Lawrence "Laurie"/"Gilly" M. Gilfedder was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played club level rugby union for WarringtonRUFC, and representative level rugby league for Great Britain and Lancashire, and at club level for Warrington, Wigan, and Leigh, as a goal-kicking, or, i.e. number 3 or 4, 11 or 12, or 13, during the era of contested scrums.
Laurie Gilfedder won caps for Great Britainwhile at Warrington on the 1962 Great Britain Lions tour against Australia, New Zealand, and France, and in 1963 against France. Only five players have played test matches for Great Britain as both a back, and a forward, they are Gilfedder, Colin Dixon, Frank Gallagher, Billy Jarman and Harry Street.
Laurie Gilfedder played, and scored a try, and 3-goals, including a penalty from the halfway line after one-minute ten-seconds, in Wigan's 20–16 victory over Hunslet in the 1965 Challenge Cup Final during the 1964–65 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 8 May 1965, in front of a crowd of 89,016, and played, and scored a goal in the 2–21 defeat by St. Helens in the 1966 Challenge Cup Final during the 1965–66 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 21 May1966, in front of a crowd of 98,536.
Laurie Gilfedder made his début for Warrington aged 16 years and 199 days against the Belle Vue Rangers on Saturday 1 December 1951, during his time at Warrington they won the 1953–54 and 1954–55Championship, the 1953–54 Challenge Cup, the 1953–54, 1954–55 and 1955–56 Lancashire County League, and the 1959–60 Lancashire County Cup, with 22-tries he was Warrington's leading try-scorer during the 1956–57 season, he played his last match for Warrington and scored 5-goals in the 13-15 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers at Old Craven Park, Kingston upon Hull on Saturday 1 June 1963, he was transferred to Wigan during August 1963 for a club record fee of £9,500. He made his début for Wigan in the 10-3 victory over Widnes at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 24 August 1963, he scored his first try for Wigan in the 22-6 victory over Leeds at Central Park, Wigan on Wednesday 4 September 1963, following the rule change to allow of substitutions, along with Chris Hesketh he jointly became Wigan's first interchange/substitute in the 3-10 defeat by Widnes at Naughton Park, Widnes on Saturday 14 November 1964, he scored his last try for Wigan in the 40-0 victory over Whitehaven at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 12 November 1966, he played his last match for Wigan Match in the 12-15 defeat by Swinton at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 2 September 1967, he made his début for Leigh during the 1967–68 season, and he played his last match for Leigh during the 1968–69 season.
Laurie Gilfedder is a Warrington Hall of Fame inductee.
Genealogical information
Laurie Gilfedder's marriage to Hilda was registered during first ¼ 1955 in Newton district. They had children; Dianne M. Gilfedder, and Lynne M. Gilfedder.
