James Valentine (rugby)

For other people named James Valentine, see James Valentine (disambiguation).
James Valentine
Personal information
Full name James Valentine
Nickname Jim
Born (1866-07-29)29 July 1866
Salford, Lancashire, England, UK
Died 25 July 1904 (aged 37)
Barmouth, Merionethshire, Wales, UK
Playing information
Rugby union
Position Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1883–96 Swinton
Lancashire 60
Total 60 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1890–96 England 4 0 1 0 2
Rugby league
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1896–1901 Swinton
Source: espnscrum.com

James "Jim" Valentine (29 July 1866[1] – 25 July 1904[2]) born in Salford, Lancashire, was a rugby union and semi-professional Northern Union footballer of the 1880s, '90s and 1900s, playing representative level rugby union (RU) for England, and Lancashire, and at club level for Swinton,[3] playing at centre, i.e. number 12 or 13, and playing club level rugby league (RL) for Swinton. Prior to Tuesday 2 June 1896, Swinton was a rugby union club.

Playing career

Rugby union career

Jim Valentine was first selected for England while at Swinton in 1888, but due to internal arguments with the other Home Nation unions, England failed to play an international game until 1890. A prolific scorer, during the 1889–1890 season he scored 61 tries, kicked 5 drop goals and kicked 35 goals.[4] He gained his first international cap in 1890 against Wales, and again in 1896 against Wales, Ireland and Scotland.[5] He also played at county level making 60 appearances for Lancashire.[4]

Change of code

When Swinton converted from the rugby union code to the Northern Rugby Football Union code on Tuesday 2 June 1896, Jim Valentine was banned by the Rugby Football Union from playing rugby union as he remained with the club when it turned professional.[4] A club favourite, he led Swinton with a 16-8 victory over local rivals Salford in their first Northern Union 1900 Challenge Cup final during the 1899–1900 season, at Fallowfield in Manchester.[6] He remained with the club until 1901.[6]

Career records

Jim Valentine holds Swinton's "Most Tries in a Rugby Union Season" record, with 48-tries scored during the 1888–89 season. However, Johnny Stopford holds Swinton's "Most Tries in a Rugby League Season" record, with 42-tries scored during the 1963–64 season.

Death and legacy

A licensee by trade (Duchy Inn, Brindle Heath Road, Pendleton),[4] Valentine died after he was struck by lightning while on holiday in Barmouth in Wales on Monday 25 July 1904.[6] He is buried at St. John's churchyard, Bolton Road, Pendlebury. Valentine is also believed to one of two people after whom the Valentine Cup, a long running amateur rugby competition in the Manchester area, is named.[6] He was buried on 29 July 1904, on what would have been his 38th birthday.

Genealogical information

Jim Valentine was the brother of the rugby league player (Swinton) and football (Manchester United) goalkeeper, Bob Valentine.

References

  1. ↑ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. ↑ "Death details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. ↑ Williams, Graham; Lush, Peter; Farrar, David (2009). The British Rugby League Records Book. London League. p. 178. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Maule, Raymond (1992). The Complete Who's Who of England Rugby Union Internationals. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 166. ISBN 1-873626-10-X.
  5. ↑ "Statistics at espnscrum.com". espnscrum.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Mystery Cup Returns to The Willows". therfl.co.uk. 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
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