Hesford built on the family tradition

Bob Hesford did more than his bit to extend and enhance the family’s unique tradition of appearing in cup finals across three footballing codes.

His father, Bob senior, set the ball rolling at Wembley in 1938 as Huddersfield Town’s goalkeeper against Preston in the first televised FA Cup final.

While he suffered the agony of conceding the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the last minute of extra time, Bob junior, came up trumps in his Cup final, scoring the last of Bristol’s four tries in their 28-22 win over Leicester at Twickenham in 1983.

Hesford was then halfway through a 10-match Test career when he gave the then captain, John Scott, a serious run for his money at No.8. Whenever England dropped him, Hesford kept bouncing back until what turned out to be his last stand, in the spring sunshine at Cardiff Arms Park in April 1985 when a certain Jonathan Davies announced himself on the Test stage.

Steve Hesford, the middle of three brothers, made his mark in Rugby League, winning county cup finals during 10 years with Warrington, a period renowned for the famous win over Australia in 1978.

The youngest son, Iain, followed his father as a goalkeeper with several famous northern clubs before taking off for Hong Kong where he played for their national team, against England. Iain Hesford died suddenly nine years ago at the age of 54.

Bob Hesford’s death earlier this month at the age of 72 came within days of Bristol losing another of their famous old players, Mike ‘The Greek’ Fry whose 435 matches in the front row spanned from the late Sixties to early Eighties.

Hesford’s funeral takes place at Westerleigh Crematorium, Bristol, on August 31 at 3.30pm. Fry’s funeral will be at the same venue on Tuesday (August 22) at midday.