Former Ace Ganley Dies

BERNARD Ganley leads Oldham out against Rochdale in 1958.

BERNARD Ganley, the finest goal-kicker Oldham RL has ever had, has died aged 82.

A Leigh-born full-back who represented Lancashire and Great Britain, the deadly accurate Ganley was a vital member of Oldham’s all-conquering side of the 1950s.

His career at Watersheddings, which began when signing as an amateur from amateurs Leigh Spinners in 1950 before graduating to the professional ranks a year later, lasted until 1961.

In that time, he racked up a staggering 1,358 points in 341 appearances for the club.

Ganley was the first rugby league goal kicker to amass more than 200 goals in a single season, achieving the feat in the 1957-58 season when he landed 219 — a world record which stood until surpassed by Salford's David Watkins, with 221, during season 1972-73.

His 14 goals against Liverpool in 1959 still stands as a club high and his 10 goals for Great Britain against France in 1957 — he won three full caps in total — equalled Lewis Jones' international record.

Ganley retired from playing in 1961, when he left Watersheddings to take up a position as a TV and radio presenter with the BBC, before he went on to form his own successful accountancy practice.

In his later years, Ganley, a member of the Oldham RL Heritage Trust’s rugby league Hall of Fame, had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

The funeral, which will be held at St Vincent’s RC church in Knutsford, takes place on Wednesday, July 8, at noon.

The funeral director is Hooley, Watson and Buckley, who can be contacted on (01625) 422734 for further information.