Joe Lawton

Profile

Born locally in Scouthead, Joe Lawton first played for the Highmoor club and later moved on to Mayfield. He was invited to turn out for Oldham “A” team on an occasion when Gwynn and McCutcheon had been selected for Lancashire and the regular “A” teamers were promoted to the senior side. He joined Oldham in 1892 just one week after his famous half back partner Arthur Lees. The first honour he attained was in helping the “A” team win the “Advertiser Cup” in 1893.

After the retirement of Harry Varley, Joe took his place at stand off for the commencement of the 1897-98 season. This was the beginning of a remarkable run of consecutive games that saw him play in every match between September 4th, 1897 and November 2nd, 1901. The total of 134, remains the club record.

It was during this time that he established the half back pairing with Arthur Lees that would reap rich rewards for the club. Although it was Lees who usually worked the base of the scrum, sometimes he and Lawton would swap places to confuse the opposition. Both players captained the Lancashire county team. On one occasion, to much local amusement, when they were each selected for a “Red Rose” encounter, Joe was chosen to lead the county in preference to Arthur who at the time was the Oldham club captain. One of Joe’s greatest assets was his speed of delivery of the ball and as a result the threequarters flourished, particularly Sam Williams and Tom Davies. He was, of course, stand off half in the team that won the Challenge Cup in 1899.

Career Games

Opposition Venue Date Competition
Huddersfield v Oldham Away September 23, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Batley Home October 5, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Wakefield Trinity Home October 7, 1895 Northern Union
Hull FC v Oldham Away October 12, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Bradford Home October 19, 1895 Northern Union
Widnes v Oldham Away October 26, 1895 Northern Union
Leigh v Oldham Away November 9, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Stockport Home November 16, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v St Helens Home December 14, 1895 Northern Union
Batley v Oldham Away February 8, 1896 Northern Union
Bradford v Oldham Away February 18, 1896 Northern Union
Wigan v Oldham Away April 3, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Brighouse Rangers Home April 4, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Liversedge Home April 6, 1896 Northern Union
Halifax v Oldham Away September 28, 1896 Friendly
Warrington v Oldham Away December 5, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
St Helens v Oldham Away January 1, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away January 2, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Swinton Home January 9, 1897 Friendly
Stockport v Oldham Away January 30, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Widnes v Oldham Away February 6, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Wigan Home February 13, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Warrington Home February 20, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Swinton Home March 2, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v St Helens Recs Home March 6, 1897 Friendly
Tyldesley v Oldham Away March 13, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home March 27, 1897 Friendly
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away April 3, 1897 Friendly
Oldham v Manningham Home April 10, 1897 Friendly
Oldham v Huddersfield Home April 19, 1897 Friendly
Oldham v Halifax Home April 26, 1897 Friendly
Oldham v Crompton Home April 30, 1897 Friendly
Morecambe v Oldham Away September 4, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Crompton Home September 6, 1897 Friendly
Stockport v Oldham Away September 11, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Crompton v Oldham Away September 13, 1897 Friendly
Oldham v Runcorn Home September 18, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Salford Home September 25, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Swinton v Oldham Away October 1, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away October 9, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Bradford v Oldham Away October 16, 1897 Friendly
Oldham v Wigan Home October 23, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Morecambe Home October 30, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Widnes v Oldham Away November 6, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Leigh Home November 13, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
St Helens Recs v Oldham Away November 20, 1897 Friendly
St Helens v Oldham Away November 27, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Halifax Home December 4, 1897 Friendly
Oldham v Warrington Home December 11, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Leigh v Oldham Away December 18, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home December 25, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away December 27, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Tyldesley Home January 1, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Widnes Home January 8, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Warrington v Oldham Away January 15, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Stockport Home January 22, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Wigan v Oldham Away January 29, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Salford v Oldham Away February 5, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v St Helens Home February 12, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Swinton Home February 19, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Leeds Home February 26, 1898 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Halifax v Oldham Away March 5, 1898 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Runcorn Home March 19, 1898 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Batley v Oldham Away March 26, 1898 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Runcorn v Oldham Away April 2, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home April 11, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Tyldesley Home April 16, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Manningham v Oldham Away April 19, 1898 Friendly
Halifax v Oldham Away April 25, 1898 Friendly
Oldham v Rest Of Lancs Home April 30, 1898 Champs v Rest
Morecambe v Oldham Away September 3, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Warrington v Oldham Away September 10, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Tyldesley Home September 17, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Runcorn Home September 24, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Huddersfield v Oldham Away September 26, 1898 Friendly
St Helens v Oldham Away October 1, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home October 8, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Workington Home October 15, 1898 Friendly
Salford v Oldham Away October 22, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Swinton Home October 29, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away November 12, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Warrington Home November 19, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Leigh v Oldham Away November 26, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Widnes Home December 10, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Wigan v Oldham Away December 17, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Stockport v Oldham Away December 24, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home December 26, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away December 31, 1898 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Hunslet Home January 2, 1899 Friendly
Oldham v Morecambe Home January 7, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Tyldesley v Oldham Away January 14, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Leigh Home January 21, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v St Helens Home January 28, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Swinton v Oldham Away February 4, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Stockport Home February 11, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Salford Home February 18, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Widnes v Oldham Away February 25, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Runcorn v Oldham Away March 4, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Wigan Home March 11, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Goole Home March 18, 1899 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Warrington Home March 25, 1899 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Bradford v Oldham Away April 1, 1899 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Widnes Home April 8, 1899 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Leigh v Oldham Neutral April 15, 1899 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Hunslet v Oldham Neutral April 29, 1899 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Morecambe v Oldham Away September 2, 1899 Friendly
Millom v Oldham Away September 9, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Tyldesley Home September 16, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Runcorn Home September 23, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Stockport v Oldham Away September 25, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Widnes v Oldham Away October 7, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away October 14, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Stockport Home October 17, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Salford Home October 28, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Swinton v Oldham Away November 11, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Warrington Home November 18, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Wigan v Oldham Away November 25, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
St Helens v Oldham Away December 9, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away December 23, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home December 25, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Millom Home December 30, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Bradford Home January 1, 1900 Friendly
Oldham v Leigh Home January 6, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Widnes Home January 13, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Wigan Home January 20, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Salford v Oldham Away January 27, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Swinton Home February 3, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home February 17, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Warrington v Oldham Away February 21, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Leigh v Oldham Away February 24, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Tyldesley v Oldham Away February 27, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v St Helens Home March 3, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Runcorn v Oldham Away March 10, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Manningham v Oldham Away March 17, 1900 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Manningham Home March 20, 1900 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Halifax v Oldham Away March 24, 1900 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Swinton v Oldham Away March 31, 1900 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Hull Kingston Rovers v Oldham Away April 7, 1900 Friendly
Oldham v Brighouse Rangers Home April 16, 1900 Friendly
Workington v Oldham Away September 1, 1900 Friendly
Barrow v Oldham Away September 8, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Wigan Home September 15, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Barrow Home September 22, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Swinton v Oldham Away September 29, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Runcorn v Oldham Away October 6, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v St Helens Home October 13, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Workington Home October 20, 1900 Friendly
Oldham v Leigh Home October 27, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Birkenhead Wanderers v Oldham Away November 3, 1900 Friendly
Salford v Oldham Away November 10, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Widnes Home November 17, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home November 24, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Millom Home December 1, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Halifax v Oldham Away December 8, 1900 Friendly
St Helens v Oldham Away December 15, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Warrington v Oldham Away December 22, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away December 25, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home December 29, 1900 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Halifax Home January 1, 1901 Friendly
Widnes v Oldham Away January 5, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Swinton Home January 12, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Stockport v Oldham Away January 19, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away January 26, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Stockport Home February 9, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Warrington Home February 19, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Runcorn Home February 23, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Swinton Home February 25, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Otley Home March 2, 1901 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Bramley v Oldham Away March 9, 1901 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Wigan v Oldham Away March 16, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away March 23, 1901 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Widnes v Oldham Away March 30, 1901 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Leigh v Oldham Away April 2, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Salford Home April 6, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Millom v Oldham Away April 8, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Batley v Oldham Neutral April 13, 1901 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v The Rest Home April 20, 1901 Champs v Rest
Werneth v Oldham Away April 26, 1901 Friendly
Leigh v Oldham Away September 7, 1901 Northern RL
Batley v Oldham Away September 14, 1901 Northern RL
Oldham v Huddersfield Home September 21, 1901 Northern RL
Bradford v Oldham Away September 28, 1901 Northern RL
Oldham v Brighouse Rangers Home October 5, 1901 Northern RL
Oldham v Runcorn Home October 12, 1901 Northern RL
Warrington v Oldham Away October 19, 1901 Northern RL
Oldham v South Shields Home October 26, 1901 Friendly
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away November 2, 1901 South East Lancashire League
Huddersfield v Oldham Away November 23, 1901 Northern RL
Hunslet v Oldham Away November 30, 1901 Northern RL
Oldham v Leigh Home December 7, 1901 Northern RL
Oldham v Stockport Home December 10, 1901 South East Lancashire League
Oldham v Warrington Home December 14, 1901 Northern RL
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home December 25, 1901 South East Lancashire League
Oldham v Hull FC Home December 31, 1901 Northern RL
Swinton v Oldham Away January 1, 1902 Northern RL
Oldham v Salford Home January 4, 1902 Northern RL
Oldham v Hunslet Home January 11, 1902 Northern RL
Salford v Oldham Away January 25, 1902 Northern RL
Oldham v Halifax Home January 28, 1902 Northern RL
Brighouse Rangers v Oldham Away February 11, 1902 Northern RL
Oldham v Batley Home February 15, 1902 Northern RL
Oldham v Bradford Home February 22, 1902 Northern RL
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home February 25, 1902 Northern RL
Maryport v Oldham Away March 15, 1902 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Runcorn v Oldham Away March 22, 1902 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Brighouse Rangers v Oldham Away March 14, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v Hunslet Home March 21, 1903 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Warrington Home March 24, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v Runcorn Home March 28, 1903 Division 1
Oldham v St Helens Home March 31, 1903 Division 1
Salford v Oldham Neutral April 4, 1903 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Salford v Oldham Neutral April 8, 1903 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Warrington Home October 15, 1904 Division 1
Wakefield Trinity v Oldham Away October 22, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Leigh Home October 29, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Halifax Home November 5, 1904 Division 1
Bradford v Oldham Away November 19, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Leeds Home November 26, 1904 Division 1
Runcorn v Oldham Away December 3, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home December 10, 1904 Division 1
Oldham v Hunslet Home January 21, 1905 Division 1
Widnes v Oldham Away January 28, 1905 Division 1