Charlie Penrose

OVERALL STATISTICS

BIRTHAGESIGNED ONFROM
21-06-1884
N/A
Date unknown.
Unknown.
DEBUTLAST MATCHLEFT
21-04-1908 v Bramley
Wakefield Trinity
1913- Struck Off Register
CAREERAPPEARANCES (SUBS)
1907-1912
2 (0)
TRIESGOALSDGOALSPTS
0
0
0
0

Biography of Charlie Penrose



HERITAGE NO : 170
Charlie Penrose played two competitive matches for the Saints senior team. The first was against Bramley in April 1908 and the second against Wakefield Trinity in February 1913. One may assume that he played regularly for the A team between these dates. He played both matches on the left wing and had the reputation of being quite a speedster, winning many prizes for athletics. His speciality, apparently was the half-mile event.

He was born in Welton, Yorkshire and lived initially as a boarder in Greenall Street. He played on the wing for the Saints at one stage and by the start of the 1908-09 season the St. Helens Newspaper wrote that the youngster "is likely to eventually prove to be one of the club`s best threequarters and at the time of his accident he was playing grandly." The accident being talked about was running over a stone during training, which caused quite a bit of damage to his knee.

Charles was an elementary school teacher [according to the 1911 census] and was based at Rivington Road School, whose Headmaster was Tom Phillips, the Saints` Chairman. In later years, Penrose himself rose to the same position at the school and is prominent in all the team photographs.

Charles played just two matches for Saints, with a five-year gap in between. It is not known whether he was a regular member of the A team at this time, although it was quite probable. However, his duties as a teacher must have made things difficult in many ways, compounded by the fact that the Saints had two wingers of the calibre of Tom Barton and Jimmy Flanagan to call upon at this time.

During his time as Headteacher of Rivington, Harry Cook [another winger, from his rugby union days] was on the staff, who graduated to the headship himself in later years. So the school could boast another famous link with the town`s rugby league club. As a footnote. Other members of staff at Rivington who played for the Saints include Welshmen Don Gullick and Len Constance, together with Head teacher Bill Garner.

Charlie was living in Kiln Lane, Eccleston St Helens in 1939, a relatively short stroll from Rivington Road School. He was still resident there when he passed away on New Years Day 1957 leaving behind his widow, Mary Alice.

His son, Bob, says that the injury that eventually ended his sporting career proved to be a blessing, making him unfit for military service in the First World War. "He was a very caring man, with a genuine interest in his pupils' welfare and knew all their names, even though there must have been hundreds who came through the system during his time at Rivington," says Bob.

Alex Service



SEASON STATISTICS

Season (Official Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
1907~08 0 0 0 1
1912~130 0 0 1
TOTALS:0 0 0 2
Season (Other Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
TOTALS:

ALL MATCHES

DateMatchPosOpponentsCompVenueFTFTOTGDG
21st Apr 1908 1
L
5 Bramley L A 13 16 VIEW
1st Feb 1913 2
L
5 Wakefield Trinity L A 7 14 VIEW
*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub.
WINS : | LOSSES : 2 | DRAWS :

GALLERY





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