William Kirkbride (born 28 January 1944) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and coached in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Cumberland, and at club level for United Steel ARLFC, Workington Town, Halifax, Castleford, Salford, Leigh (Loan), Brisbane Souths, Wakefield Trinity, York and Rochdale Hornets, as a or , and coached at club level for Wakefield Trinity, York and Rochdale Hornets.
Kirkbride's birth was registered in Workington, Cumberland, England.
Kirkbride made his début for Workington Town playing alongside fellow Cumbrian Frank Foster in the 11-10 victory over Widnes at Naughton Park in the last game of the 1963âÂÂ64 season on Tuesday 12 May 1964. He joined Halifax in 1968 for a fee of ã6,000 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately ã165,900 in 2013). He made his début for Halifax against Leigh Miners Welfare in the Challenge Cup.
In September 1969, he joined Castleford for a fee of ã5,750. Kirkbride played at and was man of the match winning the Lance Todd Trophy in Castleford's 7âÂÂ2 victory over Wigan in the 1970 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium, London during the 1969âÂÂ70 season on 9 May 1970.
He joined Salford in 1971 for a fee of ã6,000.
Kirkbride played at in Salford's 7âÂÂ12 defeat by Leeds in the 1972âÂÂ73 Players No.6 Trophy final at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 24 March 1973.
Kirkbride won caps for Cumberland while at Workington Town making his début against Lancashire at Derwent Park in 1967, playing in the 17âÂÂ15 victory over Australia at Derwent Park in 1967, and while at Castleford playing at in the 3âÂÂ42 defeat by Yorkshire at Hull Kingston Rovers' stadium on 1 October 1969, and Left- in the 15-21 defeat by Yorkshire at Whitehaven's stadium on 14 September 1970.
Kirkbride was the coach in Wakefield Trinity's 3-12 defeat by Widnes in the 1979 Challenge Cup Final during the 1978âÂÂ79 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 5 May 1979, in front of a crowd of a crowd of 94,218.
Kirkbride was the coach in York's victory in the 1980âÂÂ81 Championship Second Division.
Kirkbride is a Castleford Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee.