As you may already be aware, Ikram Butt has launched his autobiography [url=http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=6511982'Tries and Prejudice'.[/url

Tries & Prejudice is the revealing, hard-hitting and often amusing autobiography of former Featherstone, Leeds, Huddersfield and London rugby league star Ikram Butt.

Born and bred in West Yorkshire and these days the driving force behind the British Asian Rugby Association (BARA), Butt, England's first muslim rugby international in either code, tells his unique life story whilst also lifting the lid on the wider Muslim experience of British sport and the obstacles which lie in the way of encouraging greater participation from an often disaffected and marginalised youth. Written in association with rugby league writer Tony Hannan and featuring testimonials from a number of well-known sporting and political names, Tries & Prejudice is a fascinating and timely book, quite like no other.

Ikram will be coming to Waterstone's New St, Huddersfield on Saturday 13th June 2009 at Noon to sign copies of his book and meet Rugby League fans.

Will be an interesting read that.

Did he not play for Bramley too - I seem to recall about 5 years ago he came out of retirement to play for them but not sure if he ever played a game.

I was just about to add, I hope he recounts the tale of how he agreed to play for Bramley, made it to the team bus then did a runner while Marto went to fetch the player insurance forms



(or something like that)

Did he sign on for the managers coat

Those bench coats have been good value, they're advertising a defunct company now

Will his book detail the time he was collared by the long arm of the law and he claimed he was someone else ala Adrian 'Tommy Smith' Morley?

Or am I thinking of someone else.

Yes he mentioned it in an interview on radio leeds the other day,biggest mistake he ever made,gave a false name because he wasn't insured.

I wonder if his book will detail the time he was signing on the dole on Wednesday and playing live on TV on the Friday? (allegedly)

Buy it and find out.

Noticed this the other day. Might be tempted as I remember the time he started at Leeds.

When was he at Leeds? I were only young, but(t) I only really remember him at Fev.

Not only did Ikram start his pro career at Leeds, so did his elder brother Kershid.

And both played 1st grade for the club.

That doesn't really answer my question. Shame on you.

I know but you should realise by now that it depends which computer I'm sat at.

Lets just say it was before your time, 1990 pfft.

I remember his brother propping away at St Helens under the name of Tony Butt.

Fine. I have had a look myself, he was 20 when he moved to Fev apparently, and was born in 1968, so I guess it was probably about 1988 that he left Leeds. Good at Maths me. Anyway, since I had to look that up myself:


You're fired.

Yup, a precursor of call centres everywhere was Kershid/Tony...

If that bit about signing on and playing semi-pro at the same time is true, he isn't the only Leeds player of that era to do so - except the other one wasn't declaring his income at the time.

About time too, I don't know how I've lasted this long.

While I'm clearing my desk (pass me that box will you) I'll just say that Ikram made his solitary substitute appearance in a Leeds 1st grade career away at Castleford 16th April 1990.



Something doesn't add up.

The St Helens away game was Kershid 'Tony' Butt's seventh and final appearance for Leeds. The interesting thing is, that singular appearance in the 1990/91 season came four seasons after his other six appearances at first grade level.

Where did he go in between? One for PA's trivia quiz.

Back to Ikram here is his write up in the match report that appeared in the Yorkshire Post: [i"Ikram Butt made a quiet debut in the centre after replacing injured Carl Gibson midway through the first half."[/i

Likewise from the YEP match report: "......"

Other Leeds stories that week:

John Holmes hangs up his boots at 38 after making 626 1st grade appearances for the club.

BSB move the kick off time for the 1st round Premiership tie from 3 o'clock to 6.30 amid roars of protests from Leeds fans.

Leeds attendance boom continues. The average rising from 12,060 to 12,281.

A crowd of 2,025 turning up at Headingley to watch the Leeds 'A' team beat the Moscow Magicians.

Wasnt he known as Tony?

This thread makes my head hurt!

ahaha i love it when noobs put (allegedly) at the end of their posts because thay are $hit scared of being done for libel

At least IIRC, unlike Tommy Smith' Ikram kept it in the family.

why do you love it?

Ikram Butt on debut for Leeds 1st grade 16th April 1990