Malcolm "Mal" "Sammy" Sampson (12 March 1940[3] – 10 October 2012) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He played at club level for Wakefield Trinity (two spells), Hull FC and Bramley, as a prop.

Malcolm Sampson
Malcolm Sampson with the NRFU Challenge Cup
Personal information
Full nameMalcolm Sampson
Born12 March 1940[1]
Wakefield, England
Died10 October 2012(2012-10-10) (aged 72)[2]
Wakefield, England
Playing information
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1959–64 Wakefield Trinity 98 9 5 0 37
1964–65 Hull FC 4
1965–66 Wakefield Trinity
1966–72 Bramley
Total 102 9 5 0 37

Background

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Malcolm Sampson's birth was registered in Lower Agbrigg, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, and he died aged 72 in Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Playing career

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Challenge Cup Final appearances

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Mal Sampson played at prop and scored the first try in Wakefield Trinity's 25-10 victory over Wigan in the 1963 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]

Club career

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Mal Sampson signed for Wakefield Trinity Juniors (under 17s) in 1956, and made his début for Wakefield Trinity in the 31-6 victory over Huddersfield at Belle Vue, Wakefield in November 1959, his third game came in the 20-10 victory over the 1959 Australian Kangaroo Tourists at Belle View, Wakefield. He had played 24 successive matches up to April 1960 when he was involved in a car crash in which he suffered a badly broken arm, he consequently missed the 1959–60 Challenge Cup Final (being replaced by Leslie Chamberlain) and the possibility to play for Great Britain in the 1960 Rugby League World Cup (Great Britain's World Cup props were; Brian McTigue (Wigan) and colleague Jack Wilkinson (Wakefield Trinity), complications to the broken arm meant he eventually made his comeback some 2½ years later, in November 1962 against Widnes at Naughton Park, Widnes, he finished the 1962–63 season with a try in the Challenge Cup Final, and is still the only Wakefield Trinity Forward to score a try at Wembley, he became Wakefield Trinity's first ever league substitute against Halifax, at Thrum Hall, Halifax in September 1964, he had a four-game loan period at Hull F.C. during the 1965–66 season, his last match for Wakefield Trinity was against York at Belle View, Wakefield in November 1966, after which he signed for Bramley,[2] he appears to have scored no drop-goals (or field-goals as they are currently known in Australasia), but prior to the 1974–75 season all goals, whether; conversions, penalties, or drop-goals, scored 2-points, consequently prior to this date drop-goals were often not explicitly documented, therefore '0' drop-goals may indicate drop-goals not recorded, rather than no drop-goals scored.

Genealogical information

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Mal Sampson was the older brother of the rugby league footballer, and coach David Sampson, and uncle of the sprinter Denise Ramsden, rugby league footballer Dean Sampson, and rugby union and rugby league footballer Paul Sampson.

References

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  1. ^ "Sportsmen & Clubs → Malcolm Sampson". stanleyhistoryonline.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Tributes paid to Wakefield Trinity star Malcolm Sampson - More Wakefield News". Wakefield Express. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  3. ^ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  4. ^ Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC - FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-429-9
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