Joseph "Joe" G. Riley born in Sowerby Bridge, was an English professional rugby league football player of the 1900s and 1910s, and rugby union coach of the 1890s, 1900s and "10s, playing at representative level for Great Britain, England, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Sowerby Bridge, and Halifax, as a centre, stand-off/five-eighth, or scrum-half/halfback, id est (that is) number 3 or 4, 6, or 7, and coaching rugby union at the newly established Halifax RUFC, after completing his playing career, with fellow Halifax Hall Of Fame Inductee Archie Rigg, Riley"s death was registered in Halifax district, he is buried in Sowerby Bridge cemetery.
Career
International honours
County Honours
Club career
Joe Riley suffered a badly broken leg in the match against Bradford Northern on Saturday 2 January 1915, this fracture ended his rugby league playing career. A testimonial match at Halifax was shared by Joe Riley, and Asa Robinson at Thrum Hall, Halifax in 1920, 20,000 people attended the match, and Joe Riley received £420 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £43,830 in 2013). Joe Riley is a Halifax Hall Of Fame Inductee.
