Des Clarkson

Des Clarkson
Personal information
Full nameDesmond Clarkson
Born25 January 1923
Tadcaster, England
DiedJanuary 2002 (aged 78)
Pontefract, England
Playing information
PositionSecond-row, Loose forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1944–48 Hunslet 144 21 214 0 491
1948 Leigh
1948–51 Leeds 116 10 48 0 126
1951–54 Halifax 116 22 89 0 244
195?–5? Keighley
1956–57 Castleford 1 0 3 0 6
Total 377 53 354 0 867
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1947–48 England 2 1 0 0 3
Source:

Desmond Clarkson (25 January 1923 – January 2002) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played at representative level for England, and at club level for Hunslet, Leigh, Leeds, Halifax, Keighley and Castleford, as a second-row or loose forward.

Biography

Des Clarkson was born in Tadcaster, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, and he died aged 78 in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England.

Playing career

Club career

Clarkson played loose forward in Halifax's 4-4 draw with Warrington in the 1954 Challenge Cup Final during the 1953–54 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 24 April 1954, in front of a crowd of 81,841, and played loose forward in the 4-8 defeat by Warrington in the 1954 Challenge Cup Final replay during the 1953–54 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Wednesday 5 May 1954, in front of a record crowd of 102,575 or more.

International honours

Clarkson won caps for England while at Hunslet in 1947 against Wales, and in 1948 against France.

References

  1. ↑ "Clarkson signs". Yorkshire Post. 23 December 1948. p. 3. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "Desmond Clarkson Ready to Sign for Leeds". Yorkshire Evening Post. 21 December 1948. p. 8.
  3. ↑ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ↑ "Player Summary: Des Clarkson". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers' Club. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  5. ↑ "They Played For Leigh (Statistics) at leighrl.co.uk". leighrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. ↑ "Heritage Numbers at leighrl.co.uk". leighrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  7. ↑ "Stalwart dies". Halifax Evening Courier. 18 January 2002. p. 27 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ↑ "Mud, blood and memories of the day when 102,575 made history at Odsal". independent.co.uk. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.