Malcolm Dixon (rugby league) explained

Mal Dixon
Fullname:Malcolm Dixon
Birth Date:2 December 1939
Birth Place:Lower Agbrigg, Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Height:6feet
Weight:18st
Year1start:1957
Year1end:72
Appearances1:315+5
Tries1:47
Goals1:41
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:223
Club2:York
Year2start:1972
Year2end:74
Club3:Featherstone Rovers
Year3start:1974
Year3end:75
Club4:York
Year4start:1975
Year4end:≥75
Teama:Yorkshire
Yearastart:1961
Appearancesa:1
Teamb:England
Yearbstart:1970
Appearancesb:1
Triesb:0
Goalsb:0
Fieldgoalsb:0
Pointsb:0
Teamc:Great Britain
Yearcstart:1962
Yearcend:64
Appearancesc:2
Triesc:1
Goalsc:0
Fieldgoalsc:0
Pointsc:3
Coachteam1:York
Coachyear1start:1975
Coachyear1end:≥78
New:yes
Retired:yes
Updated:28 March 2018
Source:[1] [2] [3] [4]

Malcolm "Mal" Dixon (born 2 December 1939) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and coached in the 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Featherstone Rovers (two spells) (captain and vice-captain) and York (two spells), as an occasional goal-kicking,[1] and coached at club level for York.[4]

Background

Malcolm Dixon was born in Normanton, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, his birth was registered in Lower Agbrigg, Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.

Playing career

International honours

Mal Dixon won a cap for England while at Featherstone Rovers in 1970 against Wales,[2] and won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone Rovers in 1962 against France, and in 1964 against France.[3]

County honours

Mal Dixon won a cap for Yorkshire while at Featherstone Rovers; during the 1960–61 season against Cumberland.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Mal Dixon played at in Featherstone Rovers' 17–12 victory over Barrow in the 1966–67 Challenge Cup Final during the 1966–67 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1967, in front of a crowd of 76,290.

County Cup Final appearances

Mal Dixon played at in Featherstone Rovers' 15–14 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1959–60 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1959–60 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 31 October 1959, played at in the 0–10 defeat by Halifax in the 1963–64 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1963–64 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Saturday 2 November 1963, and played at in the 12–25 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1966–67 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1966–67 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 15 October 1966.

Notable tour matches

Mal Dixon played in the combined Castleford and Featherstone Rovers teams' match against New Zealand at Wheldon Road, Castleford.

Club career

Mal Dixon made his début for Featherstone Rovers on Saturday 28 September 1957,[5] he appears to have scored no drop-goals (or field-goals as they are currently known in Australasia), but prior to the 1974–75 season all goals, whether; conversions, penalties, or drop-goals, scored 2-points, consequently prior to this date drop-goals were often not explicitly documented, therefore '0' drop-goals may indicate drop-goals not recorded, rather than no drop-goals scored.

Testimonial match

Mal Dixon's benefit season/testimonial match at Featherstone Rovers took place during the 1967–68 season.

Coaching career

County Cup Final appearances

Malcolm Dixon was the coach in York's 8–18 defeat by Bradford Northern in the 1978 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1978–79 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 28 October 1978, this was York's first major final since the 1936–37 Yorkshire Cup Final, a period of 39 years, 2017 marked 39 years since the 1978 Yorkshire County Cup Final, meaning this was York's only major final in the last 78 years.

Honoured at Featherstone Rovers

Malcolm Dixon is a Featherstone Rovers Hall of Fame inductee.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  2. Web site: England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk. https://archive.today/20131210154314/http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Dixon&submit=Go&c=England. dead. 10 December 2013. englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  3. Web site: Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk. englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  4. Web site: Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  5. Bailey, Ron (20 September 2001). Images of Sport - Featherstone Rovers Rugby League Football Club. The History Press.
  6. Web site: Featherstone Rovers legends added to Hall of Fame. pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk. 5 November 2016. 1 January 2017.