Cec Thompson

He was born in Leeds the son of a mother from Durham and a Trinidadian father. His father died when he was very young and his childhood was a succession of orphanages.

He took up rugby league when working near Hunslet in Leeds. He turned out to have a natural talent for the game.

He went on to play for Great Britain and Ireland and was transferred to Workington Town in Cumbria after which he was manager of Barrow. He built up his own window cleaning business and then qualified to teach Economics.

He was one of the founders of student rugby league in the UK.