Robert Herbert Ayres (11 January 1914[3] – July 1993[4]) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s. He played at representative level for England, British Empire and Lancashire, and at club level for Barrow, as a prop, or second-row, i.e. 8 or 10, or, 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums.
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Robert Herbert Ayres | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 11 January 1914 Barrow-in-Furness, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | July 1993 (aged 79) Lancashire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Prop, Second-row | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Background edit
Bob Ayres was born in Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, England, and he died aged 79 in Lancashire.
Playing career edit
International honours edit
Bob Ayres represented British Empire while at Barrow in 1937 against France, and won caps for England while at Barrow in 1938 against Wales, and France, and in 1945 against Wales.[2]
County honours edit
Bob Ayres won cap(s) for Lancashire while at Barrow.
Challenge Cup Final appearances edit
Bob Ayres played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in Barrow's 4–7 defeat by Salford in the 1938 Challenge Cup Ffondon on Saturday 7 May 1938.
County Cup Final appearances edit
Bob Ayres played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in Barrow's 4–8 defeat by Warrington in the 1937 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1937–38 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 23 October 1937.[5]
Testimonial match edit
Bob Ayres' Testimonial matches at Barrow were shared with Val Cumberbatch, John Higgin, William Little and Dan McKeating, and took place against Swinton on Saturday 27 April 1946, and against Oldham on Saturday 27 January 1947.[6]
Contemporaneous article extract edit
"The man who always comes up smiling, Club captain during the war years. A product of local football, signed in 1933. Has few equals as a second-row. International and County player."[6]
References edit
- ^ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ a b "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ Ayres, Robert Herbert. "All England & Wales, Death Index, 1916–2007". Ancestry. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
- ^ "Barrow Make Two Finals in One Year". nwemail.co.uk. 11 July 2009. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- ^ a b "Barrow Testimonial Game for Big Five". cumberbatch.org. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.