Mike Leadbetter
Encyclopedia
Mike Leadbetter was a rugby union international who represented England
in 1970.
and made his international debut on 18 April 1970 at Colombes in the France
vs England
match, that was one by France. Along with Broughton Park team mate Tony Neary
, he was also part of a famous North West Counties team which defeated the All Blacks
, 16-14, in Workington
in 1972.
Described as a giant of a man, he also played 35 times for Lancashire
. Leadbetter subsequently switched to rugby league
going to Rochdale Hornets
.
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
in 1970.
Early life
Mike Leadbetter was born on July 25, 1946 in Southport. Mike was the elder of two brothers, and his family is one with deep roots in the Southport area, predating the construction of Southport itself. Mike was known to have been very proud of his family's roots in the fishing and farmworking of the area. However, both he and his brother Alan, who was to become a physicist, did not follow their forbears. He attended Ladybarn, a local secondary modern school, and left in 1961 aged 15, without qualifications. After a few years he began his first career in printing and followed this through a series apprenticeships leading to a diploma in management and print technology from Manchester College of Art and Design.Rugby career
Leadbetter played his club rugby for Broughton ParkBroughton Park RUFC
Broughton Park RUFC, is one of the oldest rugby union clubs in England and was established in 1882, just one year after the Lancashire County Rugby Union was founded and eleven years after the formation of the national Rugby Football Union.-History:...
and made his international debut on 18 April 1970 at Colombes in the France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
vs England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
match, that was one by France. Along with Broughton Park team mate Tony Neary
Tony Neary
Anthony "Tony" Neary is a former England international rugby union player. He represented England at U18's basketball as well as rugby. He attended De La Salle College, Salford and Liverpool University before qualifying as a solicitor....
, he was also part of a famous North West Counties team which defeated the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
, 16-14, in Workington
Workington
Workington is a town, civil parish and port on the west coast of Cumbria, England, at the mouth of the River Derwent. Lying within the Borough of Allerdale, Workington is southwest of Carlisle, west of Cockermouth, and southwest of Maryport...
in 1972.
Described as a giant of a man, he also played 35 times for Lancashire
Lancashire County Rugby Football Union
The Lancashire County Rugby Football Union is the society responsible for rugby union in the county of Lancashire, England and is one of the constituent bodies of the national Rugby Football Union having been formed in 1881...
. Leadbetter subsequently switched to 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...
going to Rochdale Hornets
Rochdale Hornets
Rochdale Hornets RLFC is an English professional rugby league club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. They currently play in Championship One...
.