Publisher's Synopsis
Maurice Bamford was introduced to the game of Rugby League Football in 1945. Born in the industrial heartland of Leeds, his basic education was gained at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic School in the city. The individual team he loved and supported from day one was Leeds Rugby League Football Club. Married to Rita, with one daughter, Jane, and two grandchildren, Sarah and Daniel, the author first played for his school immediately after the end of World War Two and so began a love affair with the thirteen-a-side code of Rugby Football that continues to this day. Signing professional forms for Hull F.C. in 1953, he was transferred to Dewsbury in 1957 and returned to play amateur Rugby League in 1964, having played eleven seasons as a professional. In 1972 he returned to the pro-game as assistant coach at the Dewsbury Club and began a rollercoaster career in coaching that sent him around the World three times, and took him to the top, middle and bottom of League several times. His career also included a three-year stint as Great Britain coach with Test Series against Australia, New Zealand and France.;His term as coach of the national side also included the formation of the Great Britain under 21 team. His Club commitments included spells at Leeds and Dewsbury (twice) and three times for Bramley. He also enjoyed time at Wigan, Halifax, Bradford Northern, Workington Town, York, Keighley, Prescot and Lancashire Lynx. In the Amateur game his experience includes coaching roles at Stanningley, Dudley Hill, Milford Marlins, Oulton Welfare, Castleford Lock Lane, Blackpool Borough, Dewsbury Celtic, Greetland All-Rounders, Mirfield, Oxford University and Yorkshire County open age side. A regional coach in the National Coaching scheme from 1975 until 1987 saw membership also of B.A.N.C. (British Association of National Coaches) as a locum to Phil Larder, now a senior coach with the England rugby union team. Also, the author was the first ever appointed full time Development Officer for Rugby League in this country in 1985 when he served for the Leeds City Council Leisure Services for two and a half years. In this role he introduced over 3000 Leeds schoolchildren to the game of Rugby League Football.;Maurice Bamford is also an accomplished media performer, making regular appearances on BBC TV, Yorkshire Television, BBC Radio Leeds, BBC Radio 5 Live and Sky TV. He has also written for the Mail on Sunday and the Manchester Evening News and is currently a columnist for the Rugby Leaguer newspaper.
