Albert Firth

Albert Firth
Albert Firth
Born	3 July 1937 (age 89); Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died	5 January 2015 (aged 77); Osgodby, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England
Other names	Budgie
Occupation(s)	Rugby league footballer, publican
Years active	1950s–1960s
Known for	Playing for Wakefield Trinity, Yorkshire, York, Leeds Rhinos

Albert Firth (3 July 1937 – 5 January 2015), widely recognized by the nickname "Budgie", was a professional English rugby league player whose career spanned the 1950s and 1960s. At the representative level, he competed for Yorkshire, while at the club level, he represented Stanley Rangers ARLFC, Wakefield Trinity, York, and Leeds, predominantly occupying the positions of or .

Background

Firth was born in Wakefield, located in the West Riding of Yorkshire region of England. He died at the age of 77 in Osgodby, Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

County honours

During his tenure with Wakefield Trinity, Firth was selected to play for the Yorkshire County XIII in the 1959/60 season and again in 1961.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Firth played as a in Wakefield Trinity’s commanding 38–5 triumph over Hull F.C. during the 1959–60 Challenge Cup Final held at Wembley Stadium on 14 May 1960. He also appeared at in the subsequent Challenge Cup Final of the 1961–62 season, where Wakefield Trinity defeated Huddersfield 12–6 at Wembley on 12 May 1962.

County Cup Final appearances

In the Yorkshire Cup Final of the 1960–61 season, Firth took up the role of to help Wakefield Trinity secure a 16–10 win against Huddersfield at Headingley on 29 October 1960. The following year, he again played as a , contributing to a 19–9 victory over Leeds in the 1961–62 Yorkshire Cup Final at Odsal Stadium on 11 November 1961.

Club career

Albert Firth made his first appearance for Wakefield Trinity in April 1954 and remained with the club through to the end of the 1962–63 season. He moved to York Wasps in December 1962 before transferring to Leeds Rhinos in October 1964.

Contemporaneous Article Extract

"Overview – Albert Firth – Albert began his rugby journey with Wakefield City Schools, earning County honours playing as a forward, often in the loose forward position, against Cumberland. Following school, he joined Stanley Rangers as a centre prior to signing with Wakefield Trinity at age sixteen in July 1953. After a short spell with the "A" team, he debuted for the senior side in November 1953 facing Huddersfield at Belle Vue. His inaugural full season (1954–55) featured thirty matches and thirteen tries. That September marked his representative debut for Yorkshire versus Cumberland, initiating his county-level career. By his early twenties, with over 127 first-team games and forty tries to his name, Firth was regarded as an essential player for Trinity's upcoming campaigns."

Outside of Rugby League

Following his retirement from professional rugby, Albert Firth pursued a career as a publican, managing The Angel Inn along with other pubs situated in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

Genealogical information

In 1957, Albert Firth wed Peggy (née Geary) in Wakefield. They had two children: Kim (born 1958) and Cheryl (born 1959). After their divorce, he married Carol A. Firth from Scarborough during the 1980s. Peggy was the eldest sister to Molly—who married rugby league player Stanley Smith—and Lily, who wed Leslie Chamberlain.

External links