Johnny Freeman was a winger whose performance at Halifax Rugby League Club is still recalled as extraordinary. Sky Sports recalled that he was the most prolific try-scorer in Halifax history with a club record of 290 tries in 396 games between 1954-67
1934
2017
Wales
1954 – Signed for Halifax Rugby League Club
1957 – Scored a club record of 48 tries, 38 of these tries in the first 20 games of the 1956 – 57 season 1963 – Made a brief appearance for Wales against France.
Freeman was born on Sophia Street in Tiger Bay in 1934. He and his cousins Billy Boston and Joe Erskine would all go on to be successful sportsmen.
Freeman’s career playing Rugby Union started when he played for South Church Street School and then Cardiff International Athletic Club.
Halifax Rugby League Club:
After being called up for National Service in 1952, Freeman grabbed the attention of Halifax Rugby League Club who paid £1,050 for him after a trial match in 1954. Freeman was signed as centre, but primarily played left-wing. The start of his time with Halifax was not smooth sailing due to a shoulder injury. However, the following season Freeman had helped Halifax reach both Challenge cup and Championship finals.
Freeman was a standout player amongst Halifax. In December 1957 he had already scored a club record of 48 tries, 38 of these tries in the first 20 games of the 1956-57 season. After this impressive performance, he looked set to take part in the 1958 Lions tour to Australasia. Unfortunately, due to a knee injury his international ambitions were cut short.
Despite this, Freeman did make a brief appearance for Wales against France in 1963 and continued to make club records. He scored 290 tries in his career, which is still the Club’s record. This was the most tries scored by a player who did not gain a representative honour.
Freeman’s impact and legacy still remain amongst Halifax Rugby League Club. As Tony Collins and Phil Melling have said “Johnny Freeman was a man who could go the length of the field, who could break tackles when apparently held, who could find that extra gear, when already seemingly flat out, who could go past defenders on the inside or the outside, who would be first to any kick forward and who could pluck interception tries out of nothing. He had star quality, good looks and an effortless movement which was captivating.”
Billy Boston and Joe Erskine, both successful international sportsmen, were Johnny Freeman’s cousins. The careers of Boston and Freeman followed a very similar path.
Peter Jackson, Triumph and Tragedy: Welsh Sporting Legends (Edinburgh & London: Mainstream Publishing, 2011)
Rugby League, ‘Early Memories and Johnny Freeman’, Rugby League Oral Histories (Rugby League, revised 2018) < https://www.rugbyleagueoralhistory.co.uk/subjects/view/early-memories-and-johnny-freeman/ > [accessed 11 February]
Sky Sports, ‘Johnny Freeman: Halifax’s fan favourite’, Sky Sports Black History Month (Sky Sports, revised 2021) < https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/rugby-league/12110741/johnny-freeman-halifaxs-fan-favourite> [accessed 11 February]
