He played representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Sowerby Bridge and Halifax, as a centre, stand-off or scrum-half, and coached rugby union (RU) at the newly established Halifax RUFC (formed 1919), with fellow Halifax Hall Of Fame Inductee; Archie Rigg, after both of their playing careers finished.
Riley was born on 16 June 1882 in Sowerby Bridge, West Riding of Yorkshire.
For most of his non-rugby life, he worked for Smith, Bulmer & Co.,[3] a textile business based in Holmfield.
Joe Riley played scrum-half in Halifax's 7-0 victory over Salford in the 1902–03 Challenge Cup Final during the 1902–03 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 25 April 1903, in front of a crowd of 32,507,[7] and he played at centre, and scored a try in the 8-3 victory over Warrington in the 1903–04 Challenge Cup Final during the 1903–04 season at The Willows, Salford on Saturday 30 April 1904, in front of a crowd of 17,041.
[8] Riley made his début for Halifax on Saturday 7 September 1901, he suffered a badly broken leg in the match against Bradford Northern on Saturday 2 January 1915, this fracture ended his rugby league playing career.