Ian Blease
Personal information
Full nameIan Blease
Born (1965-01-01) 1 January 1965
Swinton, Lancashire, England
Playing information
PositionProp, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1985–97 Salford 252 49 0 0 196
1998–99 Swinton 48 3 0 0 12
Total 300 52 0 0 208
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1991 Lancashire 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1][2]

Ian Blease (born 1 January 1965) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a prop or second-row for Salford and Swinton. He also represented Lancashire on one occasion in 1991.[1]

Playing career

Salford

Born in the Swinton suburb in the city of Salford, Blease joined Salford in 1985 from Folly Lane ARL.[3] He became the team's captain in 1990, and went on to make 252 appearances for the club before moving to Swinton in January 1998.[4]

Blease played as a substitute (replacing fullback Peter Williams) in Salford's 17–22 defeat by Wigan in the 1988–89 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1988–89 season at Knowsley Road, St Helens on Sunday 23 October 1988,[5] and played second-row, was captain, and scored a try in the 18–24 defeat by Widnes in the 1990–91 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1990–91 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 29 September 1990.

In 1996, Blease helped Salford win promotion to the Super League by winning the Division One championship. He also played for Salford at Old Trafford in the 19–6 victory against Keighley Cougars in the 1996 Divisional Premiership.

In 1997, Blease was banned sine die for assaulting a touch judge.[6] The ban was reduced to 10 months following an appeal.[7]

Representative honours

Blease played one match for Lancashire in September 1991 against Yorkshire at Headingley.[8]

Post-playing career

In 2016, Blease was brought back to the club by Salford's former owner Marwan Koukash as Chief Executive Officer.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  2. ↑ "Player Summary: Ian Blease". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  3. ↑ Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1985). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1985-86. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 374. ISBN 978-0-356-10944-2.
  4. ↑ Morris, Graham (2001). 100 Greats: Salford Rugby League Club. Stroud: Tempus. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-7524-2196-4.
  5. ↑ "1988–1989 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "Rugby League: Blease is banned for life". The Independent. 5 June 1997. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  7. ↑ "Rugby League: Wigan carpet Cowie". The Independent. 19 June 1997. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  8. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Paul (19 September 1991). "Ashton on the trail". The Guardian. p. 17. ProQuest 187277308.
  9. ↑ "Blease returns to Salford as chief executive". Rugby Football League. 31 October 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
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