Maurice Bamford (born Leeds, West Yorkshire, England) is a former rugby league player and coach.^[1]

[edit] Playing career

He attended Sacred Heart Roman Catholic School in Leeds. He was introduced to rugby league in 1945 when he played for his school immediately after the end of World War II.

He signed 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.

[edit] Coaching career

He coached amateur rugby league sides Stanningley, Dudley Hill, Milford Marlins, Oulton Welfare, Castleford Lock Lane, Blackpool Borough, Dewsbury Celtic, Greetland All-Rounders, Mirfield, Oxford University and Yorkshire County.

In 1972 he returned to the pro-game as assistant coach at Dewsbury and began a new career as coach. He had spells as coach 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.

His career also included a three-year stint as Great Britain coach in the 80s 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.

Maurice Bamford was coach of Wigan between May 1981 and May 1982 before being sacked. Between November 1983 and February 1985, he was coach of Leeds.

In 1985, Bamford was the first ever appointed full time Development Officer for rugby league in the UK when he served for the Leeds City Council Leisure Services for two and a half years.

Between December 1986 and April 1988, he was coach of Leeds. In 2004 he had a brief spell coaching amateur side Bailiff Bridge panthers.

[edit] References

v • d • e Wigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club History • Records • Stadium • Current squad • List of players • Honours Seasons 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 Stadiums Folly Field (1872–1877; 1879–1886) • Prescott Street (1877–1879; 1886–1901) • Springfield Park (1901–1902) • Central Park (1902–1999) • DW Stadium (1999–present) Head Coaches Jim Sullivan (1932–1952; 1961) • Maurice Hughes (1952–1953) • Ted Ward (1953–1956) • Joe Egan (1956–1961) • Johnny Lawrenson (1961) • Griff Jenkins (1961–1963) • Eric Ashton (1963–1973) • Graham Starkey (1973–1974) • Edward "Ted" Toohey (1974–1975) • Joe Coan (1975–1976) • Vince Karalius (1976–1979) • Kel Coslett (1979–1980) • George Fairbairn (1980–1981) • Maurice Bamford (1981–1982) • Alex Murphy (1982–1984) • Colin Clarke/Alan McInnes (1984–1986) • Graham Lowe (1986–1989) • John Monie (1989–1993; 1997–1999) • John Dorahy (1993–1994) • Graeme West (1994–1997) • Eric Hughes (1997) • Andy Goodway (1999) • Frank Endacott (1999–2001) • Stuart Raper (2001–2003) • Mike Gregory (2003–2004) • Denis Betts (2004–2005) • Ian Millward (2005–2006) • Brian Noble (2006–2009) • Michael Maguire (2009–present) Captains Andy Farrell (1998–2005) • Sean O'Loughlin (2006–present)