Milan Kosanović

Milan Kosanović (1932 – 1989), also known by the nickname of "Milo", was a Yugoslav Serb professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played at representative level for English League XIII and Yorkshire, and at club level for Bradford Northern, Wakefield Trinity (Heritage № 673) and Featherstone Rovers (Heritage № 434), as a hooker, i.e. number 9, during the era of contested scrums.[2]

Milan Kosanović
Personal information
Full nameMilan Kosanović
Born1932 (1932)
Lika, Yugoslavia (now Croatia)
Died1989 (aged 56–57)[1]
Playing information
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight14 st 3 lb (90 kg)
PositionHooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1955/56–61 Bradford Northern 143
1961–63/64 Wakefield Trinity 70 6 0 0 18
1964–66/67 Featherstone Rovers 93+1 1 0 0 3
Total 307 7 0 0 21
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1959–≥59 Yorkshire ≥1
≤1958–≥58 English League XIII ≥1
Source: [2]

Background

Milan Kosanović was a Yugoslav Serb born in Lika, in what is now Croatia. The rise of the Croatian nationalism and fascism during World War II under the Ustaše, and their promotion of genocide against Serbs, Jews, Romani people, and political dissidents, forced Milan Kosanović (aged-15) and his family to be relocated from Yugoslavia via a displaced person camp to the United Kingdom in c. 1947, he initially played rugby league in the Halifax junior league.[3] Milan Kosanović opened, and was the landlord, of Milan's Wine Bar in Halifax.[1]

Playing career

International honours

Milan Kosanović played hooker for English League XIII while at Bradford Northern in the 8-26 defeat by France on Saturday 22 November 1958 at Knowsley Road, St. Helens,[2] and was a reserve hooker for Great Britain.[3]

County honours

Milan Kosanović was selected for Yorkshire County XIII whilst at Bradford Northern during 1959.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Milan Kosanović played hooker in Wakefield Trinity's 25-10 victory over Wigan in the 1962–63 Challenge Cup Final during the 1962–63 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1963, in front of a crowd of 84,492,[4] and was an unused interchange/substitute in Featherstone Rovers' 17-12 victory over Barrow in the 1966–67 Challenge Cup Final during the 1966–67 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1967, in front of a crowd of 76,290.

County Cup Final appearances

Milan Kosanović played hooker in Wakefield Trinity's 19–9 victory over Leeds in the 1961–62 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1961–62 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 11 November 1961, and played hooker in Featherstone Rovers' 12-25 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1966–67 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1966–67 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 15 October 1966.

Club career

Milan Kosanović transferred from Bradford Northern to Wakefield Trinity during June 1961, and he made his début for Wakefield Trinity during August 1961, he transferred from Wakefield Trinity to Featherstone Rovers for £600 during February 1964 (based on inflation, this would be equivalent to £12,248 in 2019) (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately equivalent to £20,970 in 2017),[5] and he made his début for Featherstone Rovers on Saturday 1 February 1964.[6]

Contemporaneous Article Extract

"M. Kosanović - Signed from Bradford N. during last close season and has been a regular member of the side this campaign. Recently out of action through injury. Represented Yorkshire in 1959. Yugoslav-born but has played all his football in Yorkshire. Age 29." [7]

Milan Kosanovic Cup

The Milan Kosanovic Cup is an international rugby league football competition that is named after Milan Kosanović, it is contested by Russia, Ukraine and Serbia.[8]

Genealogical information

Milan Kosanović's marriage to Sylvia D. (née Leach) was registered during third ¼ 1956 in Halifax district.[9] They had children; Mark S. Kosanović (birth registered during fourth ¼ 1962 (age 58–59) in Halifax district), and Zoran G. Kosanović (birth registered during third ¼ 1964 (age 56–57) in Halifax district), as of 2009 the brother's run fish and chip shops at West Vale and Brackenbed, Pellon, Halifax.[1]

References
  1. "Soni meets his rugby league hero's family: Whitehaven's Serbian player honours Halifax's Milan". Halifax Courier. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  2. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (surname misspelt in URL as kasanovic)". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. Briggs, Cyril & Edwards, Barry (12 May 1962). The Rugby League Challenge Cup Competition - Final Tie - Huddersfield v Wakefield Trinity - Match Programme. Wembley Stadium Ltd. ISBN n/a
  4. Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC - FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-429-9
  5. "Measuring Worth - Relative Value of UK Pounds". Measuring Worth. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. Bailey, Ron (20 September 2001). Images of Sport - Featherstone Rovers Rugby League Football Club. The History Press. ISBN 0752422952
  7. Lindley, John (05/05/1962). Wakefield Trinity RLFC Official Programme: Featherstone Rovers. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a
  8. "Bears Prepared To Face Ukraine". rlef.eu.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  9. "Marriage details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
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