Ron Wileman

Ron Wileman

Personal information
Born	c. 1954 Grimethorpe, Yorkshire, England
Died	November 2009 (aged 55)
Playing information
Position	Hooker
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1973–79 York 89 17 0 0 51 1979–84 Hull FC 87 23 0 0 69 Total 176 40 0 0 120 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1978–79 Yorkshire 2 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]

Ron Wileman (c. 1954 – November 2009) was an English rugby league footballer who played as a hooker. He played for York between 1973 and 1979, and Hull FC between 1979 and 1984. He also represented Yorkshire.

Playing career

York

Born in Grimethorpe, Yorkshire, Wileman started his rugby league career with York. He spent six seasons with the club, scoring 17 tries in 89 appearances.^[2] He played for York in the 1978 Yorkshire Cup final, losing 8–18 to Bradford Northern.

Hull FC

Wileman was signed by Hull FC for a fee of £25,000.^[3]

He won his first honours with the club in the 1979 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy, playing in the 13–3 win against Hull Kingston Rovers in the final.

Wileman played in the 1980 Challenge Cup final in a 5–10 defeat Hull Kingston Rovers. Wileman is usually remembered in this game for his late tackle on Roger Millward, which broke Millward's jaw.^[2][4]

Wileman played in the 12–4 win against Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1981–82 John Player Trophy final. He scored the only try in the game, which is regarded as one of the most memorable moments of his career.^[5][6] He also played in the 1981–82 Challenge Cup final against Widnes, which ended in a 14–14 draw, but missed out on the replay due to injury.^[2]

Wileman played in the 13–2 win over Castleford in the 1983 Yorkshire Cup final. In total, he scored 23 tries in 87 games for Hull.^[3]

Representative career

Wileman made his debut for Yorkshire on 27 September 1978 in a 7–23 defeat against Lancashire.^[7] He made one other appearance for the team on 29 August 1979 in a 13–17 defeat against Cumbria.^[8]

Death

Wileman died of a heart attack, aged 55.^[2]

References

1. Rugby League Project
2. "Ex-York rugby star Ronnie Wileman dies". York Press. 7 November 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
3. "Hull FC: Club mourns former star". sporthull.co.uk. 6 November 2009. Archived from the original on 10 November 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
4. "Five of the Best: Challenge Cup Final Heroes". The Rugby Football League. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
5. Bower, Aaron (2 April 2015). "Six of the Best: Magical Hull derby moments". Total Rugby League. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
6. "On This Day: Hull Defeat Rovers To Lift 1982 John Player Trophy". Hull FC. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
7. Saxton, Irvin (ed.). History of Rugby League: No.84 1978–1979. League Publications.
8. Saxton, Irvin (ed.). History of Rugby League: No.85 1979–1980. League Publications.