Profile

The word “character” was never more aptly applied to a Rugby League player than when associated with Peter Smethurst, a man who was always quite prepared to speak his mind on the subject of the game he loved and always guaranteed to give maximum effort on the field of play.

One of the most popular players ever to pull on an Oldham shirt, Peter arrived from Swinton in September 1961. Originally a centre, most of his games with the “Roughyeds” were in the second row, although he did strike up an excellent three-quarter partnership with Trevor Simms in the 1963-64 season, which realised 41 tries between them.

Peter played the game hard and fair, with no quarter asked or given. His trademark being to emerge from under two or three defenders after the most crunching tackle, only to be seen supporting a wide and cheeky grin. Always leading by example, he captained the side in the 1966 Lancashire Cup Final against Wigan, when only a desperate last ditch tackle on Oldham full back Stan McLeod in the final seconds right under the posts prevented the cup from coming to Watersheddings.

Leaving to join Salford in 1967, he went on to play in the Leigh side that won the Challenge Cup in 1971. He then returned to Oldham as assistant coach to Frank Myler in the early 1983 and eventually took charge of the team himself for a brief period in the 1983-84 season.