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He was a record-breaking player, but always seemed destined to be a thoughtful coach. Sam Hawcroft caught up with Barry Eaton to gain an insight into his coaching world.


That might seem like a cliché, but in Eaton’s case it’s absolutely true – the game is the only profession he’s ever known. Even as a youngster at Stanley Rangers, near Wakefield, he took a keen interest in the game’s technical aspects and seemed destined to become a coach. However, while that destiny was fulfilled, it was not without a fair share of luck, judgement and hard work.


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Eaton has always been a ‘people person’ whose philosophy is that a local Rugby League club should be a part of the community, and he has worked tirelessly to maintain links with schools throughout his career. He sees the development of individuals and earning respect as paramount to success.


These were skills he began to hone while still a player at Dewsbury Rams, where he worked as the club’s full-time Rugby League development officer from 1995–2000. While at Dewsbury, he undertook one of the first Level 2 club coaching awards offered by the RFL.


As a player Eaton enjoyed considerable success, and was as popular with fans as he was among his teammates, winning the Supporters’ Player of the Year award twice at Dewsbury. In the 2000 season he scored in every match, and helped the Rams to the First Division title, as well as a First Division Grand Final victory.


ver since he was just six years old, Hunslet Hawks’ head coach Barry Eaton has lived and breathed Rugby League.


He had his first taste of Super League in 2000 during a loan spell with Castleford Tigers, before joining Widnes Vikings the following year, playing in all but three of their 28 matches during 2002, the year the Vikings returned to Super League.


Eaton left Widnes to join Batley Bulldogs, where he played and scored in all first-team games in 2003 and 2004. During his time at the club he established a new world record by landing 38 consecutive successful goal kicks. Yet more awards followed – he scooped Supporters’ Player of the Year and Coaches’ Player of the Year – and in just 17 games he equalled the record for the fastest 100 goals from the start of a season.


Just as at Dewsbury, Eaton was community development officer at Batley, and he continued to fulfil this role when he joined Keighley Cougars as player-coach in 2005.


Although he had gained good coaching experience at various points during his playing career, he was – like many coaches – somewhat thrust into a full- time lead role.


He said: ‘When I became player-coach at Keighley, it was at a time when they were looking to wipe the slate clean – they’d had some financial difficulties and were bottom of the old Championship One, but I had a supportive chairman who gave me a blank sheet of paper to develop players, and I managed to retain local young players.’


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