Sam Lees

Profile

Sam Lees was born in the village of Lees in 1871 and was a founder member of the Leesfield Trinity club. He joined Oldham F.C. in 1891 and played in every back position, but his specialist spot was at centre. Sam soon established himself in the senior side where he formed part of a formidable threequarter line up with Bill McCutcheon, Dai Gwynn and Jack Hurst.

Capped by Lancashire, Sam played in many “Roses” encounters and is the central figure in a painting by the artist W.B. Wollen, which depicts a Lancashire v Yorkshire county match from the early 1895, which has pride of place in Rugby Union H.Q. at Twickenham.

In the club’s first match in the Northern Union at Hunslet, Sam scored a try and kicked a goal and would go on to top the ‘Oldham goal kicking list for the first six seasons under the new code.

He took over as captain in 1897 upon the retirement of Harry Varley, but relinquished the leadership to namesake (no relation) Arthur part way through the following season. He did however retain his place in the senior team, being a try scorer in the Challenge Cup Final victory over Hunslet in 1899.

In 1901 another Sam Lees (Sam’s nephew) started to break into the first team and in order to distinguish between the two, the veteran Sam became known as Sam Lees “senior” with the new arrival being given the “junior” title. Sam later had spells at Leigh and Warrington.

* Includes goals with 2, 3 and 4 point value.

Career Games

Opposition Venue Date Competition
Hunslet v Oldham Away September 14, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Tyldesley Home September 21, 1895 Northern Union
Huddersfield v Oldham Away September 23, 1895 Northern Union
Halifax v Oldham Away September 28, 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
Oldham v Manningham Home November 2, 1895 Northern Union
Leigh v Oldham Away November 9, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Stockport Home November 16, 1895 Northern Union
Warrington v Oldham Away November 23, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home November 30, 1895 Northern Union
Liversedge v Oldham Away December 10, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v St Helens Home December 14, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Wigan Home December 21, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home December 25, 1895 Northern Union
Leeds v Oldham Away December 26, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Warrington Home December 28, 1895 Northern Union
Brighouse Rangers v Oldham Away January 1, 1896 Northern Union
Runcorn v Oldham Away January 4, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Huddersfield Home January 11, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Hunslet Home January 18, 1896 Northern Union
Tyldesley v Oldham Away January 25, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Halifax Home February 1, 1896 Northern Union
Batley v Oldham Away February 8, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Widnes Home February 15, 1896 Northern Union
Bradford v Oldham Away February 18, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Hull FC Home February 22, 1896 Northern Union
Manningham v Oldham Away March 7, 1896 Northern Union
Stockport v Oldham Away March 14, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home March 21, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Leeds Home March 28, 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
Oldham v Runcorn Home April 11, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Leigh Home April 13, 1896 Northern Union
St Helens v Oldham Away April 18, 1896 Northern Union
Wakefield Trinity v Oldham Away April 22, 1896 Northern Union
Manningham v Oldham Away September 5, 1896 Friendly
Crompton v Oldham Away September 7, 1896 Friendly
Salford v Oldham Away September 12, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Tyldesley Home September 19, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Huddersfield v Oldham Away September 21, 1896 Friendly
Swinton v Oldham Away September 26, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Halifax v Oldham Away September 28, 1896 Friendly
Oldham v St Helens Home October 3, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Widnes Home October 10, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Wigan v Oldham Away October 24, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Leigh Home October 31, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Morecambe v Oldham Away November 7, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away November 14, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Runcorn Home November 28, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Warrington v Oldham Away December 5, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Salford Home December 19, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Stockport Home December 25, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Morecambe Home January 16, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home January 23, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
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
Runcorn v Oldham Away February 27, 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
Bradford v Oldham Away March 20, 1897 Rugby League Challenge Cup
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
St Helens Recs v Oldham Away April 17, 1897 Friendly
Oldham v Huddersfield Home April 19, 1897 Friendly
Oldham v Halifax Home April 26, 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
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
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 Manningham Home January 3, 1898 Friendly
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
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
Bradford v Oldham Away March 12, 1898 Friendly
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
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
Salford v Oldham Away October 22, 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 Elland Home December 3, 1898 Friendly
Oldham v St Helens Home January 28, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Stockport Home February 11, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Widnes v Oldham Away February 25, 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
Seaton v Oldham Away September 30, 1899 Friendly
Widnes v Oldham Away October 7, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Hunslet Home November 4, 1899 Friendly
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
Oldham v Morecambe Home December 2, 1899 Friendly
St Helens v Oldham Away December 9, 1899 Lancashire Senior Competition
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away December 23, 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
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 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 Swinton Home January 12, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Stockport v Oldham Away January 19, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Stockport Home February 9, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Runcorn Home February 23, 1901 Lancashire Senior Competition
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
Hull FC v Oldham Away November 9, 1901 Northern RL
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 Warrington Home December 14, 1901 Northern RL
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away March 8, 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
Stockport v Oldham Away March 31, 1902 South East Lancashire League
Oldham v Oldham Present Home January 3, 1916 Special Friendly