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Rugby league legend Len Ward dies
The final whistle has sounded at the age of 85 for one of Keighley Rugby League Club's finest players of all time, Len Ward, who had lived for much of his life in Steeton, writes Roger Ingham.
Born in Castleford, Len was brought to Keighley at the age of 14 to live with relatives. After making an early impression in boxing, he tried his hand at rugby league with local amateur side Keighley Athletic where his talents soon attracted the attention of numerous professional scouts.
His loyalty to the local district and community at large though would see him look no further than Keighley for whom he remained throughout a truly outstanding career as a wing three-quarter who possessed all the prime top class attributes in both attack and defence.
Playing with a team invariably situated mid-division or lower - and in consequence of his awesome talent a well-recognised target for unscrupulous opponents - Len's 139 tries in 336 games was a truly remarkable achievement.
In addition - as a stand-in goal-kicker with the old fashioned leather ball - from just 50 attempts he booted 45 goals.
His five Yorkshire caps were scant reward for such an outstanding player who the famous Australian legend of the same immediate post-war era, Lionel Cooper, described as one of the most formidable opponents he had ever played against!
Needless to say, at the height of his career, he attracted offers from clubs in the higher echelons of the league and his loyalty to Keighley almost certainly denied him selection for the 1950 Great Britain tour of Australasia when many pundits clamoured for his recognition.
One of life's true gentlemen who was forever modest about his own achievements, and a wonderful ambassador for his sport, Len also played for Steeton Bowling Club and he sang for Steeton Male Voice Choir.
A funeral for Mr Ward will be held today at St Stephen's Church in Steeton. It starts at 2.45pm.
3:14pm Thursday 27th March 2008
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