Geoff Wraith

Geoffrey Wraith (1 October 1946 – 26 August 2019) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and coached in the 1980s. He played at representative level for Yorkshire, and at club level for Hunslet Juniors, Wakefield Trinity (two spells), Norths Devils and Castleford, as a left-footed toe-end style (rather than round the corner style) goal-kicking fullback, or centre, and coached at club level for Castleford (assistant coach) and Wakefield Trinity.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Geoff Wraith
Personal information
Full nameGeoffrey Wraith
Born1 October 1946
Leeds, England
Died26 August 2019(2019-08-26) (aged 72)
Playing information
PositionFullback, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1963–74 Wakefield Trinity 226 46 15 0 168
1974–76 Norths Devils
1976–83 Castleford 216 42 0 0 126
1984 Wakefield Trinity 1
Total 443 88 15 0 294
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1975–≥80 Yorkshire 4
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1984–84 Wakefield Trinity 10
Source: [1][2]

Background

Wraith's was born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, on 1 October 1946.[7] He was a pupil at Foxwood School, Seacroft, Leeds, he died aged 72, his funeral took place at Holy Trinity Church, Rothwell, West Yorkshire on 5 September 2019, followed by a reception at the Repton Room, Oulton Hall, Oulton, West Yorkshire.[8]

Playing career

County honours

Geoff Wraith won caps playing fullback for Yorkshire while at Wakefield Trinity, and while at Castleford in the 10-7 victory over Cumbria at Crown Flatt, Dewsbury on Wednesday 19 November 1975, the 16-16 draw with Other Nationalities at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 6 December 1975, the 12-12 draw with Cumbria at Recreation Ground, Whitehaven on Tuesday 15 February 1977, and the 16-17 defeat by Cumbria at The Boulevard, Hull on Wednesday 17 September 1980.

County Cup Final appearances

Geoff Wraith played fullback (replaced by interchange/substitute Leslie Sheard) in Wakefield Trinity's 2-7 defeat by Leeds in the 1973 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1973–74 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 20 October 1973, and played fullback in Castleford's 17-7 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1977 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1977–78 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 15 October 1977.

BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances

Geoff Wraith played fullback in Castleford's 12-4 victory over Leigh in the 1976 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1976–77 season at Hilton Park, Leigh on Tuesday 14 December 1976.

Player's No.6 Trophy Final appearances

Geoff Wraith played fullback (replaced by interchange/substitute Bernard Ward) in Wakefield Trinity's 11-22 defeat by Halifax in the 1971–72 Player's No.6 Trophy Final during the 1971–72 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 22 January 1972, and played fullback, and scored a try in Castleford's 25-15 victory over Blackpool Borough in the 1976–77 Player's No.6 Trophy Final during the 1976–77 season at The Willows, Salford on Saturday 22 January 1977.

Club career

Geoff Wraith made his début for Wakefield Trinity against Castleford at Belle Vue, Wakefield during May 1963, he played his last match for Wakefield Trinity (in his second spell) when came out of retirement to play 1-game during his period as coach of Wakefield Trinity, he transferred from Wakefield Trinity to Norths Devils, he transferred from Norths Devils to Castleford, he made his début for Castleford in the 10-25 defeat by Leeds in the 1975 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy preliminary round match during the 1975–76 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Wednesday 24 September 1975, and he played his last match for Castleford during March 1983.

Coaching career

Club career

Geoff Wraith was the coach of Wakefield Trinity from February 1984 to May 1984.

Quote

"On Mondays which I set aside for developing skills and positional play, there were sometimes only four or five players turning up. From the others I'd get excuses like 'My wife was having a Tupperware party'." Geoff Wraith, on his resignation as coach of Wakefield Trinity.[9]

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  2. "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  3. David Smart & Andrew Howard (1 July 2000). "Images of Sport - Castleford Rugby League - A Twentieth Century History". The History Press Ltd. ISBN 978-0752418957
  4. "Castleford RLFC A to Z Player List (All Time)". thecastlefordtigers.co.uk. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. "Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk". thecastlefordtigers.co.uk. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. Lindley, John (1960). Dreadnoughts - A HISTORY OF Wakefield Trinity F. C. 1873 - 1960 [Page118]. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a
  7. Emery, David (1984). Who's Who in Rugby League. London: Queen Anne Press. pp. 127–128. ISBN 978-0-356-10435-5.
  8. "Former Wakefield Trinity and Castleford full-back 'great' Geoff Wraith has died, aged 72". wakefieldexpress.co.uk. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  9. Barber, John (17 January 2012). Quote Sport Unquote. Amazon Media EU S.à r.l. ASIN: B006Z93WFA
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