Peter Fox

January 1971 to June 1974

May 1987 to November 1991

In many ways Peter Fox redefined modern rugby league coaching, and the impact of his style and charisma was felt not only at Featherstone Rovers, but across the whole game. An abrasive and forthright speaker, he began coaching at Featherstone at a time when the power of a first team coach was limited in that a selection committee chose the team. Fox was the first man to change that, and put that power into his own hands. Just as forceful characters like Brian Clough were beginning to emerge in football, so Fox and Alex Murphy brought a new cult of personality to RL coaching. A keen student of psychology and man management, Fox put this to good effect on the teams he managed. He had been a modest player, very much in the shadow of his two hugely talented younger brothers Don and Neil, but as a shrewd tactician, motivator and team builder he proved to be the brightest of his generation.

Given his later success, it’s hard to believe his coaching career could have been over before it had hardly started. His first half season with Featherstone was a disaster, having taken over mid-season from Laurie Gant. The team immediately nose-dived and won only six games of his first 22 in charge. Luckily for him and the club, the board kept faith with this fiery character and within a couple of seasons his obvious skills had begun to bear fruit. Fox inspired awesome loyalty in his players, a quality which went a long way, giving youngsters the self confidence to develop and old hands the desire to keep going. By the time Featherstone reached the 1973 Cup final the side bore the indelible stamp of “manufactured by Peter Fox” right through it.

In his first full season in charge Rovers recovered to finish seventh in the league, and followed that with a best ever (at the time) finish of second in 1973, just two points behind league leaders Warrington. The following season Rovers dropped back to eighth but enjoyed a Wembley return to the 1974 Cup final.  To fans at least, he unexpectedly resigned later in 1974 quoting a lack of backing from the club committee who allegedly were not planning to renew his contract.  Peter Fox was in charge a total of three and a half seasons, a relatively short time compared to his predecessors, but his impact was undeniable. No other coach would remain in the head coach position for even this modest length of time until Fox returned in the late eighties. Indeed, the club embarked on a coaching merry-go-round for much of the rest of the 1970s and early 1980s.

After Fox quit Featherstone he went to coach local rivals Wakefield where he had less success and was sacked. After a successful spell at Bramley, he was appointed coach of Bradford in 1977 and during eight seasons he brought them two Championships built on a familiar foundation of ex-Featherstone players.  He also coached Great Britain for a single series against Australia. He probably trod on too many officials’ toes to be invited to remain as national team coach. The Bradford committee ended his time at Odsal in 1985.  However, he was soon re-employed by Leeds but lasted only 18 months.

With Rovers disappointingly back in the Second Division in 1987, and Peter Fox available, this larger than life character was brought back to Post Office Road for his second spell in charge. He faced a new challenge at his hometown team in reduced circumstances but he still had a nucleus of high quality players around (Fox, Smith, Bibb, Lyman and Steadman) to work with. Despite a couple of early hiccups and some mediocre form, Rovers were soon stringing together a series of wins which would take them to immediate promotion back to the top flight.  The slow start to the season had cost Rovers a chance of the title which went to Oldham who also beat Featherstone in dramatic fashion at Old Trafford in the play-off final. A breath-taking game saw Rovers edged out 28-26 and a good chance of a piece of silverware had gone.

It was on Rovers return to the first division that Peter Fox showed his true class. He shrewdly bought Jeff Grayshon and Trevor Clark to steady the pack. Rovers went on to exceed all expectations for a promoted side and claimed sixth place in the league. In the summer of 1989 the club was dealt a double blow with the loss of Steadman and Harrison but coach Fox rolled with the punches and reassembled his squad buying Price, Rose and Manning. After another solid season in 1989/90, the off-season recruiting that summer gave real cause for optimism. In came big money signings Leo Casey and Brendon Tuuta. Ikram Butt arrived from Leeds and then Owen Simpson signed. The squad was complete and another very successful campaign in 1990/91 saw Rovers finish 7th and go to the semi-finals of the Premiership with a famous win at all-conquering Wigan.

Not long into the following season (Fox’s fifth year in charge) he took the decision to accept the offer of a job from Bradford, a move that many Rovers fans found hard to take, as it seemed to lack loyalty, the very virtue that Fox prided himself on. He himself stated that the committees’ decision not to renew the contract of 42 year old Jeff Grayson had left him no option.  When Rovers then lost Deryck Fox, Paul Newlove and Trevor Clark to Bradford over the next year or so, feelings only deepened. Whatever the reasons, the effect of Fox’s departure was catastrophic. The side he had built lost its way badly. Allan Agar came in, but league form was in tailspin and a disastrous combination of results on the final day of the season led to a shock relegation.

Despite this, Peter Fox’s outstanding record must make him among the finest coaches the club has ever had. In two different spells he coached the club in more games (304) and to more wins (169) than any other coach. 

First spell:

70/1: Won 6 Lost 16 (part season only)

71/2: Won 25 Drew 1 Lost 14

72/3: Won 35 Lost 10

73/4: Won 23 Drew 2 Lost 20

Total: Won 89 Drew 3 Lost 60 = 59.54%

Second spell:

87/88: Won 27 Drew 2 Lost 10

88/89: Won 18 Drew 1 Lost 16

89/90: Won 15 Drew 1 Lost 20

90/91: Won 15 Drew 1 Lost 17

91/92: Won 5 Drew 1 Lost 3

Total: Won 80 Drew 6 Lost 66 = 54.61%

Overall: Won 169 Drew 9 Lost 126 = 57.07%