Peter Deakin (rugby)
Peter Deakin (18 October 1953 – 1 February 2003) was a rugby league and rugby union administrator. He also had a short career as a professional rugby league player. Biography Deakin made four appearances in professional rugby league as a for Oldham (Heritage No. 826), but was forced to retire due to injury. After a spell learning the industry of sports marketing in America, he returned to England and joined Bradford Bulls as a marketing executive in 1995. Along with coach Brian Smith, Deakin helped revolutionise the club's image ahead of the inaugural Super League season. As a result, crowds at Odsal Stadium rose sharply; the club's average crowd was over 10,000 in 1996, and by the end of the club's second season in Super League in 1997, the average attendance was over 15,000. Following this success, Saracens owner Nigel Wray lured him to Watford, where he delivered five-figure crowds for Premiership club Saracens, including the then record 19,000 crowd at Saracens Watford home. His love of Rugby League proved too great, however, and he leapt at the chance to take over at Warrington Wolves. However, he felt there were those at Wilderspool who did not share his vision, and