Karl Fairbank

Karl Fairbank (born 1 June 1963) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s, and coached in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and at club level for Bradford Northern, as a prop, or second-row, and has coached at club level for Halifax Under-21s.

Karl Fairbank
Personal information
Born (1963-06-01) 1 June 1963
Playing information
PositionProp, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1986–96 Bradford Northern 332 110 0 0 440
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1987–94 Great Britain 16 2 0 0 8
Source: [1][2][3]

Playing career

Bradford Northern/Bradford Bulls

Fairbank signed for Bradford Northern from amateur club Elland in July 1986.[4] He spent his entire professional career at the club, scoring 110 tries in over 300 appearances.

Fairbank played second-row, and scored a try in Bradford Northern's 12–12 draw with Castleford in the 1987 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1987–88 season at Headingley, Leeds on 17 October 1987, and played in the 11–2 victory in the replay at Elland Road, Leeds on 31 October 1987. He also played in the 20–14 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1989 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1989–90 season at Headingley, Leeds on 5 November 1989.

Fairbank played second-row, in Bradford Northern's 15–8 defeat by Wigan in the 1992–93 Regal Trophy Final during the 1992–93 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 23 January 1993.[5]

Fairbank was an substitute in Bradford Bulls's 32–40 defeat by St. Helens in the 1996 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on 26 April 1996.[6]

Fairbank announced his retirement at the end of the inaugural Super League season in 1996, with the club retiring his squad number, the number 21 shirt, in his honour.[7] Bradford have since re-used the squad number.[8]

Fairbank was included in Bradford's, 'Millennium Masters', 'Bull Masters', and in August 2007 he was named in the 'Team Of The Century',[9][10][11] one of only six players have been included in all three lists.

International honours

Fairbank won caps for Great Britain while at Bradford Northern in the 1985 - 1988 Rugby League World Cup in 1987 against Papua New Guinea (sub), in 1990 against France, Papua New Guinea, and Australia (sub), in 1991 against France, in the 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup in 1991 against Papua New Guinea (sub), in 1992 against France, in the 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup in 1992 against France, in 1992 against Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand (sub), in 1993 against France (sub), and New Zealand (3 matches), and in 1994 against France.[1] He was selected to go on the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Personal life

Karl Fairbank is son of the rugby league footballer for Huddersfield and Leeds; Jack Fairbank, and brother of the rugby league footballer for Leeds, Oldham and Swinton; John Fairbank, the rugby league footballer for Halifax; Dick Fairbank, and the rugby league footballer for Oldham and Keighley; Mark Fairbank, and the uncle to Mark's son, the rugby league forward; Jacob Fairbank.

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. Rothman Rugby League Yearbooks 1987–96
  3. "Player Summary: Karl Fairbank". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  4. Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1987). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1987-88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 366. ISBN 978-0-356-14620-1.
  5. "23rd January 1993: Bradford 8 Wigan 15 (Regal Trophy Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  6. "steveprescottfoundation.co.uk". Steve Prescott Stats. Steve Prescott Foundation. Archived from the original on 8 August 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  7. "Karl quits - so does his shirt". The Mirror. London. 13 December 1996.
  8. "Potter wants players who have missed out on squad numbers to prove their worth". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 13 January 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  9. "The Millennium Masters - Substitutes". Bradford Bulls. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  10. "Bull Masters - Karl Fairbank". Bradford Bulls. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  11. "Team of the Century". Bradford Bulls. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
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