Mike Leadbetter

Mike Leadbetter

Full name	Michael Morris Leadbetter
Date of birth	July 25, 1946
Place of birth	Southport
Date of death	April 17, 2009
Place of death	aged 62 years 266 days
School	Ladybarn
University	Manchester College of Art and Design Manchester University
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Lock
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
? to ? County: 1968 to ? Other representative: 1972 Invitational: ?	Broughton Park Lancashire North West Counties Barbarian F.C.
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1970	England	1

Mike Leadbetter (1946–2009) was a rugby union international who represented England in 1970.^[1]

Early life

Mike Leadbetter was born on July 25, 1946 in Southport.^[1] Mike was the elder of two brothers, and his family is one with deep roots in the Southport area, predating the construction of Southport itself. Mike was known to have been very proud of his family's roots in the fishing and farmworking of the area. However, both he and his brother Alan, who was to become a physicist, did not follow their forbears. He attended Ladybarn, a local secondary modern school, and left in 1961 aged 15, without qualifications. After a few years he began his first career in printing and followed this through a series apprenticeships leading to a diploma in management and print technology from Manchester College of Art and Design.^[2]

Rugby career

Leadbetter played his club rugby for Broughton Park and made his international debut on 18 April 1970 at Colombes in the France vs England match, that was one by France.^[1] Along with Broughton Park team mate Tony Neary, he was also part of a famous North West Counties team which defeated the All Blacks, 16-14, in Workington in 1972.^[3]

Described as a giant of a man, he also played 35 times for Lancashire. Leadbetter subsequently switched to rugby league^[1] going to Rochdale Hornets.^[4]

Career and later life

Leadbetter went on to become president of the Association of Directors of Social Services. On 17 April 2009 he died of cancer.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Mike Leadbetter Profile on scrum.com
2. ^ Obituary of Mike Leadbetter in the Guardian, Drew Clode, The Guardian, Friday 24 April 2009
3. ^ NOWIRUL(E) TIMES ISSUE NO. 1
4. ^ Sporting memories from the Rochdale Observer September 17, 2004

Persondata
Name	Leadbetter, Mike
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1946
Place of birth	Southport
Date of death	2009
Place of death	aged 62 years 266 days