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Malcolm Alker

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Malcolm Alker
Alker in 2009
Personal information
Full nameMalcolm Alker
Born(1978-11-04)4 November 1978
Wigan, Greater Manchester, England
Died14 January 2024(2024-01-14) (aged 45)
Playing information
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight13 st 8 lb (86 kg)
PositionHooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1997–2010 Salford City Reds 360 75 0 1 301
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2002 Lancashire 1 0 0 0 0
2005 England 2 0 0 0 0
Source: [1][2][3]

Malcolm Alker (4 November 1978 – 14 January 2024) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played as a hooker. He spent his entire professional career with the Salford City Reds, making over 350 appearances between 1997 and 2010.[1][2] He also served as the club's captain for many years.

Background

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Malcolm Alker was born in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.

Career

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Alker started his junior career with Orrell St James before moving to Wigan St Patricks. He joined the Salford in November 1995,[4] and he made his first team début in 1997 against the Sheffield Eagles.[5]

In 2000, Alker captained Salford City Reds for the first time at the age of 21 in the absence of regular captain Darren Brown.[6]

Alker played his entire professional rugby league career at Salford City Reds. He represented Lancashire and England.[3]

Alker reached his testimonial year with Salford City Reds in 2006. His testimonial match took place during the 2007 pre-season against the Wigan Warriors, which the Warriors won 20–15.[7]

In January 2009, Alker was stripped of the club captaincy following a breach of club rules during their pre-season training camp in Jacksonville, Florida.[8] He was re-appointed captain two months later.[9]

In August 2010, Alker announced that he would be retiring at the end of the season, but would remain at the club in a coaching role.[10]

In March 2011, it was announced that head coach Shaun McRae would be taking sick leave, with Alker jointly taking charge of coaching duties alongside fellow assistant Phil Veivers and Director of Football Steve Simms during his absence.[11] In April 2011, Alker filed a complaint against Salford after being dismissed from a training session.[12] After failing to come to an agreement, the club announced that Alker would be "taking time away from the club to undergo surgery on his neck".[13]

Personal life

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In 2012, Alker released his autobiography, The Devil Within. In the book, Alker admitted use of cocaine and banned growth hormones during his playing days.[14]

Alker was sentenced to four years imprisonment on 12 January 2018 for the armed robbery of a KFC restaurant and a Tesco Express store in Wigan on 31 October 2017.[15]

Alker died on 14 January 2024, at the age of 45.[16][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Player Summary: Malcolm Alker". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ^ "RL: Reds star tackles record book". Manchester Evening News. 17 February 2007. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  5. ^ Morris, Graham (2001). 100 Greats: Salford Rugby League Club. Stroud: Tempus. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-7524-2196-4.
  6. ^ "The Story So Far". Salford Red Devils. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  7. ^ "Aussie rule". Wigan Today. Johnston Press. 1 February 2007. Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Parker appointed Salford captain". BBC Sport. 10 February 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Alker returns as Salford captain". BBC Sport. 12 March 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  10. ^ "Salford City Reds' Malcolm Alker takes coaching role". BBC Sport. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  11. ^ "Salford City Reds coach Shaun McRae faces month absence". BBC Sport. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Malcolm Alker files grievance against Salford City Reds". BBC Sport. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Salford in Alker stand-off". Manchester Evening News. 21 April 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Malcolm Alker defends The Devil Within ahead of its launch in Manchester". Love Rugby League. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  15. ^ "KFC and Tesco machete robberies: Ex-rugby star Malcolm Alker jailed". bbc.co.uk. 12 January 2017.
  16. ^ "Rest in Peace, Malcolm Alker". Salford Red Devils. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
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