James Lomas (rugby league) explained

First:RU
Jim Lomas
Fullname:James Lomas
Birth Date:26 August 1879
Birth Place:Maryport, Cumberland, England
Death Place:Crumpsall, Manchester, Lancashire, England
Height:5feet[1]
Weight:13st
Ru Club1:Maryport
Ru Year1start:1896
Ru Year1end:98
Club1:Bramley
Year1start:1900
Year1end:01
Appearances1:31
Tries1:4
Goals1:21
Points1:54
Club2:Salford
Year2start:1901
Year2end:11
Appearances2:304
Tries2:208
Goals2:464
Fieldgoals2:0
Points2:1552
Club3:Oldham
Year3start:1911
Year3end:12
Appearances3:80
Tries3:38
Goals3:37
Fieldgoals3:0
Points3:188
Club4:York
Year4start:1913
Year4end:19
Appearances4:53
Tries4:21
Goals4:68
Points4:199
Club5:Salford
Year5start:1922
Year5end:24
Appearances5:8
Tries5:0
Goals5:6
Points5:12
Teama:Cumberland
Yearastart:1899
Yearaend:12
Appearancesa:14
Triesa:6
Goalsa:8
Pointsa:34
Teamb:Lancashire
Yearbstart:1901
Yearbend:06
Appearancesb:9
Triesb:2
Goalsb:6
Pointsb:18
Teamc:England
Yearcstart:1904
Yearcend:11
Appearancesc:13
Triesc:6
Goalsc:21
Pointsc:60
Teamd:Great Britain
Yeardstart:1908
Yeardend:12
Appearancesd:7
Triesd:4
Goalsd:12
Pointsd:36
Coachteam1:Salford
Coachyear1start:1922
Coachyear1end:26
Retired:yes
Source:[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

James Lomas (26 August 1879 – 11 February 1960), also known by the nickname of "Jumbo", was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1890s, 1900s, 1910s and 1920s, and coached in the 1920s. three-quarter, and prominent goal-kicker, he captained the Great Britain national rugby league team. After starting with his home town Maryport's rugby union club, Lomas switched to rugby league, playing for Bramley, Salford, Oldham and York in a career that lasted for twenty-four years from 1899 to 1923, and saw him set new transfer fee and point scoring records. He also played representative matches for England, Lancashire and Cumberland.[2] [7] After retiring from playing Lomas coached Salford.[5]

Early life

Lomas was born on 26 August 1879 in Maryport, Cumberland, England, the son of Sarah (née Tyson) and James Lomas. He is the younger brother of Tom Smith,[8] who played association football for Preston North End and Tottenham Hotspur.

Career

Early career

Lomas started his career with his hometown rugby club, Maryport, while they were still playing rugby union. His first known appearance for the first team came on 14 November 1896 in a 3–0 defeat against Millom. Lomas remained with the club when they made the switch to rugby league and joined the Northern Rugby Football Union in March 1898. In 1899, he made his début appearance for Cumberland aged 19, scoring the only try of the match which was a 3-0 victory over Cheshire at Whitehaven.[9]

1900s

Lomas became rugby league's first £100 transfer, from Bramley to Salford in 1901[10] (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £35,890 in 2013).[11] He played for them in the 1902 Challenge Cup Final loss against Broughton Rangers. He then played in 1904's first ever international rugby league match for England against Other Nationalities. His club record for most points in a game (39), achieved for Salford against Liverpool City on 2 February 1907, still stands today. He also played in the 1904 Challenge Cup final for Salford.

Lomas was also notable for his goal-kicking style. He was the first player to stand the ball up on its end.[12] Lomas won caps for England while at Salford playing, but arriving after the start of the match, in the 3-9 defeat by Other Nationalities at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 5 April 1904, in the first ever international rugby league match.[13] in 1905 against Other Nationalities, in 1906 against Other Nationalities, in 1908 against New Zealand, and Wales, in 1909 against Australia (3 matches) and Wales.[3] Lomas also won caps for Great Britain while at Salford in 1908–09 against Australia (2 matches, both as captain), in 1910 against Australia (2 matches), Australasia, and New Zealand.[4] Lomas captained the successful first British tour of the Southern Hemisphere which began on 4 June 1910. He also represented England in 1910 against Wales.

1910s

In January 1911 he joined Oldham from Salford for a fee of £300, (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £104,600 in 2013).[11] While there in 1911 he played for England against Wales, and Australia (2 matches). During the 1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain Lomas captained Great Britain in the second and third Ashes tests. Lomas also played in Oldham's 1912 Challenge Cup Final defeat by Dewsbury.

During Lomas' time there was Salford's 5-3 victory over Huddersfield in the Championship Final during the 1913–14 season. He had also represented Cumberland and Lancashire.

1920s

As the coach of Salford, player shortages forced Lomas to play in some cup matches for Salford in the 1922–23 season, and in 1923–24 season he was again forced to make some appearances. His last match for Salford, aged 44, was against Wakefield Trinity on 29 September 1923.[14] He continued in his coaching role at Salford until the 1925–26 season.

Statistics

Lomas was a prolific points scorer throughout his career, finishing with a total of 2,312 points in all competitions.[15] Lomas' total points was an all-time career record until it was surpassed by Jim Sullivan during the 1928–29 season.

Honours

Club

Maryport

Cumberland Senior League (1): 1899–1900

Oldham

Rugby League Championship

1910–11

Representative

Lancashire

County Championship (3): 1902–03, 1903–04, 1905–06

Cumberland

County Championship (3): 1907–08, 1909–10, 1911–12

Legacy

The Courtney Goodwill Trophy, international rugby league's first, was presented for the first time in 1936 and depicted Lomas, along with other pioneering greats of the code, Jean Galia (France), Albert Baskiville (New Zealand) and Dally Messenger (Australia).[16] Lomas died in Manchester, England on 11 February 1960. He was the subject of a book, The King of Brilliance: James Lomas – a Rugby League Superstar, which was published in 2011.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Papers Past – Evening Post – 14 May 1910 – Football. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 December 2011. 1 January 2012.
  2. Web site: Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL). rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  3. Web site: England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk (RL). https://web.archive.org/web/20180401003808/http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Lomas&submit=Go&c=England. dead. 1 April 2018. englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  4. Web site: Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk (RL). https://web.archive.org/web/20180401004925/http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Lomas&submit=Go&c=GB. dead. 1 April 2018. englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  5. Web site: Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  6. Book: Morris. Graham. The King of Brilliance : James Lomas - A Rugby League Superstar. 2011. London League Publications. 978-1-903659-57-1.
  7. Web site: Statistics at orl-heritagetrust.org.uk. orl-heritagetrust.org.uk. 31 December 2019. 1 January 2020.
  8. According to Morris (2011), Lomas' mother, Sarah, had previously been married to John Smith, who was reportedly lost at sea in October 1870. Sarah subsequently met James Lomas, but they could not marry until Sarah's husband was officially declared dead. Morris surmises that "it is highly probable that Tom was their first child and, because they were not then wed, he inherited his mother's surname."
  9. News: newsandstar.co.uk . 'Name Man of the Match Award after Cumberland Legend' . News & Star . UK . CN Group . 17 March 2010 . 13 March 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120322012531/https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/rl/name-man-of-the-match-award-after-cumberland-legend-1.684397?referrerPath=sport%2F . 22 March 2012 .
  10. News: Baker. Andrew. 100 years of rugby league: From the great divide to the Super era. Independent, The. independent.co.uk. 20 August 1995. 25 September 2009.
  11. Web site: Measuring Worth – Relative Value of UK Pounds. Measuring Worth. 31 December 2014. 1 January 2015.
  12. News: Cann, W. A.. Billy Cann. 1908–09 Kangaroos blazed R. L. trail. Sydney Morning Herald, The. Australia. 9. 12 June 1946. 6 July 2009.
  13. Web site: Sean. Fagan. The First International Rugby League Match. https://web.archive.org/web/20040212034853/http://www.rl1895.com/1904.htm. dead. 12 February 2004. rl1895.com. 14 December 2014.
  14. Tom Mather (2010). "Best in the Northern Union". Pages 128–142.
  15. Lomas also scored an additional 28 points for Maryport, but these are excluded from official records
  16. http://www.nsm.org.au/Whats%20On/Latest%20News/2009/April/~/media/Files/Rugby_League_Fast_Facts.ashx “League Legends: fast facts about rugby league”