Denis John Boocker

Denis Boocker

Personal information
Full name	Denis John Boocker
Born	October→December 1922 Pontypridd district, Wales
Died	8 June 1987(1987-06-08) (aged 64) Kurri Kurri, Australia
Playing information
Position	Wing, Centre
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
19??–??	Kurri Kurri
19??–??	Newtown Bluebags
1947–54	Wakefield Trinity	257	33	16	0	393
	Total	257	33	16	0	393
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1948–50	Wales	5	0	0	0	0

Denis John "Dinny" Boocker (birth registered October→December 1922 in Pontypridd district^[1] — died 8 June 1987(1987-06-08) (aged 64) in Kurri Kurri) was a professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s who at representative level played for Wales, and at club level for Newtown Bluebags, and Wakefield Trinity, playing at Wing, or Centre, i.e. number 2 or 5, or, 3 or 4.^[2]

Boocker played in Kurri Kurri's 1945 premiership win. In 2010 he was named at centre in Kurri Rugby League Club's team of the century.^[3]

International honours

Denis John Boocker was selected for Wales whilst at Wakefield Trinity during the 1948/49 and 1949/50 seasons.^[4]

County Cup Final Appearances

Denis John Boocker played Centre, i.e. number 4, in Wakefield Trinity's 8-7 victory over Leeds in the 1947 Yorkshire Cup final at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on 5 November 1947, and played Left-Wing, i.e. number 5, in Wakefield Trinity's 17-3 victory over Keighley in the 1951 Yorkshire Cup final at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on 27 October 1951.^[5]

Contemporaneous Article Extract

A typical action picture of Denis Boocker taken during Trinity’s game with Belle Vue Rangers in August 1935, when the Welsh-Australian scored four tries. It shows the famous “swallow-dive” which Boocker used so effectively on many of his try-scoring occasions. Born in Gelli, Wales, Booker emigrated to Australia two years later. Commenced his football career with Kurri Kurri|Karri-Karri (sic) at seventeen. After four years in the Forces he joined the Newtown Club from where Trinity signed him in 1937. He made his debut for Trinty on 25 October 1947, against Salford at Belle Vue. After a period as Centre-threequarter he tried the Wing position and soon proved himself one of the best in the game. Made five appearances for Wales, including one against Australia. Extended the club try-scoring record just prior to his return "down under" in April 1954 – and he left in Wakefield many friends and exciting memories.^[4]

References

Note: "Boocker" is mis-spelt as "Booker", i.e. without the 'c', on Page-78 of the book 'Wakefield Trinity RLFC - FIFTY GREAT GAMES'.

1. ^ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2010. http://www2.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?scan=1&r=147554915&d=bmd_1298539912. Retrieved 2011-01-01. 
2. ^ Graham Williams, Peter Lush, David Farrar (November 2009). "The British Rugby League Records Book [Page-108…114]". London League Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6
3. ^ cessnockadvertiser.com.au (21 July 2010). "Kurri Rugby League Club announces Team of the Century". The Advertiser. http://www.cessnockadvertiser.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/kurri-rugby-league-club-announces-team-of-the-century/1891170.aspx. Retrieved 2 April 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Lindley, John (1960). Dreadnoughts - A HISTORY OF Wakefield Trinity F. C. 1873 - 1960 [Pages 46 & 51]. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a
5. ^ Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC - FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-429-9

External links

• Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
• Statistics at stats.rleague.com
• Australian Cemeteries Index

Persondata
Name	Boocker, Denis John
Alternative names
Short description	Rugby player
Date of birth	1922
Place of birth	Pontypridd, Wales
Date of death	8 June 1987
Place of death	Kurri Kurri, New South Wales, Australia]