Harry Archer (rugby)

Henry "Harry" Archer (26 November 1932[1] – 24 June 2019[2]), also known by the nickname of "The Architect", was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s, and coached rugby league in the 1980s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Workington RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain (non-Test matches), and Cumberland, and at club level for Dearham ARLFC (in Dearham), Grasslot and Glasson Rangers ARLFC (in Grasslot, Maryport/Glasson, Maryport, now known as Glasson Rangers ARLFC), Workington Town and Whitehaven, as a stand-off, i.e. number 6, and coached (jointly with Bill Smith)[3] at club level for Workington Town.[4][5]

Harry Archer
Personal information
Full nameHenry Archer
Born(1932-11-26)26 November 1932
Dearham, Cumbria, England
Died24 June 2019(2019-06-24) (aged 86)
Whitehaven, Cumbria, England
Playing information
Weight13 st 8 lb (86 kg)
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1948–52 Workington RFC
Rugby league
PositionStand-off
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1953–67 Workington Town 385 64 8 208
Whitehaven 7
Total 392 64 8 0 208
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1955–67 Cumberland 14
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1983–84 Workington Town 34 24 2 8 71

Early life

Archer was born in Dearham, Cumberland, England. His birth was registered in Cockermouth district, Cumberland. He undertook his national service in the RAF Flying Training Command. He owned a Grocery Store om Main Road in Seaton.

Rugby union playing career

County Cup Final appearances

Archer played in Workington RFC's 1952–53 Cumberland Cup Final.

Rugby league playing career

International honours

Archer represented Great Britain (RL) while at Workington in non-Test matches on the 1958 tour of Australia, and New Zealand.

Four Workington players were selected for the 1958 tour; Harry Archer, Brian Edgar, Ike Southward and Bill Wookey (later of Barrow).

County honours

Archer made his début, and scored a try for Cumberland against Lancashire at Derwent Park, Workington during the 1955–56 season, and he played in Cumberland's victories in the County Championship during the 1961–62 season, 1963–64 season, 1965–66 season and 1966–67 season.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Archer played stand-off in Workington Town's 9–13 defeat by Wigan in the 1958 Challenge Cup Final during the 1957–58 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 10 May 1958.[6] He was concussed within the first ten-minutes of the match by a stiff-arm tackle by Mick Sullivan, and had to leave the playing field, and although he returned to the match, he could not remember anything about the rest of the match.[7]

Championship final appearances

Archer played in Workington Town's 3–20 defeat by Hull F.C. in the Championship Final during the 1957–58 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 17 May 1958.

Western Division Championship Final appearances

Archer played stand-off in Workington Town's 9–9 draw with Widnes in the Western Division Championship Final during the 1962–63 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 10 November 1962, in front of a crowd of 13,588, and he played stand-off in the 10–0 victory over Widnes in the Western Division Championship Final replay during the 1962–63 season on Wednesday 21 November 1962.[8]

Club career

Archer signed for Workington Town on 30 March 1953, the half-back pairing of Harry Archer and Sol Roper was initially made in the 29–15 victory over Dewsbury at Crown Flatt, Dewsbury on Saturday 24 September 1955, the following week they played together against New Zealand, the pairing lasted for more than a 10-years and over 300 matches, although not prolific try-scorers, they created hundreds of try-scoring opportunities for, e.g. Ray Glastonbury, Piet Pretorius and Ike Southward, Archer played his last match for Workington Town against Huddersfield on Saturday 19 November 1966, he was transferred from Workington Town to Whitehaven, he made seven appearances for Whitehaven before retiring.

Rugby league coaching career

Club career

Archer coached (jointly with Bill Smith[3]) Workington Town to promotion from the Second Division during the 1983–84 season.

Honoured at Workington Town

Archer is a Workington Town Hall Of Fame Inductee.[9]

Genealogical information

Archer was the son of Robert P. Archer, the rugby league half-back who played in the 1940s for England (Amateurs, now British Amateur Rugby League Association), Dearham ARLFC and Workington Town.

References
  1. "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. Harry Archer
  3. "Bill Smith Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  4. "» Legends Evening 60's". sandylonning.u-net.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  5. "Workington Town tribute following death of legendary half-back Harry Archer". newsandstar.co.uk. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  6. "1957–1958 Challenge Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  7. "Nostalgia: Harry and Sol had formula for a perfect partnership". Whitehavenews.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  8. "Workington and Hull KR triumph in the regions". totalrl.com. 31 December 2007. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  9. "Hall of Fame Week 9 - 'The Architect' Harry Archer!". townrlfc.com. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
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