Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
69	69	0	20	0	0	60

The Sharlston area produced the Joe Mullaney/Don Fox half-back combination for the Rovers in the 1950s and early 1960s and it was a strange quirk that it should also produce their successors. Ivor Lingard had partnered Carl Dooler in the Featherstone junior side and signed for the club shortly after Dooler in January 1961.  At a time when Dooler was having to be understudy to Don Fox, Ivor was in competition with Roy Bell as the contender for Joe Mullaney's successor, and continued to play with the juniors. Bell's transfer to Wakefleld shortly afterwards opened the way and Lingard made an impressive senior debut at home to St Helens on 22 April 1961, playing in the last three matches of the season.

He first partnered Dooler at Workington on 9 September 1961 in an isolated appearance, but for both youngsters it was a case of playing the waiting game. Lingard's next opportunity carne at the start of the 1962 RL Cup campaign and his sparkling display at home to Leigh in the third round established him as Fox's partner. Hopes of a Wembley appearance were dashed at the semi-final stage by Wakefield, but Lingard looked forward to his first full season.  Unfortunately, he suffered a series of injuries in 1962/63 which punctuated his season, but he then returned towards the end and with Fox now at loose forward, he resumed his partnership with Dooler. 

Described as another Willie Davies, the famous Bradford number 6, Lingard was deceptively quick, and although of slight build (5ft 7in, 10st 7lb), his defence was absolutely superb. He was the perfect runner for Dooler, which made them an extremely effective combination, and I am sure they would have developed into a great partnership. However, as Lingard demonstrated his excellent skills and ability in his first clear run in 1963/64, he announced that he was emigrating to Australia – and promptly played one of his best ever games in the 17-13 defeat of Wigan in December.

His last match was away to Huddersfield on 11 January 1964 and he was transferred to Parramatta for £4,000 - the highest transfer fee ever received by the club at that time. In his first season there, he played in all 28 games and reached the State Cup and Final play-offs. When Dooler met up with him on the 1966 Great Britain tour, he had played in all but two of the games since his arrival and had played in every back position - endorsement of his outstanding talent which the Rovers readily shared.

 

Biography by Ron Bailey