John Harbin
Encyclopedia
John Harbin is an Australian sports coach. He first worked in rugby league
before beginning a coaching career in association football. He is currently coach of rugby league team Yeppoon Seagulls in the Queensland Rugby League Central Division
. His son, Lionel Harbin
, briefly played rugby league in the Super League
for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
.
in the English
county of Yorkshire
, Harbin grew up in Swillington Common, before emigrating with his parents to Australia at the age of ten, settling in Queensland
. As a child he played rugby league and was a boxer.
After leaving school he completed a teaching degree.
to coach in rugby league
in the late 1990s. He was the coach of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
between November 2000 and November 2001, and was regarded by some fans as a good coach even after a 12 game losing streak. Wakefield's final game of the 2001 season was a relegation battle with Salford City Reds
and Wakefield won condemning Huddersfield Giants
to the drop. However he left the club at the end of 2001.
After a brief spell as Chief Executive Officer at Dewsbury Rams
, Harbin joined Oldham Roughyeds
as head coach in January 2002.
. Dowie was later promoted to manager and moved to with Harbin following. The pair, along with Dowie's brother Bob
, guided Crystal Palace to a surprise promotion to the Premier League having been near the relegation zone when appointed. Success was short lived, however, as Crystal Palace were relegated the following season and then failed to gain another promotion.
Dowie moved to in 2006, and again linked up with Harbin after Crystal Palace replaced Harbin with England U-21's
fitness coach, Mark Hulse
. After Dowie's sacking in November 2006, Harbin stayed briefly under new manager Les Reed
but departed by the end of 2006. In February 2007 he linked up with Dowie for the fourth time, at . A year later he was placed in a joint caretaker's role alongside first-team coach Frankie Bunn
after the sacking of Dowie. Harbin again followed Iain Dowie to Queens Park Rangers
and remained following Dowie's departure in October 2008.
.
Harbin is the manager of the Dreamtime Lodge in Rockhampton.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
before beginning a coaching career in association football. He is currently coach of rugby league team Yeppoon Seagulls in the Queensland Rugby League Central Division
Queensland Rugby League Central Division
The Central Division of the Queensland Rugby League is responsible for the promotion, administration and facilitation of rugby league throughout Central Queensland. The Division's boundaries take in Miriam Vale and Gladstone to the south, out to Winton in the west and north to Moranbah. There are...
. His son, Lionel Harbin
Lionel Harbin
Lionel Harbin was a professional rugby league footballer who at junior level played for Canberra Raiders, and at club level played for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, under head coach and father John Harbin. He was a highly rated , however only made one appearance for the Wildcats in 2001 against...
, briefly played rugby league in the Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
.
Early life
Born in 1947 at Hazlewood CastleHazlewood Castle
Hazlewood Castle is a country residence situated in North Yorkshire, England by the A1 and A64 between Aberford and Tadcaster.The first records of the house are to be found in the Domesday Book...
in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, Harbin grew up in Swillington Common, before emigrating with his parents to Australia at the age of ten, settling in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. As a child he played rugby league and was a boxer.
After leaving school he completed a teaching degree.
Rugby league
Harbin returned to EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to coach in rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
in the late 1990s. He was the coach of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
between November 2000 and November 2001, and was regarded by some fans as a good coach even after a 12 game losing streak. Wakefield's final game of the 2001 season was a relegation battle with Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
and Wakefield won condemning Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
to the drop. However he left the club at the end of 2001.
After a brief spell as Chief Executive Officer at Dewsbury Rams
Dewsbury Rams
Dewsbury Rams RLFC is a professional rugby league club based in the West Yorkshire town of Dewsbury. They are arguably most famous for becoming Champions in 1972-73 after finishing the regular season in 8th place. In the playoffs they beat Featherstone away, Warrington away, and then Leeds in the...
, Harbin joined Oldham Roughyeds
Oldham Roughyeds
Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
as head coach in January 2002.
Association football
Late in 2002 Harbin joined Oldham Athletic Association Football Club as a fitness coach and worked with then-assistant manager Iain DowieIain Dowie
Iain Dowie is a former footballer and manager. He is currently without a club. He has previously managed Hull City and Queens Park Rangers and was assistant manager of Newcastle United...
. Dowie was later promoted to manager and moved to with Harbin following. The pair, along with Dowie's brother Bob
Bob Dowie
Bob Dowie is a British football coach. He is a former Director of Football at Championship club Crystal Palace.An experienced non-league player, he played for Bishop's Stortford, Cheshunt where he played 49 times and scored three goals between 1983 and 1985, Enfield, Hertford Town, St Albans City...
, guided Crystal Palace to a surprise promotion to the Premier League having been near the relegation zone when appointed. Success was short lived, however, as Crystal Palace were relegated the following season and then failed to gain another promotion.
Dowie moved to in 2006, and again linked up with Harbin after Crystal Palace replaced Harbin with England U-21's
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
fitness coach, Mark Hulse
Mark Hulse
Mark Hulse is an English fitness guru and currently appointed Fitness Coach at Liverpool.-Biography:Hulse is a graduate of Loughborough University and played for Loughborough Students Football Club....
. After Dowie's sacking in November 2006, Harbin stayed briefly under new manager Les Reed
Les Reed (football coach)
Leswyn Reed is an English football coach and was the manager of Charlton Athletic, between 14 November and 24 December 2006. Reed was formerly Technical Director of the Football Association between 2002 and 2004...
but departed by the end of 2006. In February 2007 he linked up with Dowie for the fourth time, at . A year later he was placed in a joint caretaker's role alongside first-team coach Frankie Bunn
Frankie Bunn
Frank Stephen Bunn Bunn was a striker who began his career at Luton Town, and later played for Hull City and Oldham Athletic...
after the sacking of Dowie. Harbin again followed Iain Dowie to Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
and remained following Dowie's departure in October 2008.
Return to Australia
In 2009 Harbin returned to Australia where he coaches Yeppoon Seagulls in the Queensland Rugby League Central DivisionQueensland Rugby League Central Division
The Central Division of the Queensland Rugby League is responsible for the promotion, administration and facilitation of rugby league throughout Central Queensland. The Division's boundaries take in Miriam Vale and Gladstone to the south, out to Winton in the west and north to Moranbah. There are...
.
Harbin is the manager of the Dreamtime Lodge in Rockhampton.