Joe Oliver (rugby league)

Joe Oliver

Personal information
Full name	Joseph Oliver
Born	c. 1905 Maryport, Cumbria, England
Died	11 June 1966 (aged 61)[1] Hull, England
Playing information
Position	Fullback, Centre
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 19??–2? Huddersfield 192?–28 Batley 1928–37 Hull FC 426 152 687 1842 1938–40 Hull Kingston Rovers 34 4 36 0 84 1943–45 Hull FC Total 460 156 723 0 1926 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 192?–?? Cumberland 35 1928–36 England 4 2 0 0 6 1928 Great Britain 4 1 0 0 3
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 1949–50 Hull FC
Source: [2][3]

Joseph Oliver (c. 1905 – 11 June 1966) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Cumberland, and at club level for Huddersfield, Batley, Hull F.C. (two spells), and Hull Kingston Rovers, as a fullback, or centre, and was captain of Hull during the 1930–31, 1933–34, 1934–35 and 1935–36 seasons.^[4]

Oliver was born in Maryport, Cumberland, England.

Oliver won caps for England while at Batley in 1928 against Wales, and won caps for Great Britain in 1928 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand.

Oliver won further caps for England while at Hull in 1933 against Australia, and in 1936 against Wales, and France. He also represented Cumberland.^{[citation needed]}

Oliver played, was captain, and scored two tries, and five conversions in Hull FC's 21-2 victory over Widnes in the Championship Final during the 1935-36 season.^{[citation needed]}

Oliver played, and was captain in Hull FC's victory in the Yorkshire League during the 1935-36 season.^{[citation needed]}

The Hull F.C club song 'Old Faithful' also comes from Joe Oliver's time at the club. Joe was nicknamed 'The Points Machine' and 'Old Faithful' by the club's supporters, due to his consistent and prolific scoring rate. In 1933 when Gene Autry released his song about an 'old faithful' horse the fans adopted it for Joe. The song has adapted slightly since that time but can still be accredited to Joe's time at the club.^{[citation needed]}

Oliver set Hull FC's "Most Career Goals" record with 687-goals, and Hull FC's "Most Career Points" record with 1842-points scored between 1928-37 & 1943-45.^{[citation needed]}

• (archived by web.archive.org) Stats → PastPlayers → O at hullfc.com
• (archived by web.archive.org) Statistics at hullfc.com
• Search for "Joe Oliver" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
• Search for "The Points Machine" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
• Search for "Old Faithful" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk