Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
287	281	6	101	0	0	303

Ken Greatorex had never played rugby league before the age of twenty-one, being a soccer player with Crofton Welfare until 1957, when he was invited to participate in a RL sevens tournament with Crofton. His team won and Ken had the thrill of racing 80 yards in the final to clinch victory. That experience whetted his appetite and he had trials with Featherstone. He soon impressed and was signed in September 1957, but his career had to be put on hold when he suffered a back injury and was not able to resume until September 1958.

After only eight games in the reserves, he made his debut against Wigan (at home) in October 1958 and was an instant success. He played in 31 of the 33 remaining games and went from strength to strength; he effectively never lost his senior place apart from injury.  He alternated between wing and centre, but in either position it was his strong running and purposeful tackling which were the main features of his game. His unorthodox running, which combined a stop-start action with a long, loping stride, was very effective and in 1967 he scored his 100th try, only the fourth Rovers player then to have achieved that feat.

He was leading try-scorer in 1960/61 with 20, and registered two hat-tricks against Hull KR (at home) in 1959 and Huddersfield (again at home) in December 1960. He scored some memorable tries, but reserved specials for the Cup. At Halifax in February 1960 he scored in the 16-10 win; at Warrington in February 1961, his two tries contributed to Rovers' 13-10 win; and in 1967 his tries in the first round at Bradford and in the second round against Wakefield, were significant in the march to Wembley. It was the culmination of a career in which his appearance record was impressive. From 1958 to 1967 he averaged 30 per season and it meant that he was involved in all the RL Cup runs of 1958, 1959,1960, 1961 and 1962, and the Yorkshire Cup finals of 1959 (the one victory), 1963 and 1966.

He deserved his 1967 Wembley appearance and how he revelled in the atmosphere – and this is the player who had an attack of nerves in the dressing room on his senior debut! His most significant contribution was in the second half, when he gathered a kick through by Tees, the Barrow full back, on his own 10-yard line. He moved out to the wing, trampled over Tees who attempted to tackle him and then raced 50 yards before sheer numbers finally brought him down – vintage Greatorex. Off the field, he was the jester whose ready humour made him an essential part of the team.

After the glory of Wembley, he opened, the 1968/69 season with his 101st try in the 15-11 win over Hull but four matches later he received the injury which eventually ended his career as he was force to retire. In 1968/69, he was awarded a testimonial and the fans responded with £750. His effervescent personality was reflected in his play, and it always seemed that he was enjoying the game as much as on his first outing.

 

Biography by Ron Bailey