Craig Lingard
Craig Lingard is an English rugby league coach who is the head coach of the Batley Bulldogs in the Betfred Championship, and a former player.
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Born | 1977/8 Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Fullback | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Coaching information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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He previously played for Batley Bulldogs in the Championship. Lingard has been head coach of the Bramley Buffaloes. He was assistant coach to John Kear at the Batley Bulldogs before taking on the top job at the Keighley Cougars in Betfred League 1.
Background
Lingard was born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England.
Playing career
Lingard played as an amateur with Sharlston Rovers before turning professional. His professional playing career was at Batley Bulldogs, where he played from 1998 to 2008.[3] Playing at fullback, Lingard scored 142 tries and is Batley's all-time leading try scorer.[3][4] In a tribute to this record the club named one of the terraces at the Fox's Biscuits Stadium, the Craig Lingard Terrace.[3]
Coaching career
After retiring from playing, Lingard joined the Bulldog's coaching team and also worked as part of the Bradford Bulls coaching staff before being appointed head coach of National Conference League team, Bramley Buffaloes, in 2012.[5] After just one season at Bramley, Lingard left and rejoined Batley as assistant head coach to John Kear.[3]
Lingard continued in his Batley role until the end of the 2016 season when he was appointed head coach at Keighley Cougars on a two year contract.[6] Lingard's contract was extended for a third year but in May 2019 he was sacked by Keighley.[7]
Outside rugby league
Lingard's involvement with rugby league has always been part-time and away from the game he was previously a prison officer. While head coach at Bramley, Lingard was a competitor on British gameshow Countdown.[8]
References
- loverugbyleague
- Rugby League Project
- "Star Lingard returns home". Batley & Birstall News. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
- "Club records". Batley Bulldogs. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
- "Bramley role for Lingard". Love Rugby League. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
- "Lingard lands Keighley Cougars head coaching position". Telegraph & Argus. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
- "Craig Lingard shocked by Keighley Cougars sacking after good start to Betfred League 1 season". Keighley News. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
- "Ex-Batley star on TV's Countdown". Love Rugby League. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2016.