Fred Gardner (rugby league)
Fred Gardner (1909–1999), also known by the nickname of "Yappy", was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s.
Fred Gardner. 1930 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Frederick Harry Brook Littlefield Gardner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia | 16 September 1909||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 3 September 1999 89) South Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia | (aged||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Three-quarter back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Career
A New South Wales interstate and Australian international representative three-quarter back, he played in the NSWRFL Premiership for the St. George club.[1] His son, Fred Gardner Jr., was a star player in the Illawarra Rugby League and also had a brief career with St George.
A St. George junior from Hurstville Public School and the Hurstville United club,[2] Gardner commenced his first grade NSWRFL Premiership career in the 1929 season.[3]
Having already represented New South Wales in 1933, 'Yappy' Gardner was selected to tour with the 1933-34 Kangaroos, making his test debut and becoming Kangaroo No. 188.[4] It was against England in the Second Test at Headingley and was Gardner's sole Test appearance. He scored 13 tries in 20 matches on that tour.[5]
Gardner scored eleven tries during the 1934 NSWRFL season, sharing the League's top try-scorer position with Dave Brown and Vic Hey. The following season he played in the record-breaking 91-6 win over NSWRFL newcomers Canterbury-Bankstown. The 1935 NSWRFL season was Gardner's last in first grade.[6]
References
- "Fred Gardner". yesterdayshero.com.au. SmartPack International. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
- "Players F-G". Jubilee Avenue. dragons.leagueunlimited.com. Archived from the original on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
- "Fred Gardner". Rugby League Tables. stats.rleague.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
- Australian Rugby League. "Australian Players Register" (PDF). Australian Rugby League - Annual Report 2005. secure.ausport.gov.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
- Whiticker, Alan. "Fred Gardner". rugbyleagueproject.org. Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
- "Fred Gardner". nrlstats.com. Sports Data. Archived from the original on 13 April 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.