Keith Northey

OVERALL STATISTICS

BIRTHAGESIGNED ONFROM
01-08-1940
N/A
22-05-1961
Birkenhead Park RUFC
DEBUTLAST MATCHLEFT
26-08-1961 v Swinton
Rochdale Hornets
1965- Widnes
CAREERAPPEARANCES (SUBS)
1961-1965
119 (3)
TRIESGOALSDGOALSPTS
48
48
0
240

Biography of Keith Northey



HERITAGE NO : 785
Keith Northey by Dave Dooley:

Keith Northey was a fast, skilful player for the club playing over 100 matches in the mid-sixties, mostly as a centre. Born in St Helens, he signed from Rugby Union outfit Birkenhead Park on 22nd. May 1961. Keith made his debut against Swinton in the 15 points to 6 points away defeat on the 26th. August 1961. Keith was an elusive runner with the ball and became famous for utilising the `goose-step` to take on opponents on the outside. In defence he was a sound tackler. In his first season Keith played 30 games for the Saints scoring 12 tries and kicking 48 goals for an aggregate of 132 points. In this season he shared the goal-kicking duties with Austin Rhodes. Remarkably, Keith never kicked another goal for the Saints!

Keith Northey scored his first try for the Club against Leigh on September 2nd. 1961 in the 43 points to 8 drubbing of the Leythers in the first round Lancashire Cup match. He promptly followed up with a second touchdown in the same match. For the next two seasons most Saints backs found themselves being rotated around the back positions and in and out of the side. The lack of goal-kicking practice can be attributed to the signing of Kel Coslett who was an ever-present member of the team in the 1962-63 season. However Keith did chip in with eleven tries from 21 games.

The following season Keith was in the centre as Saints lifted the Lancashire Cup for the fourth year in succession. This time the opposition was Leigh as 21 231 spectators witness Saints overcome the Leythers by 15 points to 4. In the 1963/64 season Keith played 31 matches notching 11 tries in the process. The penultimate match that season was the Western Divisional Championship Final against Swinton at Central Park. On the 16th. May, 1964 in front of 17 363 spectators Saints defeated a talented Swinton side by 10 points to 7 with Northey scoring a fine try.

The 1964/65 was another action-packed campaign for Keith Northey. He collected his second Lancashire Cup winners medal as Saints again disposed of Swinton by 12 points to 4 in front of a crowd of 17 383 at Central Park on October 24th. 1964. The start of that particular season was an incredible experience for Saints` fans at the time. The team won its first 21 matches of the season with Keith playing in sixteen of those games (plus substitute twice). By the end of the season Saints topped the table having conceded only 226 from 34 league matches (an average of less than 7 points conceded per match); notwithstanding Saints were renowned for their attacking play at the time!

The following season saw changing fortunes for Keith as a raft of talented backs pressed hard for a starting position in the team. Keith was eventually out of favour as the Club attempted to maintain the winning formula that had put together another incredible unbeaten run in the league in the first four months of the season. After only two games of the campaign Keith moved on to Widnes as Wood, Benyon, Smith, Williams, Murphy and Tony Barrow regularly featured in the centre position (Even John Mantle and Kel Coslett played in the centre that season). Northey played his final game for the Saints away against Rochdale Hornets on the 24th. of August, 1965, as Saints prevailed by 17 points to 9.

Keith Northey played 116 (+ three as substitute) matches for the club. He scored 48 tries and kicked 48 goals for an aggregate score of 240 points. Keith also represented Lancashire on three occasions plus once as substitute. This was a recognition of the fine attacking play he exhibited for the Club at the time.

Keith Northey Article in St.Helens Reporter 19th July 1958

Leaves a Glorious Sport Record

One of the most accomplished young athletes to be produced by West Park Catholic grammar school is strapping all-rounder Keith Northey, 436, Liverpool Road, Pewfall, who is to study to become a physical education master at De La Salle training college, Middleton.

Seventeen years old Keith stands 5 foot 11inches and weighs around 13 stones. He left school last week, leaving behind a glorious record of sporting achievements.

He was captain of his school Rugby Union and cricket teams and last month became athletics individual champion for the second year in succession. Excelling in field events, he has no mean burst of speed, a great asset to his play as a rugby centre.
Some idea of his versatility can be gained from his latest athletic performances. His times and distances for the seven events he won, under rather unfavourable conditions were: 100 yards (10.7 seconds), 220 yards (25 seconds), high jump (five feet), long jump (18 feet four inches), javelin (131 feet) and shot (45 feet).

In addition he was second in the 440 yards event and in the 100 yards hurdles. And he was a member of the winning House relay team. One of his proudest achievements was in breaking the school batting record of 81, set by Tom King in 1943. Keith knocked up 118 in a match against a team of staff members and Old Boys. (A number of them now experienced senior league cricketers). He has also hit 82 not out against Newton Grammar School.

Last season he was presented with the Roland Pennington award (a special cricket bat) as the school's best cricketing all-rounder. On occasions he has assisted West Park Old Boys and as well as being a stylish batsman, he is also a fast bowler.

He has also played for the Old Boys rugby team in a Sevens tournament.

Keith's father Bob Northey has his chief sporting interest in soccer. A former Manchester United player, he also played for Prescot Cables and the old Haydock Villa sides. He was recently appointed chief coach of the Lancashire Combination side St.Helens Town.

Keith added to his laurels over the past week when he shattered the schools batting record of 450 runs for a season. Against Ormskirk Grammar School, he hit his 459th run and there were still three matches left to the end of the season.



SEASON STATISTICS

Season (Official Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
1961~6212 48 0 30
1962~63 11 0 0 21
1963~6411 0 0 31
1964~65 14 0 0 35
1965~66 0 0 0 2
TOTALS:48 48 0 119
Season (Other Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
1961~621001
1962~631202
1963~641301
1964~652002
1965~66 0001
TOTALS:5507

ALL MATCHES

DateMatchPosOpponentsCompVenueFTFTOTGDG
12th Aug 1961 --
W
 2 Liverpool City* Fr Charity Cup H 29 14 1 VIEW
26th Aug 1961 1
L
 3 Swinton L A 6 15 VIEW
2nd Sep 1961 2
W
 3 Leigh LC1 H 43 8 2 VIEW
12th Sep 1961 3
W
 3 Rochdale Hornets L A 14 2 4 VIEW
16th Sep 1961 4
W
 5 Whitehaven L H 44 0 2 2 VIEW
30th Sep 1961 5
L
 5 Hull L H 22 25 5 VIEW
14th Oct 1961 6
W
 6 New Zealand Tour H 25 10 1 5 VIEW
25th Nov 1961 7
W
 2 Workington Town L H 16 7 1 VIEW
2nd Dec 1961 8
L
 3 Hull Kingston Rovers L A 5 12 VIEW
9th Dec 1961 9
L
 3 Wakefield Trinity L A 10 12 2 VIEW
16th Dec 1961 10
L
 6 Oldham L H 8 9 1 VIEW
20th Jan 1962 11
W
 5 Warrington L H 11 7 VIEW
27th Jan 1962 12
L
 5 Workington Town L A 7 23 2 VIEW
3rd Feb 1962 13
W
 1 Huddersfield L H 36 5 6 VIEW
10th Feb 1962 14
W
 1 Salford CC1 A 15 2 3 VIEW
17th Feb 1962 15
W
 1 Salford L H 17 12 1 VIEW
24th Feb 1962 16
L
 1 Leigh L A 6 7 3 VIEW
10th Mar 1962 17
W
 2 Rochdale Hornets L H 16 5 5 VIEW
13th Mar 1962 18
W
 4 Liverpool City L H 31 7 1 VIEW
17th Mar 1962 19
L
 4 Oldham L A 7 10 VIEW
24th Mar 1962 20
W
 3 Widnes L H 13 8 VIEW
31st Mar 1962 21
W
 1 Swinton L H 5 2 1 1 VIEW
3rd Apr 1962 22
W
 1 Hull Kingston Rovers L H 27 2 2 VIEW
7th Apr 1962 23
W
 1 Hull L A 12 8 VIEW
9th Apr 1962 24
W
 1 Leigh L H 42 4 1 1 VIEW
14th Apr 1962 25
W
 1 Blackpool Borough L A 15 2 VIEW
20th Apr 1962 26
L
 1 Wigan L H 16 18 VIEW
21st Apr 1962 27
W
 4 Liverpool City L A 14 2 1 VIEW
23rd Apr 1962 28
W
 5 Blackpool Borough L H 37 5 2 2 VIEW
28th Apr 1962 29
L
 4 Wigan L A 3 12 VIEW
2nd May 1962 30
W
 4 Huddersfield L A 16 9 1 2 VIEW
7th May 1962 --
W
 4 SHAPE Indians* Fr H 43 8 2 VIEW
10th Aug 1962 --
W
 6 Liverpool City* Fr Charity Cup H 33 2 1 VIEW
18th Aug 1962 31
W
 6 Salford WDC A 35 24 VIEW
22nd Aug 1962 32
W
 6 Leigh WDC H 21 3 1 VIEW
25th Aug 1962 33
W
 4 Blackpool Borough WDC H 21 12 2 VIEW
30th Aug 1962 34
W
 4 Liverpool City WDC A 16 9 1 VIEW
1st Sep 1962 35
W
 4 Salford WDC H 59 0 1 VIEW
8th Sep 1962 36
W
 4 Liverpool City LC1 H 22 0 1 VIEW
6th Oct 1962 37
L
 4 Warrington L A 13 21 1 VIEW
9th Oct 1962 38
L
 4 Widnes WDCSF H 9 10 VIEW
13th Oct 1962 39
D
 6 Castleford L H 10 10 VIEW
17th Nov 1962 40
W
 4 Castleford L A 8 7 VIEW
24th Nov 1962 41
W
 3 Huddersfield L H 36 3 1 VIEW
1st Dec 1962 42
L
 3 Workington Town L A 5 8 VIEW
8th Dec 1962 43
W
 2 Leeds L H 13 6 1 VIEW
15th Dec 1962 44
L
 4 Wakefield Trinity L A 7 10 VIEW
30th Mar 1963 45
W
 5 Featherstone Rovers L A 17 10 VIEW
1st Apr 1963 46
W
 6 Workington Town L H 29 0 VIEW
6th Apr 1963 47
W
 6 Halifax L H 33 3 2 VIEW
12th Apr 1963 48
W
 6 Wigan L A 24 4 VIEW
15th Apr 1963 49
L
 6 Swinton L H 9 24 VIEW
20th Apr 1963 50
W
 6 Featherstone Rovers L H 18 5 VIEW
27th Apr 1963 51
L
 6 Hull L A 7 15 VIEW
17th Aug 1963 --
W
 2 Liverpool City* Fr Charity Cup H 34 8 1 3 VIEW
28th Aug 1963 52
W
 4 Castleford L H 20 11 2 VIEW
31st Aug 1963 53
W
 4 Keighley L A 18 6 VIEW
2nd Sep 1963 54
W
 4 Hunslet L A 15 7 1 VIEW
7th Sep 1963 55
W
 4 Swinton LC1 A 12 2 VIEW
14th Sep 1963 56
W
 4 Hull Kingston Rovers L H 40 5 VIEW
16th Sep 1963 57
W
 4 Workington Town LC2 H 28 4 VIEW
21st Sep 1963 58
L
 4 Halifax L A 5 13 VIEW
23rd Sep 1963 59
W
 6 Warrington LCSF A 21 14 1 VIEW
28th Sep 1963 60
L
 6 Australia Tour H 2 8 VIEW
5th Oct 1963 61
W
 3 Barrow WDC H 19 15 VIEW
12th Oct 1963 62
W
 6 Leeds L A 10 2 VIEW
19th Oct 1963 63
W
 3 Hull L H 11 10 VIEW
26th Oct 1963 64
W
 4 Leigh LCF N 15 4 VIEW
2nd Nov 1963 65
W
 4 Warrington L H 19 8 1 VIEW
16th Nov 1963 66
D
 4 Featherstone Rovers L H 11 11 VIEW
7th Dec 1963 67
W
 3 Wakefield Trinity L A 8 7 VIEW
14th Dec 1963 68
L
 2 Halifax L H 12 13 1 VIEW
28th Dec 1963 69
W
 3 Workington Town L A 5 0 VIEW
1st Jan 1964 70
L
 2 Swinton L H 6 8 VIEW
1st Feb 1964 71
W
 3 Hull Kingston Rovers L A 9 5 1 VIEW
8th Feb 1964 72
L
 1 Castleford CC1 H 6 13 VIEW
7th Mar 1964 73
W
 3 Huddersfield L A 16 11 VIEW
21st Mar 1964 74
W
 4 Whitehaven WDC H 50 7 1 VIEW
30th Mar 1964 75
W
 1 Swinton L A 10 7 VIEW
4th Apr 1964 76
L
 1 Widnes L H 6 10 1 VIEW
15th Apr 1964 77
W
 4 Whitehaven WDC A 3 0 VIEW
18th Apr 1964 78
W
 6 Liverpool City WDC A 32 7 VIEW
25th Apr 1964 79
W
 4 Widnes L A 19 8 VIEW
1st May 1964 80
W
 2 Oldham WDCSF H 22 11 1 VIEW
6th May 1964 81
W
 2 Hull L A 17 9 VIEW
16th May 1964 82
W
 4 Swinton WDCF N 10 7 1 VIEW
14th Aug 1964 --
W
 4 Swinton* Fr Gallie Cup H 22 2 VIEW
22nd Aug 1964 83
W
 6 Leigh L A 19 6 1 VIEW
24th Aug 1964 84
W
 4 Rochdale Hornets L H 28 4 1 VIEW
29th Aug 1964 85
W
 3 Widnes L H 29 6 VIEW
31st Aug 1964 --NPS
W
 14 Whitehaven L A 15 5 VIEW
5th Sep 1964 86
W
 4 Liverpool City LC1 A 41 11 1 VIEW
12th Sep 1964 87
W
 6 Blackpool Borough L H 37 5 3 VIEW
14th Sep 1964 88
W
 4 Barrow LC2 A 22 11 1 VIEW
19th Sep 1964 89
W
 6 Rochdale Hornets L A 17 6 VIEW
26th Sep 1964 90
W
 4 Featherstone Rovers L A 30 15 VIEW
29th Sep 1964 91
W
 4 Warrington LCSF A 10 8 VIEW
3rd Oct 1964 92
W
 4 Workington Town L H 32 6 1 VIEW
10th Oct 1964 --NPS
W
 14 Blackpool Borough L A 31 9 VIEW
17th Oct 1964 93
W
 3 Featherstone Rovers L H 25 12 1 VIEW
24th Oct 1964 94
W
 3 Swinton LCF N 12 4 VIEW
31st Oct 1964 95
W
 3 Oldham L H 22 6 VIEW
7th Nov 1964 96
W
 3 Warrington L H 26 10 VIEW
14th Nov 1964 97
W
 4 Hull Kingston Rovers L A 25 12 2 VIEW
21st Nov 1964 98
W
 4 Barrow L H 37 3 2 VIEW
19th Dec 1964 99
W
 3 Leigh L H 10 7 VIEW
1st Jan 1965 100
W
 3 Swinton L A 11 5 VIEW
9th Jan 1965 101
W
 6 Liverpool City L H 23 3 VIEW
16th Jan 1965 --NPS
L
 14 Warrington L A 4 6 VIEW
27th Jan 1965 --
W
 3 Other Nationalities* Fr Opening of Floodl H 19 2 2 VIEW
6th Feb 1965 102
W
 3 Castleford CC1 H 22 9 VIEW
13th Feb 1965 103
L
 3 Workington Town L A 3 4 VIEW
16th Feb 1965 --NPS
W
 14 Salford L H 12 6 VIEW
20th Feb 1965 104
W
 3 Huddersfield L H 28 6 VIEW
27th Feb 1965 105
L
 3 Wigan CC2 A 2 7 VIEW
13th Mar 1965 106
W
 4 Oldham L A 15 9 VIEW
16th Mar 1965 107
L
 14 Wakefield Trinity L H 2 9 VIEW
20th Mar 1965 108
L
 4 Wakefield Trinity L A 4 5 VIEW
27th Mar 1965 109
L
 14 Salford L A 8 11 VIEW
5th Apr 1965 110
W
 4 Barrow L A 21 14 VIEW
17th Apr 1965 111
W
 6 Widnes L A 14 2 VIEW
19th Apr 1965 112
W
 4 Swinton L H 16 5 VIEW
21st Apr 1965 113
W
 4 Huddersfield L A 20 6 VIEW
24th Apr 1965 114
W
 14 Barrow Ch1 H 23 7 1 VIEW
30th Apr 1965 115
W
 6 Hull Kingston Rovers Ch2 H 24 6 VIEW
15th May 1965 116
W
 4 Wakefield Trinity ChSF H 10 5 VIEW
22nd May 1965 117
L
 4 Halifax ChF N 7 15 VIEW
14th Aug 1965 --
L
 6 Swinton * Fr Gallie Cup A 9 11 VIEW
20th Aug 1965 118
W
 3 Halifax L H 15 4 VIEW
24th Aug 1965 119
W
 4 Rochdale Hornets L A 17 9 VIEW
*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub.
WINS : 98 | LOSSES : 30 | DRAWS : 2

GALLERY





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