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Anthony Starks - Superstar

3/14/2015

16 Comments

 
An article I wrote for the March 2015 edition of Forty-20 Magazine, about being related to the family of the World's first dual code international.

Digital subscriptions are also available - download via our free app here http://t.co/NLQEY74fKq single issues here https://t.co/YGaO2O0Lwz

— Forty-20 (@Forty20magazine) March 13, 2015
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Every sport loves a superstar. In fact, modern-day sport can’t survive without them. 

“Had the phrase only been coined at the turn of the [20th] century, Anthony Arthur Starks would have been termed a “Superstar” of the game,” wrote journalist Chris Parks, who covered Hull Kingston Rovers for the BBC for 20 years, "He was surely one of the greatest forwards of all time, and certainly one of Rovers' best ever players whatever era he played in."

Starks captained the first England rugby league side - and in doing so became England's first ever dual-code international. He grew up in Castleford, playing for the town's RFC side, and gaining Yorkshire representative honours and well as two England caps. He joined Hull KR in 1896 - after the great divide, and played with them in the the Northern Union, when they joined in 1899. His 23 call-ups for Yorkshire in the Northern Union, is a record that still stands.

It was a wet Tuesday afternoon in 1904 - April the 5th - that Starks seeming inadvertently wrote himself into the record books. The "skillful hardworking forward" strode his 5'11", 13 stone frame onto the pitch at Central Park, Wigan, leading out the first ever England rugby league international side. What had started as an idea of an annual New Year's Day game of Northern Union had been rescheduled - after the pitch in Oldham pitch was deemed unplayable in January due to severe frost. It was, instead, played on a day of considerable April showers.

As he took to the field, the prop - who also had a useful kicking game - became the one of World's first dual-code internationals - along with Welshman Jack Rhapps who he faced as part of the “Other Nationalities” team. He was England's first dual-code international.

England lost the game 3-9.

But purely stats and achievements don't give someone superstar quality.

In 1946 - some 37 years after he had retired - Starks received a testimonial. By this point he was said to be "in reduced circumstances" by friend and fan Ron Smalley, who knew Anthony in the 1940s, writing about him being a "great player for Rovers". By this time Starks had also had one of his legs amputated, which is believed to have been a consequence of World War One, but the full circumstances are not known. 

A collection was taken inside and outside the ground and the Daily Mail, on Tuesday July 2nd 1946, shows Starks surrounded by fans and directors of the club, wearing a dark suit and waistcoat, light coloured tie and holding a walking stick in his left hand. He's receiving a cheque for £271 from the Hull KR chairman, Ernest Mowforth.

Considering the entrance fee at Craven Park that year was 1/6d that was quite a considerable sum. It would be worth about £8,000 today. Although Starks had scored two tries in the first official Hull derby - on 16th September 1899, which The Robins won 8-2 - so no wonder people gave generously.

But not just talented and respected - he was a gentleman too. After losing the only Challenge Cup Final in which he played - in 1905 (6-0 at Headingley against Warrington) he led his team to the trophy presentation area to shake hands with the entire opposition - and toasted the health of the winners, drinking from the Cup.

Yet he wasn't all white. The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent on April 4th 1892 reports that Anthony and his brother, Fred, along with eight others were "severally fined in sums of 9s. 6d. each and costs for gambling with coins on the 26th nit" - presumably in the street. Most players keep it inside the team bus now, don't they?

Starks made his final appearance for Hull KR in a first round Yorkshire Cup defeat, against Leeds, on 9th November 1907. Records from his first three seasons with the Robins are fairly sketchy, but from the start of the 1899 season, he ended up making 208 appearances for them, scoring 31 tries and kicking 72 goals.

I learned of Anthony from my mum's cousin, who's spent many years researching our family tree. He's discovered that Anthony was the brother of my three-times great grandmother - making him my three-times great uncle. And we're all keen to find out more about our family superstar.

Anthony Starks: 11 Aug 1873 - Jan 1952.
16 Comments
ian baker
5/4/2015 08:46:45

Anthony Starks was my greatgrand father

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ian baker
5/5/2015 11:26:41

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Julian starks
11/15/2015 11:32:35

He was my great grand dad.
I have his international cap.
dated 1904 with his name inside.

Jules.

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james starks
4/6/2016 11:07:56

hi ian just seen ur comments Anthony was my grandad I am interested to know about your side of the family I know grandad was married twice and had 3 girls to the first and 4 other children who died and 3 boys to his second wife 1 of which was my father tony the other 2 were Ronnie and frank Ronnie never married and frank had 2 girls all lived in hull I am also from hull but have lived I the south for nearly 40 years on this blog they are commenys from julin who is my son iwould be very interested in finding out more about you yours jim tel no 01920821958

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Jane Mackenzie
7/9/2016 09:41:37

Hi Jim - Your granddad Anthony Starks was my Grandma's uncle - he being married to Bertha Richardson the sister of my Gran's dad. My Gran spent some of the happiest times of her life staying with your Granddad's family. I would love to hear from you. Jane

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Ian Ramsdale
8/2/2016 15:16:43

Hi Jane, thanks for your comment. Could you send me your contact email, or phone number (there's a contact form on the website here so you don't have to post it here). I'd like to connect everyone together - and I'm hoping to pull-together all the information I have about Anthony, to share with his family and descendants. Best regards, Ian

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ian baker
7/12/2016 18:33:25

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Jane
8/10/2016 15:25:52

I've looked but can't find your current email - if you could send that, I will be in touch. thanks

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John gardinerjohn
10/13/2016 19:23:33

hi ian
Anthony Starks was my grandads uncle
My grandad was a castleford rugby league supporter
I am from featherstone close to castleford where I believe Anthony Starks was born
Regards
John

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Jonathan Wragg link
12/18/2016 15:19:04

I was born in Castleford, Anthony starks was my great granddads brother, making him my great great uncle

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Gary Wiles
7/9/2017 00:57:22

Great piece always wanted to know more of his history. My grandfather was franc stars married to Queeny who had two daughters, one Ruth is my mother. It's great to see all the my grandparents stories where trur

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Jonathan Wragg
7/9/2017 09:59:14

Hi Gary
Nice to see there are more relations out there. Are you from the hull side of the family or Castleford? .

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Gary wiles
3/31/2018 11:12:18

I am from the Hull side. Franks eldest grandson.. Ruth starks my mother is his only surviving child.

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Gary wiles
3/31/2018 11:32:40

Always wanted to find out what happened to his white rose medal frank lent it to one of his Brothers and never saw it again. My gran said there were two made one white and one red . she used to have a newspaper clipping of it. He had his leg blown off in the war I can confirm.

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Jane
4/3/2018 15:56:24

I have recently found pictures of Bertha & the 3 girls if any one is interested.

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Phil Hill
11/9/2020 16:19:10

Hi Ian.
I was interested to read this article. I am researching the lives of all the men to have ever played rugby union for England. I have a publisher looking to bring out the first volume (covering the years 1871-1899) some time next year. I'm looking at their lives on and off the pitch. Are you able to send me any further details about Anthony Starks and also a photo/s as hi res e-mail attachment? Many thanks for your time. I look forward to your reply. Phil

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Ian Ramsdale: broadcasting, tv, radio, rugby league, #RLDS, filmmaking, directing, Greenwich Show, comedy, script writing, panto, engineering, maths, science, photography.