Steve_Donlan
Steve Donlan
Former GB & England rugby league footballer
Stephen Michael Donlan (born 4 September 1954) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Leigh, Wigan,[5] Bradford Northern and Springfield Borough, as a goal-kicking centre.[2]
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| Full name | Stephen Michael Donlan[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1954-09-04) 4 September 1954 (age 69) Leigh, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Steve Donlan was born in Leigh, Lancashire, England, and attended Leigh Boys Grammar School. After leaving school, he joined a local accounting firm in 1972, eventually becoming Managing Director of the practice.[6]
He is the father of the rugby league footballer, and coach; Stuart Donlan.
Leigh
Donlan was signed by Leigh in 1978 from the town's rugby union club.[7]
Donlan played centre, and scored a drop goal in Leigh's 8-3 victory over Widnes in the 1981 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1981–82 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 26 September 1981.
Donlan played in Leigh's victory in the Championship during the 1981–82 season.
Wigan
In January 1985, Donlan was signed by Wigan for a fee of £28,000.[8]
Donlan played centre, in Wigan's 28-24 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1985 Challenge Cup Final during the 1984–85 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 4 May 1985.[9]
Later that year, Donlan was sold to Bradford Northern as part of Wigan's signing of Ellery Hanley.[10]
International honours
Steve Donlan won a cap for England while at Leigh in 1984 against Wales. He also won two caps for Great Britain on the 1984 Lions tour while at Leigh against New Zealand (sub), and Papua New Guinea (sub).
- "Stephen Michael Donlan". Companies House. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- "Statistics at leighrl.co.uk". leighrl.co.uk. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- "Player Summary: Steve Donlan". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- "Heritage Numbers - In Debut Order". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- "About Us". Hayes & Associates (Leigh) Limited. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- "1984-1985 Challenge Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2012.