View source for Clive Sullivan

{{Short description|GB & Wales international rugby league player & coach}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|first               = RU
|name                = Clive Sullivan<br>{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE|size=80%}}}}
|fullname            = Clive Anthony Sullivan
|image               = 
|caption             = 
|retired             = yes
|birth_date          = {{birth date|df=y|1943|4|9}}
|birth_place         = [[Splott]], [[Cardiff]], Wales
|death_date          = {{death date and age|df=y|1985|10|8|1943|4|9}} 
|death_place         = [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]], [[Humberside]], England
|height              = 
|weight              = 
|ru_position         = 
|position            = {{Rlp|WG}}
|ru_club1            = [[Army Rugby Union]]
|ru_year1start       = 
|ru_year1end         = 
|ru_appearances1     = 
|ru_tries1           = 
|ru_goals1           = 
|ru_fieldgoals1      = 
|ru_points1          = 
|club1               = [[Hull F.C.]]
|year1start          = 1961
|year1end            = 74
|appearances1        = 340
|tries1              = 247
|goals1              = 0
|fieldgoals1         = 0
|points1             = 741
|club2               = {{nowrap|[[Hull Kingston Rovers]]}}
|year2start          = 1974
|year2end            = 80
|appearances2        = 213
|tries2              = 119
|goals2              = 0
|fieldgoals2         = 0
|points2             = 354
|club3               = [[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham]]
|year3start          = 1980
|year3end            = 81
|appearances3        = 18
|tries3              = 3
|goals3              = 0
|fieldgoals3         = 0
|points3             = 9
|club4               = [[Hull F.C.]]
|year4start          = 1981
|year4end            = 83
|appearances4        = 11
|tries4              = 3
|goals4              = 0
|fieldgoals4         = 0
|points4             = 9
|club5               = [[Doncaster R.L.F.C.|Doncaster]]
|year5start          = 1983
|year5end            = 84
|appearances5        = 9
|tries5              = 0
|goals5              = 0
|fieldgoals5         = 0
|points5             = 0
|club6               = [[Hull F.C.]]
|year6start          = 1985
|year6end            = 
|appearances6        = 1
|tries6              = 0
|goals6              = 0
|fieldgoals6         = 0
|points6             = 0
|teamA               = [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]]
|yearAstart          = 1967
|yearAend            = 73
|appearancesA        = 17
|triesA              = 13
|goalsA              = 0
|fieldgoalsA         = 0
|pointsA             = 39
|teamB               = [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales]]
|yearBstart          = 1969
|yearBend            = 79
|appearancesB        = 15
|triesB              = 7
|goalsB              = 0
|fieldgoalsB         = 0
|pointsB             = 21
| coachteam1         = [[Hull F.C.]]
| coachyear1start    = 1973
| coachyear1end      = 74
| coachgames1        = 0
| coachwins1         = 0
| coachdraws1        = 0
| coachlosses1       = 0
| coachteam2          = [[Doncaster RLFC]]
| coachyear2start     = 1983
| coachyear2end       = 84
| coachgames2         = 
| coachwins2          = 
| coachdraws2         = 
| coachlosses2        = 
|updated             = 7 April 2021
|source              = <ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/clive-sullivan/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Rugby league records |id=9201 |title=Clive Sullivan |access-date=24 December 2023}}</ref>
| module              = {{infobox person
| embed               = yes
| relatives           = [[Anthony Sullivan (rugby)|Tony Sullivan]] (son)
}}
}}

'''Clive Anthony Sullivan''' [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (9 April 1943 – 8 October 1985) was a Welsh [[rugby league]] footballer. A Great Britain and Wales international winger, he played for [[Hull F.C.]] and [[Hull Kingston Rovers]] in his career, winning [[Challenge Cup]] medals with both clubs, and also played for [[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham]] and [[Doncaster R.L.F.C.|Doncaster]]. Captaining [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] in 1972,<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/> he was the first black captain for Great Britain in any sport.<ref>{{cite book
|last       = Spracklen
|first      = Karl
|title      = 'Black Pearl, Black Diamonds' Exploring racial identities in rugby league
|publisher  = Routledge
|year       = 2001
|url        = https://books.google.com/books?id=T3NMCF79r6wC&q=%22rugby+league%22
|isbn       =978-0-415-24629-3}}
</ref> He was part of the Great Britain team which won the [[1972 Rugby League World Cup]]. His son, [[Anthony Sullivan (rugby)|Anthony Sullivan]], had a successful career with Hull Kingston Rovers, [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]], Wales in both rugby league and union, and [[Cardiff RFC]].

==Early life==
Sullivan was born in [[Splott]], a suburb of [[Cardiff]] on 9 April 1943.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/clive-sullivan-who-was-welsh-rugby-league-icon-when-did-he-die-and-why-is-a-google-doodle-celebrating-him-3194476|title=Here's why Welsh rugby league icon Clive Sullivan is being celebrated with a Google Doodle|website=www.scotsman.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-league/clive-sullivan-google-doodle-rugby-b1828909.html|title=Google Doodle honours trailblazing rugby player Clive Sullivan|date=9 April 2021|website=The Independent}}</ref> His mother's family was from [[Antigua]] and his father was [[Jamaica]]n. Sullivan's early playing career was plagued by injury; multiple operations left doctors uncertain he would ever walk normally, and the prospect of a professional career in rugby seemed improbable.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.africansinyorkshireproject.com/clive-sullivan.html|title=Clive Sullivan|website=African Stories in Hull & East Yorkshire}}</ref> In 1961 he joined the [[British Army|army]] after leaving school and working for a while as a motor mechanic. He was posted to [[Catterick, North Yorkshire|Catterick]] in the [[North Riding of Yorkshire]], and while there was picked for an inter-corps rugby match on account of being Welsh. Sullivan chose to play in the match as admitting to having a major injury would have led to his being invalided out of the army. His plan was to deliberately play badly to avoid being picked again. However, instinct took over and after scoring a long distance try with no ill effects, he decided to make the most of the army training to further progress his hopes of playing rugby.

==Rugby League career==
===Hull===
After an unsuccessful trial game at [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford Northern]], he was approached by the touch judge from the game and offered a trial at [[Hull F.C.|Hull]]. His trial at Hull was a different story. Dubbed "Mr. X" by the ''[[Hull Daily Mail]]'',<ref>{{cite news |title=Wilf Scores Two: Mr X Gets Three |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19611209/007/0007 |work=Hull Daily Mail |issue=23683 |date=9 December 1961 |page=1 |department=Sports Mail |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref> he scored three tries on his debut against [[Bramley R.L.F.C.|Bramley]] on 9 December 1961, and signed as a professional the following day.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hull Sign The Boy From Tiger Bay |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19611211/010/0010 |work=Hull Daily Mail |issue=23684 |date=11 December 1961 |page=10 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Sullivan's first three seasons were restricted by his army duties, three knee operations and a nearly fatal car crash in October 1963, although he returned to play again just three months after the accident. He left the army after a spell in [[Cyprus]] in 1964. Free of his army commitments he returned to Hull in time to play the last game of the season.

Rugby league club Hull had different ideas about Sullivan and gave the young man, who boasted phenomenal speed, a chance to play rugby league. In his début for Hull, Sullivan had an outstanding game and gained the support of the Hull club and city. Sullivan became known for his exceptional speed. His upper body was deceptively strong, which gave him excellent cover defence.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} Despite his knees requiring constant attention and further operations, Sullivan played a total of 352 games for Hull, scoring 250 [[Try (rugby)|tries]]. In his 213 games for [[Hull Kingston Rovers]] he scored 118 tries.

Sullivan played on the {{rlp|wg}} and scored a [[Try (rugby)|try]] in [[Hull F.C.|Hull FC]]'s 12–9 victory over [[Featherstone Rovers]] in the [[1969–70 Yorkshire Cup]] Final at [[Headingley Rugby Stadium]], [[Leeds]] on Saturday 20 September 1969,

He was captain-coach of [[Hull F.C.]] from 1973 to '74.<ref name="Coaches and Captains">{{cite web|url=http://www.hullfc.com/club/history-stats/past-coaches-captains|title=Coaches and Captains|publisher=hullfc.com|date=31 December 2016|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref> He was awarded an [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] in the [[1974 New Year Honours]] list for services to rugby league.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=46162 |date=28 December 1973 |page=17  |supp=y }}</ref>

===Hull Kingston Rovers===
In April 1974, Sullivan joined [[Hull Kingston Rovers]] for a fee of £3,250. He made his debut for Rovers against [[Doncaster R.L.F.C.|Doncaster]] in August 1974.<ref name="200club">{{cite web |title=200 club - No 16 - Clive Sullivan |url=https://hullkr.co.uk/200-club-no-6-clive-sullivan/ |publisher=Hull Kingston Rovers |access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref>

Sullivan played on the {{rlp|wg}} (replaced by [[Substitution (sport)|substitute]] [[Ged Dunn|Gerald Dunn]]) in [[Hull Kingston Rovers]]' 16–13 victory over [[Wakefield Trinity]] in the [[1974–75 Yorkshire Cup]] Final at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 26 October 1974, and played on the {{rlp|wg}} and scored a try in the 11–15 defeat by [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]] in the [[1975–76 Yorkshire Cup]] Final at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 15 November 1975.

Sullivan played on the {{rlp|wg}} and scored a try in Hull Kingston Rovers' 26–11 victory over [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] in the [[1977 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy]] Final  at [[Old Craven Park|Craven Park]], [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] on Tuesday 13 December 1977, and played on the {{rlp|wg}} in the 3–13 defeat by Hull F.C. in the [[1979 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy]] Final  at [[The Boulevard (stadium)|the Boulevard]], [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] on Tuesday 18 December 1979.

Sullivan played on the {{rlp|wg}} in Hull Kingston Rovers' 10-5 victory [over Hull F.C.] in the [[1979–80 Challenge Cup]] Final at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], [[London]] on Saturday 3 May 1980, in front of a crowd of 95,000

===Later career===
In 1980, Sullivan was released by Hull KR at his own request, and subsequently joined [[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham]].<ref name="200club" />

Sullivan returned to Hull in 1981 on the coaching staff, but made occasional appearances as a player to cover for injuries. At the age of 39, he played on the {{rlp|wg}} in the [[1981–82 Challenge Cup]] Final [[Replay (sports)|replay]] (replacing [[Dane O'Hara]], having played in the first match, but had subsequently been reprimanded by Hull for an off-field issue) in Hull F.C.'s 18–9 victory over [[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]] at [[Elland Road]], [[Leeds]] on Wednesday 19 May 1982, in front of a crowd of 41,171.<ref name="A complete history of Hull FC's Challenge Cup finals">{{cite news|url=http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/complete-history-Hull-FC-s-Challenge-Cup-finals/story-19692285-detail/story.html|title=A complete history of Hull FC's Challenge Cup finals|work=Hull Daily Mail|date=31 December 2013|access-date=1 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203223748/http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/complete-history-Hull-FC-s-Challenge-Cup-finals/story-19692285-detail/story.html|archive-date=3 February 2014}}</ref>

===International career===
His international career opened for [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] in 1967.<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/> The following year he played three World Cup matches, grabbing a hat-trick against New Zealand. In 1970, he toured [[Australasia]], but only participated in one test due to injury. He however won a further three test [[cap (sport)|caps]] against New Zealand in 1971. In 1972 he was handed the captaincy of Great Britain, and played two tests against France. The World Cup took place that same year, and he captained Great Britain to become world champions. He scored a try in each of Great Britain's four games and scored a try to level 10–10 against Australia in the World Cup Final, after a length of the field run.

In 1973 his Great Britain career came to an end with three tests against Australia.

The [[1975 Rugby League World Cup]] saw Sullivan lead Wales in all four matches, scoring a try in the victory over England in the second game for the Welsh team. Wales finished third in the five-team World Cup.

In all, Sullivan represented Great Britain 17 times and appeared at three World Cups, 1968 and 1972 with Great Britain, and in 1975 for Wales.

==Death and commemorations==
When Sullivan died of cancer in 1985, aged 42,<ref name="world cup">{{cite web
|first1     = Paul
|last1      = Fletcher
|first2     = Phil
|last2      = Harlow
|url        = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/7656503.stm
|title      = When Great Britain won the World Cup
|access-date = 17 January 2008
|work       = BBC News
|date       = 22 October 2008}}</ref> the city of [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] held him in such high regard that a section of the city's main approach road, the [[A63 road|A63]] between the [[Humber Bridge]] and the city centre, was renamed [[Clive Sullivan Way]] in his honour.<ref>{{cite news
|publisher  = BBC
|url        = http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/humberside/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_9114000/9114179.stm
|title      = Clive Sullivan remembered during Black History Month
|access-date = 26 October 2010
|date       = 21 October 2010
|work       = BBC News 
}}</ref>
Since 2001 the Clive Sullivan Memorial Trophy has been awarded to the winner of the Rugby League local derby match between Hull and Hull Kingston Rovers in recognition of his service to both local clubs.<ref>{{cite web
 |url        = http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=8721
 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130411181129/http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=8721
 |url-status = dead
 |archive-date = 11 April 2013
 |title      = Hull derby back on
 |date       = 31 October 2001
 |work       = rleague.com
 |access-date = 25 March 2013
}}</ref>

In 1993, Sullivan was one of six inaugural members to be inducted into Hull F.C.'s Hall of Fame. His widow Rosalyn attended the ceremony on his behalf.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hull Take Glory in Derby Clash |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003600/19930410/064/0064 |work=Hull Daily Mail |date=10 April 1993 |pages=20–21 |department=Sports Mail |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

In December 2020, Sullivan was named as one of three Welsh rugby league players to be [[Statue of Billy Boston, Clive Sullivan and Gus Risman|honoured with a new statue]] in [[Cardiff Bay]], the other two being [[Billy Boston]] and [[Gus Risman]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Boston, Risman & Sullivan to be honoured |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/54348482 |work=BBC Sport |date=2 December 2020 |accessdate=4 December 2020}}</ref> The statue was unveiled in July 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/66248935|title=Rugby trailblazers Billy Boston, Clive Sullivan and Gus Risman 'finally recognised' in Wales|last=Lloyd|first=Matt|date=19 July 2023|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=19 July 2023}}</ref>

In April 2021, Sullivan was honoured in a [[Google Doodle]] to celebrate what would have been his 78th birthday.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jackson|first=William|date=9 April 2021|title=Google Doodle honour Hull FC and Hull KR great Clive Sullivan|url=https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/clive-sullivan-google-doodle-hull-5278876|access-date=9 April 2021|website=HullLive}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=9 April 2021|title=Google Doodle honours trailblazing rugby player Clive Sullivan|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-league/clive-sullivan-google-doodle-rugby-b1828909.html|access-date=9 April 2021|website=The Independent}}</ref>

In September 2022, Sullivan was inducted into the British [[Rugby League Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Four new players named in Rugby League Hall of Fame |url=https://www.totalrl.com/four-new-players-named-in-rugby-league-hall-of-fame/ |website=Total Rugby League |access-date=27 December 2023 |date=21 September 2022}}</ref>

==Career records==
Sullivan still holds two records for Hull, which include the most tries in a career (250) and most tries in a match (7, against [[Doncaster Knights|Doncaster]] on 15 April 1968), and is one of fewer than twenty-five Welshmen to have scored more than 1,000 points in their rugby league career.<ref>{{cite book|first=Robert|last=Gate|year=1988|title=Gone North – Volume 2|publisher=R. E. Gate.|isbn=0-9511190-3-6}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Andrew Watson (footballer, born 1856)|Andrew Watson]] (1856–1921), Scottish footballer widely considered to be the world's first black person to play [[association football]] at international level.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20070108150344/http://wales.rleague.com/profiles/clive.php Clive Sullivan at wales.rleague.com]
*(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20071216214802/http://sporthull.co.uk/rugby_league/hull_kr/club_history/displayarticle.php?ID=113&ref=3 Clive Sullivan – Hull KR], biography of his Hull KR years, by sporthull.co.uk
*[https://archive.today/20070502040355/http://sporthull.co.uk/rugby_league/hull_fc/club_history/displayarticle.php?ID=90&ref=3 Clive Sullivan – Hull FC], biography of his Hull FC years, by sporthull.co.uk
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7656503.stm When Great Britain won the World Cup]
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2008/10/tracking_down_the_heroes_of_19.html#039551 Tracking down the heroes of 1972]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110723015404/http://www.orl-heritagetrust.org.uk/HTML%20docs/player_stats_s.htm Statistics at orl-heritagetrust.org.uk]

{{Hull Kingston Rovers - 1979–80 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Hull F.C. – 1981–82 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Great Britain squad – 1968 World Cup}}
{{Great Britain Squad – 1970 Australasian Tour}}
{{Great Britain squad – 1972 Rugby League World Cup Champions}}
{{Wales squad - 1975 World Cup}}
{{Hull FC coaches}}
{{Doncaster RLFC coaches}}
{{Hull FC Hall of Fame}}
{{British Rugby League Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sullivan, Clive}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Welsh sportsmen]]
[[Category:Army rugby union players]]
[[Category:Black British sportsmen]]
[[Category:Deaths from liver cancer in England]]
[[Category:Doncaster R.L.F.C. coaches]]
[[Category:Doncaster R.L.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Footballers who switched code]]
[[Category:Great Britain national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Hull F.C. coaches]]
[[Category:Hull F.C. players]]
[[Category:Hull Kingston Rovers players]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Oldham R.L.F.C. players]]
[[Category:People from Splott]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from Cardiff]]
[[Category:Rugby league wingers]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Cardiff]]
[[Category:Rugby union wings]]
[[Category:Wales national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Welsh rugby league players]]
[[Category:Welsh rugby league coaches]]
[[Category:Welsh rugby union players]]
[[Category:Welsh people of Jamaican descent]]