View source for Geoff Pimblett

{{short description|England international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name            = Geoff Pimblett
|fullname        = Geoffrey Pimblett
|image           = 
|image_size      =
|caption         =
|birth_date      = {{birth date|1944|05|11|df=y}}
|birth_place     = [[St Helens, Merseyside]], England
|death_date      = {{death date and age|2018|02|19|1944|05|11|df=y}}
|height          = 
|weight          = 
|first           = RL
|position        = {{Rlp|FB}}
|ru_club1        = [[St. Helens RUFC|St Helens]]
|ru_year1start   = 
|ru_year1end     = 
|ru_appearances1 =
|ru_tries1       =
|ru_goals1       =
|ru_fieldgoals1  =
|ru_points1      =
|club1           = [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]]
|year1start      = 1971
|year1end        = 79
|appearances1    = 365
|tries1          = 48
|goals1          = 608
|fieldgoals1     = 28
|points1         = 1388
|ru_teamA        = [[County Championship (rugby union)|Lancashire]]
|ru_yearAstart   = 
|ru_yearAend     = 
|ru_appearancesA =
|ru_triesA       =
|ru_goalsA       =
|ru_fieldgoalsA  =
|ru_pointsA      =
|teamA           = [[Lancashire rugby league team|Lancashire]]
|yearAstart      = 
|yearAend        = 
|appearancesA    = 2
|triesA          =
|goalsA          =
|fieldgoalsA     =
|pointsA         =
|teamB           = [[England national rugby league team|England]]
|yearBstart      = 1978
|yearBend        = 
|appearancesB    = 1
|triesB          = 1
|goalsB          = 9
|fieldgoalsB     = 0
|pointsB         = 21
|source          = <ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/geoff-pimblett/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Pimblett&submit=Go&c=England|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330075829/http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Pimblett&submit=Go&c=England|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 March 2018|title=England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk|publisher=englandrl.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref>
| module       = {{infobox person
| embed        = yes
| father       = 
| mother       = 
| spouse       = 
| education    = 
| alma_mater   = 
| relatives    = [[Josh Simm]] (grandson)
}}
}}

'''Geoffrey Pimblett''' (11 May 1944 – 19 February 2018), also known by the [[nickname]] of  '''"Pimmer"'''<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dooley|first1=Dave|title=Geoff Pimblett|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints/player.php?num=16162|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|access-date=27 July 2017}}</ref> was an English professional [[rugby league]] and [[rugby union]] footballer whose career rose to prominence in the 1970s.<ref>{{Cite news 
| last = Critchley
| first = Mike
| title = Rovers? Geoff was more worried about his shorts
| work = [[St Helens Star]]
| place = UK
| publisher = Newsquest Media Group
| date = 9 September 2010
| url = http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/saints/news/8381798.Rovers__Geoff_was_more_worried_about_his_shorts/
| access-date = 1 January 2015}}</ref> He played for [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]] as a [[Goal (sport)#Rugby football|goal]]-kicking {{rlp|fb}} and [[Captain (sports)|captain]], and also represented [[England national rugby league team|England]] internationally. He was the first player to win both the [[Lance Todd]] and the [[Harry Sunderland]] trophies.<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/>

==Playing career==
===International honours===
Geoff Pimblett played {{rlp|fb}}, and scored a [[Try (rugby)|try]], and 9-[[Goal (sport)#Rugby football|goal]]s for [[England national rugby league team|England]] while at [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]]' in the 60–13 victory over [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales]] in the [[1978 European Rugby League Championship|1978]] [[Rugby League European Cup|European Championship]] at [[Knowsley Road]], [[St Helens, Merseyside|St Helens]] on Sunday 28 May 1978, with 9-[[Goal (sport)#Rugby football|goal]]s he set a new record for most goals in a match for England.<ref name="England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk"/>

===Premiership Final appearances===
Pimblett played {{rlp|fb}}, and scored three [[Goal (sport)#Rugby football|goal]]s in [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] 15–2 victory over the [[Salford Red Devils|Salford]] in the [[Rugby League Premiership|Premiership]] Final during the [[1975–76 Northern Rugby Football League season|1975–76 season]] at [[Station Road, Swinton]] on Saturday 22 May 1976, he played, and was [[player of the match|man of the match]] winning the [[Harry Sunderland Trophy]] in the 32–20 victory over [[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]] in the [[Rugby League Premiership|Premiership]] Final during the [[1976–77 Northern Rugby Football League season|1976–77 season]] at [[Station Road, Swinton]] on Saturday 28 May 1977, he became the first player to have received both the [[Lance Todd Trophy]] and [[Harry Sunderland Trophy]].

===Challenge Cup Final appearances===
Geoff Pimblett played {{rlp|fb}} in [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]]' 16–13 victory over [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]] in the [[1972 Challenge Cup]] Final during the [[1971–72 Northern Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1971–72 season]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], [[London]] on Saturday 13 May 1972, played {{rlp|fb}}, scored three [[Try (rugby)|conversion]]s and 2-[[drop goal]]s, and was [[player of the match|man of the match]] winning the [[Lance Todd Trophy]] in the 20–5 victory over [[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]] in the [[1976 Challenge Cup]] Final during the [[1975–76 Northern Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1975–76 season]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], [[London]] on Saturday 8 May 1976.

===World Club Challenge appearances===
Geoff Pimblett played {{rlp|fb}}, and scored a [[Goal (sport)#Rugby football|goal]] in [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] 2–25 defeat by the [[1975 NSWRFL season]] premiers, [[Eastern Suburbs Roosters]] in the unofficial [[1976 World Club Challenge|1976]] [[World Club Series|World Club Challenge]] at [[Sydney Cricket Ground]] on Tuesday 29 June 1976.<ref name="World Club Challenge 1976 at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/World_Club_Challenge_1976/Sydney_Roosters-vs-St_Helens.html|title=World Club Challenge 1976 at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2014|access-date=1 January 2015}}</ref>

===BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances===
Geoff Pimblett played {{rlp|fb}} in [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]]' 8–2 victory over [[Rochdale Hornets]] in the [[1971 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy]] Final during the [[1971–72 Northern Rugby Football League season|1971-72 season]] at [[Headingley Rugby Stadium|Headingley]], [[Leeds]] on Tuesday 14 December 1971, played {{rlp|fb}}, and scored two [[Goal (sport)#Rugby football|goal]]s in the 22–2 victory over [[Dewsbury Rams|Dewsbury]] in the [[1975 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy]] Final during the [[1975–76 Northern Rugby Football League season|1975-76 season]] at [[Knowsley Road]], [[St Helens, Merseyside|St. Helens]] on Tuesday 16 December 1975, played {{rlp|fb}} in the 26–11 defeat by [[Hull Kingston Rovers]] in the [[1977 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy]] Final during the [[1977–78 Northern Rugby Football League season|1977–78 season]] at [[Old Craven Park|Craven Park]], [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] on Tuesday 13 December 1977, and played {{rlp|fb}}, and scored two [[Goal (sport)#Rugby football|goal]]s in the 13–7 defeat by [[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]] in the [[1978 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy]] Final during the [[1978–79 Northern Rugby Football League season|1978–79 season]] at [[Knowsley Road]], [[St Helens, Merseyside|St. Helens]] on Tuesday 12 December 1978.

===Club career===
By profession, Geoff Pimblett was a history teacher at Grange Park (later merged with Rivington to become Broadway High, later absorbed by [[Cowley International College|Cowley School]]), he signed for [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] from rugby union with [[St. Helens RUFC]] (now named [[Liverpool St Helens F.C.]]) in early 1971 aged 26. Initially playing somewhat of a utility [[Rugby league positions#Backs|back]] role with the club, he soon established himself at fullback, and later, as goal-kicker.

==Retirement and death==
After retiring, Geoff Pimblett became the president of the Saints' Past Players Association. He died on 19 February 2018 at the age of 73.<ref>[http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/16033746.Former_Saints_skipper_Geoff_Pimblett_has_died__aged_73/ Former Saints skipper Geoff Pimblett has died, aged 73]</ref>

His grandson [[Josh Simm]] is a professional player with [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2018/09/27/trio-promoted-to-2019-squad/|title=Callum Hazzard, Jack Welsby and Josh Simm will be promoted to the first team in 2019|date=27 September 2018 |publisher=saintsrlfc.com}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=10&num=16162 Geoff Pimblett at saints.org.uk]

{{St. Helens - 1971–72 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{St. Helens - 1975–76 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{St Helens - 1976–77 Premiership Final winners}}
{{Harry Sunderland Trophy winners}}
{{Lance Todd Trophy winners}}
{{St Helens RLFC Hall of Fame Inductees}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pimblett, Geoff}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:England national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:English rugby league players]]
[[Category:English rugby union players]]
[[Category:Lancashire rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Lance Todd Trophy winners]]
[[Category:Liverpool St Helens F.C. players]]
[[Category:Rugby league fullbacks]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from St Helens, Merseyside]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from St Helens, Merseyside]]
[[Category:St Helens R.F.C. players]]
[[Category:20th-century English sportsmen]]