Thomas McKinney

Career

International honours County Cup final appearances Tom McKinney played hooker in Saint Helens 2-12 defeat by Oldham in the 1958 Lancashire Cup final during the 1958-1959 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 25 October 1958, and played hooker in the 4-5 defeat by Warrington in the 1959 Lancashire Cup final during the 1959-1960 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 31 October 1959. Club career Raised in Scotland, Tom McKinney played rugby union for Jed-Forest Reconstruction Finance Corporation, in November 1949 he changed to the rugby league code and transferred to Salford, in January 1955 he transferred to Warrington, winning a Championship medal during the 1954-1955 season, on Tuesday 22 January 1957 he transferred to Saint Helens for £2000 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £101,200 in 2013), winning a Championship medal during the 1958-1959 season, after Friday 25 December 1959 he transferred to Salford. On Thursday 25 March 2004 six football players were inducted into Rugby League Ireland"s inaugural Hall of Fame at the Rugby League Heritage Centre in Huddersfield, they were.

John "Jack" Daly (Huddersfield/Featherstone Rovers), Robert "Bob" Kelly (Keighley/Wakefield Trinity/Batley), Seamus McCallion (Halifax/Leeds/Bramley), Thomas "Tom" McKinney, (Salford/Warrington/Street Helens), Terry O"Connor (Salford/Wigan Warriors/Widnes Vikings), Patrick "Paddy" Reid (Huddersfield/Halifax).

Achievements

• 31 December 1926 in Ballymena, Tom McKinney represented Combined Nationalities and scored a try in the 15-19 defeat by France at Stade de Gerland, Lyon on Sunday 3 January 1954, won 7(8?)-caps for Other Nationalities (RL), represented British Empire XIII (RL) while at Salford in 1952 against New Zealand, represented Rugby League XIII while at Salford in 1954 against France, and won caps for Great Britain while at Salford in 1951 against New Zealand, in 1952 against France (non-test), Australia (2 matches), in 1953 against France (non-test), in 1954 against France (non-test), Australia (3 matches), New Zealand, while at Warrington in 1955 against New Zealand (2 matches), France (non-test), New Zealand, in 1956 against France (non-test), while at Saint Helens in the 1957 Rugby League World Cup against New Zealand. In the 1954 Australasian Tour he was brought out of the scrum by Darcy Lawler, Australia"s most controversial referee at the time, and accused of biting. A flabbergasted McKinney just opened his mouth to reveal his toothless gums.