Milan Kosanović (1932 – 1989), also known by the nickname of "Milo", was a Yugoslav Serb professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played at representative level for English League XIII and Yorkshire, and at club level for Bradford Northern, Wakefield Trinity and Featherstone Rovers, as a hooker.[2]
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Full name | Milan Kosanović | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | 1932 Lika, Yugoslavia (now Croatia) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 1989 (aged 56–57)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 14 st 3 lb (90 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Hooker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [2] |
Background
editMilan Kosanović was a Yugoslav Serb born in Lika, in what is now Croatia. His family relocated from Yugoslavia to the United Kingdom in 1947, where he initially played rugby league in the Halifax junior league,[3] Milan Kosanović opened, and was the landlord, of Milan's Wine Bar in Halifax.[1]
Playing career
editInternational honours
editMilan Kosanović played hooker for English League XIII while at Bradford Northern in the 8-26 defeat by France on Saturday 22 November 1958 at Knowsley Road, St. Helens,[2] and was a reserve hooker for Great Britain.[3]
County honours
editMilan Kosanović was selected for Yorkshire County XIII whilst at Bradford Northern during 1959.
Challenge Cup Final appearances
editMilan Kosanović played hooker in Wakefield Trinity's 25-10 victory over Wigan in the 1962–63 Challenge Cup Final during the 1962–63 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1963, in front of a crowd of 84,492,[4] and was an unused substitute 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
editMilan Kosanović played hooker in Wakefield Trinity's 19–9 victory over Leeds in the 1961–62 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1961–62 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 11 November 1961, and played hooker in Featherstone Rovers' 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.
Club career
editMilan Kosanović transferred from Bradford Northern to Wakefield Trinity during June 1961, and he made his début for Wakefield Trinity during August 1961, he transferred from Wakefield Trinity to Featherstone Rovers for £600 during February 1964 (based on inflation, this would be equivalent to £15,358 in 2023) (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately equivalent to £20,970 in 2017),[5] and he made his début for Featherstone Rovers on Saturday 1 February 1964.[6]
Contemporaneous Article Extract
edit"M. Kosanović - Signed from Bradford N. during last close season and has been a regular member of the side this campaign. Recently out of action through injury. Represented Yorkshire in 1959. Yugoslav-born but has played all his football in Yorkshire. Age 29." [7]
Milan Kosanovic Cup
editThe Milan Kosanovic Cup is an international rugby league football competition that is named after Milan Kosanović, it is contested by Russia, Ukraine and Serbia.[8]
Genealogical information
editMilan Kosanović's marriage to Sylvia D. (née Leach) was registered during third ¼ 1956 in Halifax district.[9] They had children; Mark S. Kosanović (birth registered during fourth ¼ 1962 (age 61–62) in Halifax district), and Zoran G. Kosanović (birth registered during third ¼ 1964 (age 59–60) in Halifax district), as of 2009 the brother's run fish and chip shops at West Vale and Brackenbed, Pellon, Halifax.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Soni meets his rugby league hero's family: Whitehaven's Serbian player honours Halifax's Milan". Halifax Courier. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
- ^ a b c "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (surname misspelt in URL as kasanovic)". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ a b Briggs, Cyril & Edwards, Barry (12 May 1962). The Rugby League Challenge Cup Competition - Final Tie - Huddersfield v Wakefield Trinity - Match Programme. Wembley Stadium Ltd.
- ^ Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC - FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-429-9
- ^ "Measuring Worth - Relative Value of UK Pounds". Measuring Worth. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ Bailey, Ron (20 September 2001). Images of Sport - Featherstone Rovers Rugby League Football Club. The History Press. ISBN 0752422952
- ^ Lindley, John (05/05/1962). Wakefield Trinity RLFC Official Programme: Featherstone Rovers. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a
- ^ "Bears Prepared To Face Ukraine". rlef.eu.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Marriage details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
External links
edit- Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
- Rugby League Final 1963
- (Old - redirects to http://www.rlhp.co.uk/) Photograph "1962 Challenge Cup Semi - Wakefield Trinity won this tight game 9-0 in front of 31,423 spectators. Frank Wilkinson of Wakefield is robbed of a try by Malcolm Dixon and Jackie Fennell of Featherstone. - 01/01/1962" at rlhp.co.uk
- (New - "This www.rlhp.co.uk page can’t be found") Photograph "1962 Challenge Cup Semi - Wakefield Trinity won this tight game 9-0 in front of 31,423 spectators. Frank Wilkinson of Wakefield is robbed of a try by Malcolm Dixon and Jackie Fennell of Featherstone. - 01/01/1962" at rlhp.co.uk
- (New - without %20 - "This www.rlhp.co.uk page can’t be found") Photograph "1962 Challenge Cup Semi - Wakefield Trinity won this tight game 9-0 in front of 31,423 spectators. Frank Wilkinson of Wakefield is robbed of a try by Malcolm Dixon and Jackie Fennell of Featherstone. - 01/01/1962" at rlhp.co.uk
- (Thumbnail) Photograph "1962 Challenge Cup Semi - Wakefield Trinity won this tight game 9-0 in front of 31,423 spectators. Frank Wilkinson of Wakefield is robbed of a try by Malcolm Dixon and Jackie Fennell of Featherstone. - 01/01/1962" at rlhp.co.uk
- Hooking role a tough one to call
- Milan Kosanovic