Tributes paid to former Trinity player

A former player and chairman of Wakefield Trinity who went on to run a successful business has died.

Tributes have been paid to Eric Ingham, a hooker who was signed at Belle Vue in 1972 and made his debut away at Swinton in the BBC2 TV Floodlit Trophy that October.

Wakefield Trinity said Mr Ingham died after a short illness, aged 72.

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Mr Ingham played more than 50 games as hooker for Trinity after being signed from Oulton ARL.

Wakefield Trinity club historian Lee Robinson said Mr Ingham was a regular in the A team during the 1970s and scored three tries for the club, the last in a 16-6 win home win over Wigan.

His last game was 52-0 defeat to Featherstone before he retired in 1977 to concentrate on his plumbing business.

In 1981 Mr Ingham returned to Trinity as a committee member and was involved in signing players to the club.

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Mr Ingham also served as club chairman for a few months in 1984-5 before leaving Rugby League for good to again spend more time on his business.

Mr Robinson, said: “Although Eric Ingham was a well respected player at Wakefield Trinity, playing 55 games at hooker in the early 1970s, it was off the field where his influences also shone.

“In business he employed many Trinity players and in his time as committeeman and chairman in the early 1980s he was influential in the signing of many of Trinity’s junior players.

“A well respected gentleman.”