John Keith Bridges

John H. Bridges (born 2 April 1952), also known by the nickname of "Keith" (after his father; Keith Bridges), is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Featherstone Rovers (Heritage № 497), Bradford Northern and Hull F.C. (Heritage №), as an occasional goal-kicking hooker, i.e. number 9, during the era of contested scrums.[2][3]

For the rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s, his father, see Keith Bridges.

John H. Bridges
Personal information
Born (1952-04-02) 2 April 1952[1]
Pontefract, England
Playing information
PositionHooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1970–78/79 Featherstone Rovers 235 45 5 3 145
≤1979–82 Bradford Northern
1982–83 Hull F.C.
Total 235 45 5 3 145
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1975/76–≥77/78 Yorkshire ≥5
1975–77 England 9 0 0 1 2
1974 Great Britain 3 0 0 0 0
Source: [2][3][4][5]

Background

Bridges was born in Pontefract, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, and he was a pupil at Normanton Grammar School.

Playing career

International honours

John "Keith" Bridges won caps for England while at Featherstone Rovers in the 1975 Rugby League World Cup against New Zealand, Australia, Wales, France, New Zealand, Australia, and Australia, in 1975 against Papua New Guinea (non-test), in 1977 against Wales,[4] and won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone Rovers in 1974 against France (2 matches), and Australia.[5]

He is one of only eight players who have ever scored a drop goal for England.[6]

County honours

John "Keith" Bridges won caps for Yorkshire while at Featherstone Rovers; during the 1975–76 season against Cumbria, Other Nationalities and Lancashire, and during the 1977–78 season against Cumbria, and Lancashire.

Championship appearances

John "Keith" Bridges played in Featherstone Rovers' victory in the Championship during the 1976–77 season,[7] he played in Bradford Northern's victories in the Championship during the 1979–80 season and 1980–81 season, and he played in Hull FC's victory in the Championship during the 1982–83 season.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

John "Keith" Bridges played hooker in Featherstone Rovers' 33–14 victory over Bradford Northern in the 1973 Challenge Cup Final during the 1972–73 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 12 May 1973, in front of a crowd of 72,395, played hooker in the 9–24 defeat by Warrington in the 1974 Challenge Cup Final during the 1973–74 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1974, in front of a crowd of 77,400, and played hooker in Hull FC's 12–14 defeat by Featherstone Rovers in the 1983 Challenge Cup Final during the 1982–83 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 7 May 1983, in front of a crowd of 84,969.

County Cup Final appearances

John "Keith" Bridges played hooker in Featherstone Rovers' 12–16 defeat by Leeds in the 1976 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1976–77 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 16 October 1976, played hooker in the 7–17 defeat by Castleford in the 1977 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1977–78 season, at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 15 October 1977, and played hooker in Hull FC's 18–7 victory over Bradford Northern in the 1982 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1982–83 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 2 October 1982.

Captain Morgan Trophy Final appearances

John "Keith" Bridges played hooker in Featherstone Rovers' 0–4 defeat by Warrington in the Captain Morgan Trophy Final during the 1973–74 season at The Willows, Salford on Saturday 26 January 1974.

John Player Trophy Final appearances

John "Keith" Bridges played hooker in Bradford Northern's 6–0 victory over Widnes in the 1979–80 John Player Trophy Final during the 1979–80 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 5 January 1980.

Club career

John "Keith" Bridges made his début for Featherstone Rovers on Wednesday 26 August 1970, and he played his last match for Featherstone Rovers] during the 1978–79 Northern Rugby Football League season.[8]

Honoured at Featherstone Rovers

John "Keith" Bridges is a Featherstone Rovers Hall of Fame inductee.[9]

Genealogical information

John "Keith" Bridges is the son of the rugby league footballer; Keith Bridges, and Brenda (née Barnsley), the younger brother of Gloria Bridges (birth registered during third ¼ 1949 (age 70–71) in Pontefract district), and the older brother of Nadine E. Bridges (birth registered during second ¼ 1957 (age 62–63) in Pontefract district), and Beverley Bridges (birth registered during first ¼ 1962 (age 57–58) in Pontefract district).

Outside of rugby league

John "Keith" Bridges was the Bar Manager of the Pinnacle Suite Function Room at Dewsbury District Golf Club, Mirfield until 2017.[10]

References
  1. "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  2. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org I". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org II". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. "Drop Goal Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  7. "Featherstone then and now". BBC. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  8. Bailey, Ron (20 September 2001). Images of Sport – Featherstone Rovers Rugby League Football Club. The History Press. ISBN 0752422952
  9. "Legendary duo join Featherstone Rovers Hall of Fame". pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  10. "The Pinnacle Suite Function Room (archived by web.archive.org)". dewsburygolf.co.uk. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
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