Son’s tribute to England skipper

Gerard and Irene celebrating their golden wedding in 2002

Gerard, 79, a sporting man’s man

FORMER England amateur rugby league captain Gerard Maloney has died aged 79.

Great-grandfather Mr Maloney, from Chadderton, took up the game as a teenager and played for Greenacres, Lower Moor, Higginshaw and Werneth Old Boys.

He also represented Lancashire and captained England against France and Italy in 1953 and 1955, winning three caps for his country.

Other honours included playing in the first televised rugby league game.

Mr Maloney is survived by his wife Irene who he married at St Patrick’s Church, Union Street, in December, 1952.

The pair met at King Street stores dance hall after he had been demobbed by the Army following his National Service.

The couple had six sons, four daughters, 24 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Son David said: “He was the type of bloke who could play anything with a ball — snooker, cricket — he was really talented. He also liked watching horse racing.

“My dad was a man’s man. He liked the camaraderie of rugby and the social side afterwards.

“He was also a really good father and a proper gentleman.

“When he played against France he hit an opponent that hard while tackling him that he really shook him up.

“The French bloke’s mother ran on with an umbrella and started hitting him.

“He was a hard, physical rugby league player who made his presence felt on the field.

“He captained England so he must have been pretty good.”

He said that his father, a retired superintendent at Bowden Trailers/Crane Fruehauf, could have played professionally.

“He got offered trials, but back then you had to work for a living.

“He had a young family and he elected to bring his family up,” he added.

Mr Maloney was a devout Catholic and had been a member of St Herbert’s Church, Chadderton, for the last 20 years.

He died on Saturday after a long illness and the reception into the church will be held at 7pm tomorrow. This will be followed by requiem mass at St Herbert’s at 10am on Friday prior to committal at Oldham Crematorium at 11.30am.