Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
196	196	0	29	2	0	91

Jeff Moores, the Australian centre who joined Leeds, in 1927, referred to Annable as 'the smartest half back I have seen either in my own country or England after his first game against the Rovers in the Yorkshire Cup game at Headingley on 8 October 1927. Rovers lost 10-2 and Annable fractured his collar bone, but Moores had seen enough and knew that here was a star ln the making. Ironically, that season was to be the worst in Annable's Rovers career.  He resumed playing a month later and inspired Rovers to a 15-3 win over St Helens, but he then damaged the same shoulder and was out for the rest of the season. This meant that he missed the League Championship play-offs and his absence was particularly notable in the final, which Rovers lost 11-0. How they needed his artistry to unlock the Swinton defence.

Signed from Alverthorpe in September 1924, Annable made his senior debut v Hull KR (at home) on 27 September. He was an instant success and opened his try scoring account in his second match, with two tries against Wyke in the Yorkshire Cup. He played in 36 of the 37 remaining fixtures.

Annable struck up a remarkable half back partnership with Jimmy Williams, which was a major feature of the Featherstone set-up from 1924 to 1929 when Williams was transferred to York. His effervescent back play (he was described as always appearing so 'excitable' on field) sparked off many memorable tries and matches. At home to Salford on 31 October l9Z5 he bamboozled the Salford defence' with two tries which inspired a 22-75 win; at home to Castleford in November 1928 he 'went round the pack with a glorious dummy' to score the try which led to a 10-6 win and Rovers' first appearance in a Yorkshire Cup final; and on 18 January 1930, in one of the most thrilling matches seen at Post Office Road, Annable prompted Rovers to a 15-14 win over Hunslet after which the team were chaired from the field.

Annable's form warranted representative honours, but his career coincided with that of the great Jonty Parkin of Wakefield. After being selected in the Yorkshire shadow team, his patience was finally rewarded in 1929 when he played against Glamorgan & Monmouthshire in April, scoring a try and creating another in Yorkshire's 22-17 win. In November he played against the Australian tourists.

With the departure of Williams, Annable found a new partner towards the end of season 1929/30 in the seventeen-year-old discovery, Billy Stott - although the partnership was threatened by the announcement that 'on financial grounds with the view of reducing debt, the club has transfer-listed the finest scrum-half to play for this club'. There were no immediate takers and Annable enjoyed a full season with the highly promising Stott.  Annable's form was outstanding at the beginning o{ the 1931/32 season, and he was described as 'brilliant' in the home defeat by Leeds. He played at Hull on 12 September 1931, but was then transferred to Castleford for £400. His outstanding talent had ensured that Rovers' fight for survival had again been eased.  He made 30 appearances for Castleford from 1931 to 1933.

 

Biography by Ron Bailey