Jack Fish

Jack Fish (30 December 1878 – 23 October 1940) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1890s, 1900s and 1910s. He played at representative level for England and Lancashire, and at club level for Warrington (captain), as a goal-kicking . and he died aged 61 in Warrington, Lancashire, England.

Professional playing career Fish played in Warrington's friendly at home against Barrow on 15 October 1898 and scored from the half-way. His league début was the following week on 22 October 1898; a 3-2 victory at Rochdale Hornets. He went on to be Warrington's leading try scorer that season' and for the following six seasons, becoming the club's first superstar. Fish was a stockily built man, at only and . He had fantastic acceleration and a tricky swerve, but he could also stop dead in his tracks whilst running at full speed, which left many would-be tacklers whizzing into touch! He once accepted a £100 sprint challenge with a flying called Buckie Green from Wigan, at Springfield Park, Wigan, and won in a canter, (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £37,760 in 2017). and played and scored a try in the 8-8 draw with Australia in the 1908–09 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain tour match during the 1908–09 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington, Monday 8 February 1909, in front of a crowd of 7,000.

He was idolised in the town, and supporters could be seen wearing metal fish badges at games. When it came to cup ties he was put in the care of Heesom, a local professional sprinter, who gave the special preparation. He was prominent in Challenge Cup Finals, scoring twice including one from half way in 1905 as Warrington beat Hull Kingston Rovers 6-0 to win the trophy for the first time.

His testimonial match in 1910 raised over £268, (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £93,470 in 2013), played on the in the 3–8 defeat by Halifax in the 1903–04 Challenge Cup Final during the 1903–04 season at The Willows, Salford, in front of a crowd of 17,041, played on the in the 6–0 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1904–05 Challenge Cup Final during the 1904–05 season at Headingley, Leeds, in front of a crowd of 19,638, and played on the was captain, and scored a sensational try hacking on a wayward Oldham pass, dribbling forward and then picking up the bouncing ball to swerve round the Oldham ; / in the 17–3 victory over Oldham in the 1906–07 Challenge Cup Final during the 1906–07 season at Wheater's Field, Broughton, Salford on Saturday 27 April 1907, in front of a crowd of 18,500.

Post-playing Fish is still the only player in Warrington's history to score more than 200 tries and 200 goals.