Bill Oxley

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title: "Bill Oxley" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1920s-births", "1985-deaths", "barrow-raiders-players", "british-army-personnel-of-world-war-ii", "england-national-rugby-league-team-coaches", "english-rugby-league-coaches", "english-rugby-league-players", "rochdale-hornets-captains", "rochdale-hornets-players", "royal-horse-artillery-soldiers", "rugby-league-players-from-barrow-in-furness", "military-personnel-from-cumbria", "20th-century-english-sportsmen"] description: "English rugby league footballer and coach" topic_path: "history" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Oxley" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary English rugby league footballer and coach ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox rugby league biography"]

Field	Value
name	Bill Oxley
fullname	William B. Oxley
birth_date
birth_place	Barrow-in-Furness, England
death_date
club1	Barrow
year1start	1945
year1end	46
appearances1	2
tries1	1
points1	3
club2	Bradford Northern
year2start	1946
club3	Rochdale Hornets
year3start	1946
year3end	48
club4	Barrow
year4start	1948
year4end	50
appearances4	17
tries4	0
coachteamA	England
coachyearAstart	1975
retired	yes
updated	30 March 2017
source
::

| name = Bill Oxley | fullname = William B. Oxley | image = | imagesize = | caption = | birth_date = | birth_place = Barrow-in-Furness, England | death_date = | death_place = | weight = | position = | club1 = Barrow | year1start = 1945 | year1end = 46 | appearances1 = 2 | tries1 = 1 | goals1 = | fieldgoals1 = | points1 = 3 | club2 = Bradford Northern | year2start = 1946 | year2end = | appearances2 = | tries2 = | goals2 = | fieldgoals2 = | points2 = | club3 = Rochdale Hornets | year3start = 1946 | year3end = 48 | appearances3 = | tries3 = | goals3 = | fieldgoals3 = | points3 = | club4 = Barrow | year4start = 1948 | year4end = 50 | appearances4 = 17 | tries4 = 0 | goals4 = | fieldgoals4 = | points4 = | coachteamA = England | coachyearAstart = 1975 | coachyearAend = | coachgamesA = | coachwinsA = | coachdrawsA = | coachlossesA = | retired = yes | updated = 30 March 2017 |source =

William B. Oxley ( – 1985) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s, and was a rugby league administrator of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played at club level for Barrow (two spells), Bradford Northern and Rochdale Hornets (captain).

Background

Bill Oxley's was born in Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire. World War II began four days after Bill Oxley had signed professionally for Barrow, he served with the Royal Horse Artillery in World War II for five years. He died in 1985.

Playing career

Bill Oxley scored one try for Barrow, it came in the 21-3 victory over Broughton Rangers at Craven Park, Barrow-in-Furness on Saturday 23 March 1946. He then returned to the amateur ranks, but was offered a trial by Bradford Northern, and played for the club in April 1946. Oxley was offered a contract by the club, but he chose to sign with Rochdale Hornets instead.

Oxley returned to Barrow for a second spell in 1948, and played in the club's 0–10 defeat by eventual winners Bradford Northern in the 1948–49 Challenge Cup semi-final during the 1948–49 season at Station Road, Swinton.

Administrative career

Oxley joined the board of directors at Barrow during the 1960s. He was appointed as England's team manager for the 1975 Rugby League World Championship. In 1978, he was named as chairman for the Great Britain selection committee.

References

References

1. (31 December 2018). "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org.
2. (18 December 2008). "Man with the heart of an Ox". nwemail.co.uk.
3. "Heritage Numbers".
4. (22 April 1946). "Northern Made Oxley A Good Offer". Yorkshire Observer.
5. (3 January 1975). "Eight coaches left on lists". The Guardian.
6. (31 August 1978). "Oxley's hot seat". The Guardian.

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