Frank Stirrup

Profile

Born in Leigh, Frank Stirrup came to Oldham from Salford in November 1950, making his senior debut on January 20th, 1951 in the match against Belle Vue Rangers. In that first match Frank played scrum half, but whether it be at the base of the scrum, stand off, wing, or full back, one thing was certain Frank would always give 100 % effort for the “Roughyeds”. He could play scrum half to Daley, then stand off to Pitchford, then deputise at full back for Ganley, embracing each role with enthusiasm and the natural Stirrup rugby flair and belying his slight stature by demonstrating tremendous courage when called upon to defend.

A ball handler of sublime skill, he became known as “Mr Football”, his sleight of hand exchanges, especially with Frank Daley, became legendary at Watersheddings.

Short passes, to put the likes of Little and Turner through the gap.

Long passes, to open up the way for Cracknell and Etty to fly down the wing.

No passes, leaving defenders tackling shadows as Frank dummied his way over for another try.

All these were part of the Stirrup armoury that used to thrill the Watersheddings crowd.

Considered desperately unlucky never to represent his country, Frank did play for Lancashire and was a most popular club captain in the Championship winning season of 1956-57, having been the first Oldham skipper to lift a major trophy for over 20 years, after the Lancashire Cup final success over St Helens at Swinton, on October 20th, 1956.

There were few, if any, players who left such a lasting impression on the Oldham supporters of being a Rugby League Football “entertainer”, as did Frank Stirrup.

Career Games

Opposition Venue Date Competition
Oldham v Belle Vue Rangers Home January 20, 1951 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away January 27, 1951 League Championship
Workington Town v Oldham Away February 3, 1951 League Championship
Leeds v Oldham Away February 10, 1951 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Leeds Home February 17, 1951 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away February 24, 1951 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away August 11, 1951 Law Cup
Oldham v Bradford Northern Home August 18, 1951 League Championship
Belle Vue Rangers v Oldham Away August 22, 1951 League Championship
Keighley v Oldham Away August 25, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Liverpool City Home August 28, 1951 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away September 1, 1951 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home September 4, 1951 Lancashire Cup
Wigan v Oldham Away September 8, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Whitehaven Home September 10, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v St Helens Home September 15, 1951 League Championship
Widnes v Oldham Away September 22, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Widnes Home September 24, 1951 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v New Zealand Home September 29, 1951 Tour Match
Oldham v Warrington Home October 6, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Leigh Home October 16, 1951 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Leigh Home October 20, 1951 League Championship
Salford v Oldham Away October 27, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Bramley Home November 3, 1951 League Championship
Workington Town v Oldham Away November 10, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Wigan Home November 17, 1951 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away November 24, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home December 1, 1951 League Championship
Halifax v Oldham Away December 8, 1951 League Championship
Whitehaven v Oldham Away December 15, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Keighley Home December 22, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Workington Town Home December 26, 1951 League Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home January 3, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Widnes Home January 5, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home January 12, 1952 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Away February 2, 1952 League Championship
Hull FC v Oldham Away February 9, 1952 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Hull FC Home February 16, 1952 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Leeds v Oldham Away March 1, 1952 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Bramley v Oldham Away March 8, 1952 League Championship
Leigh v Oldham Away March 22, 1952 League Championship
St Helens v Oldham Away March 29, 1952 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away April 1, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Belle Vue Rangers Home April 5, 1952 League Championship
Swinton v Oldham Away April 11, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home April 12, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Halifax Home April 14, 1952 League Championship
Hull Kingston Rovers v Oldham Away April 26, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v RL XIII Home May 6, 1952 Benefit Match
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home August 16, 1952 Law Cup
Oldham v Featherstone Rovers Home August 23, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Swinton Home August 30, 1952 Lancashire Cup
Swinton v Oldham Away September 3, 1952 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Leeds Home September 6, 1952 League Championship
St Helens v Oldham Away September 10, 1952 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away September 13, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Australia Home September 15, 1952 Tour Match
Oldham v Wakefield Trinity Home September 20, 1952 League Championship
Workington Town v Oldham Away September 24, 1952 Lancashire Cup
Leeds v Oldham Away September 27, 1952 League Championship
Workington Town v Oldham Away October 4, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Widnes Home October 11, 1952 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Away October 18, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Warrington Home October 25, 1952 League Championship
Wakefield Trinity v Oldham Away November 15, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home November 22, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Belle Vue Rangers Home December 6, 1952 League Championship
Bradford Northern v Oldham Away December 20, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Swinton Home December 25, 1952 League Championship
Liverpool City v Oldham Away December 26, 1952 League Championship
Oldham v Wigan Home December 27, 1952 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away January 10, 1953 League Championship
Salford v Oldham Away January 17, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home January 24, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Bramley Home January 31, 1953 League Championship
St Helens v Oldham Away February 7, 1953 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v St Helens Home February 14, 1953 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away February 21, 1953 League Championship
Whitehaven v Oldham Away February 28, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Bradford Northern Home March 7, 1953 League Championship
Widnes v Oldham Away March 14, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Workington Town Home March 21, 1953 League Championship
Featherstone Rovers v Oldham Away March 28, 1953 League Championship
Swinton v Oldham Away April 3, 1953 League Championship
Belle Vue Rangers v Oldham Away April 4, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Whitehaven Home April 6, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Liverpool City Home April 11, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v St Helens Home April 18, 1953 League Championship
Leigh v Oldham Away April 22, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Huddersfield Home May 16, 1953 Benefit Match
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away August 8, 1953 Law Cup
Oldham v Wigan Home August 15, 1953 League Championship
Huddersfield v Oldham Away August 22, 1953 League Championship
Bramley v Oldham Away August 26, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Leeds Home August 29, 1953 League Championship
Widnes v Oldham Away September 2, 1953 League Championship
Whitehaven v Oldham Away September 5, 1953 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Whitehaven Home September 7, 1953 Lancashire Cup
Leigh v Oldham Away September 12, 1953 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Away September 24, 1953 Lancashire Cup
Leeds v Oldham Away September 26, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Widnes Home October 3, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Dewsbury Home October 10, 1953 League Championship
Salford v Oldham Away October 17, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home October 24, 1953 League Championship
Dewsbury v Oldham Away October 31, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v St Helens Home November 7, 1953 League Championship
Whitehaven v Oldham Away November 14, 1953 League Championship
Oldham v Bramley Home November 21, 1953 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Away February 20, 1954 League Championship
Oldham v Leigh Home February 27, 1954 League Championship
Oldham v Warrington Home March 6, 1954 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Barrow v Oldham Away March 13, 1954 League Championship
Oldham v Hull FC Home March 20, 1954 League Championship
Leigh v Oldham Neutral April 3, 1954 Exhibition Match
Wigan v Oldham Away April 10, 1954 League Championship
Oldham v Belle Vue Rangers Home April 17, 1954 League Championship
Halifax v Oldham Away May 15, 1954 Benefit Match
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home August 7, 1954 Law Cup
Salford v Oldham Away August 25, 1954 League Championship
Batley v Oldham Away September 18, 1954 League Championship
Oldham v Wakefield Trinity Home September 25, 1954 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away October 16, 1954 League Championship
Oldham v Blackpool Borough Home November 6, 1954 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away November 27, 1954 League Championship
Whitehaven v Oldham Away December 11, 1954 League Championship
Keighley v Oldham Away December 18, 1954 League Championship
Oldham v Swinton Home December 25, 1954 League Championship
Oldham v Belle Vue Rangers Home January 1, 1955 League Championship
Workington Town v Oldham Away January 22, 1955 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home January 29, 1955 League Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home February 5, 1955 League Championship
Oldham v Wigan Home February 12, 1955 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v St Helens Home February 19, 1955 League Championship
Leigh v Oldham Away March 5, 1955 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Belle Vue Rangers v Oldham Away March 12, 1955 League Championship
Oldham v Widnes Home March 19, 1955 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Away March 26, 1955 League Championship
Oldham v Wigan Home April 2, 1955 League Championship
Swinton v Oldham Away April 8, 1955 League Championship
Hull FC v Oldham Away April 9, 1955 League Championship
Oldham v Keighley Home April 11, 1955 League Championship
Oldham v Leigh Home April 16, 1955 League Championship
Oldham v Hull FC Home April 18, 1955 League Championship
Oldham v Leeds Home April 23, 1955 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Neutral May 14, 1955 League Championship
Oldham v Keighley Home August 20, 1955 Friendly
Blackpool Borough v Oldham Away August 27, 1955 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Leigh Home September 7, 1955 Lancashire Cup
Leeds v Oldham Away September 10, 1955 League Championship
Oldham v Warrington Home September 17, 1955 League Championship
Hunslet v Oldham Away October 8, 1955 League Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home October 15, 1955 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Away October 22, 1955 League Championship
Oldham v New Zealand Home October 29, 1955 Tour Match
Featherstone Rovers v Oldham Neutral November 2, 1955 Independent Television Floodlit Trophy
Leigh v Oldham Away November 5, 1955 League Championship
Oldham v Liverpool City Home November 12, 1955 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away November 19, 1955 League Championship
Oldham v Widnes Home November 26, 1955 League Championship
Liverpool City v Oldham Away December 3, 1955 League Championship
Salford v Oldham Away December 10, 1955 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home December 17, 1955 League Championship
St Helens v Oldham Away December 24, 1955 League Championship
Oldham v Swinton Home December 26, 1955 League Championship
Blackpool Borough v Oldham Away December 27, 1955 League Championship
Oldham v Whitehaven Home December 31, 1955 League Championship
Workington Town v Oldham Away January 2, 1956 League Championship
Whitehaven v Oldham Away January 7, 1956 League Championship
Widnes v Oldham Away January 21, 1956 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home January 28, 1956 League Championship
Oldham v Dewsbury Home February 11, 1956 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Wigan Home February 18, 1956 League Championship
Leeds v Oldham Away March 3, 1956 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v York Home March 10, 1956 League Championship
Oldham v Blackpool Borough Home March 17, 1956 League Championship
Oldham v Leigh Home March 24, 1956 League Championship
Oldham v St Helens Home April 14, 1956 League Championship
Oldham v Workington Town Home April 21, 1956 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home August 11, 1956 Law Cup
Oldham v Bramley Home August 18, 1956 League Championship
Halifax v Oldham Away August 20, 1956 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away August 25, 1956 League Championship
Oldham v Leigh Home August 28, 1956 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away September 1, 1956 Lancashire Cup
St Helens v Oldham Away September 8, 1956 League Championship
Salford v Oldham Away September 11, 1956 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Wakefield Trinity Home September 15, 1956 League Championship
Leigh v Oldham Away September 19, 1956 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Barrow Home September 22, 1956 League Championship
Liverpool City v Oldham Away September 29, 1956 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away October 6, 1956 League Championship
Oldham v Halifax Home October 13, 1956 League Championship
St Helens v Oldham Neutral October 20, 1956 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Keighley Home October 27, 1956 League Championship
Workington Town v Oldham Away November 3, 1956 League Championship
Oldham v Australia Home November 7, 1956 Tour Match
Oldham v Workington Town Home November 10, 1956 League Championship
Keighley v Oldham Away November 17, 1956 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away November 21, 1956 League Championship
Oldham v Blackpool Borough Home November 24, 1956 League Championship
Oldham v York Home December 1, 1956 League Championship
Oldham v St Helens Home December 8, 1956 League Championship
Wakefield Trinity v Oldham Away December 15, 1956 League Championship
Widnes v Oldham Away December 29, 1956 League Championship
Blackpool Borough v Oldham Away January 1, 1957 League Championship
Oldham v Hunslet Home January 5, 1957 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home January 12, 1957 League Championship
Oldham v Warrington Home January 26, 1957 League Championship
Oldham v Widnes Home February 16, 1957 League Championship
Leigh v Oldham Away February 23, 1957 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Bramley v Oldham Away March 23, 1957 League Championship
Hunslet v Oldham Away April 20, 1957 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away August 22, 1957 League Championship
Wakefield Trinity v Oldham Away August 24, 1957 League Championship
Oldham v Leigh Home September 21, 1957 League Championship
Blackpool Borough v Oldham Away October 26, 1957 League Championship
Oldham v Wakefield Trinity Home November 2, 1957 League Championship
Leigh v Oldham Away November 23, 1957 League Championship
Liverpool City v Oldham Away December 14, 1957 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Away December 28, 1957 League Championship
Oldham v Blackpool Borough Home March 1, 1958 League Championship
Blackpool Borough v Oldham Away August 19, 1958 League Championship
Wakefield Trinity v Oldham Away August 23, 1958 League Championship
Oldham v Whitehaven Home August 30, 1958 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Workington Town Home September 2, 1958 League Championship
Halifax v Oldham Away September 6, 1958 League Championship
Oldham v Blackpool Borough Home September 27, 1958 League Championship
Liverpool City v Oldham Away October 18, 1958 League Championship
Oldham v Featherstone Rovers Home November 8, 1958 League Championship
Dewsbury v Oldham Away August 18, 1959 League Championship
Salford v Oldham Away August 22, 1959 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away October 10, 1959 League Championship
Oldham v Workington Town Home October 17, 1959 League Championship
Oldham v Liverpool City Home April 2, 1960 League Championship