oldham Hall of Fame". orl-heritagetrust.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
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