Bryn Knowelden
Encyclopedia
Brindle "Bryn" Knowelden (1920 in Barrow-in-Furness
— in Blackpool
) was an English
professional rugby league
and association football (soccer) player of the 1940s and '50s who played for Great Britain
, and England
, and at club level for Barrow
, Warrington
, and Hull Kingston Rovers
. He played at , i.e. number 2 or 5. He also played football for Morecambe
, and Liverpool
(Reserves).
while at Barrow in 1944 against Wales, in 1945 against Wales, in 1947 against France, and won a cap for Great Britain
while at Barrow in 1946 against New Zealand.
's 15-5 victory over Bradford Northern
in the 1947-48 Rugby Football League Championship final at Maine Road, Manchester
, and in the 12-13 defeat to Huddersfield
in the 1948-49 Rugby Football League Championship final at Maine Road, Manchester
’s 19-0 victory over Widnes
in the 1949-50 Challenge Cup
final at Wembley Stadium on 6 May 1950.
. After retiring from rugby league, he ran a newsagent in Cadishead
, before retiring to Blackpool.
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
— in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
) was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
and association football (soccer) player of the 1940s and '50s who played for Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
, and England
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
, and at club level for Barrow
Barrow Raiders
Barrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria....
, Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
, and Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
. He played at , i.e. number 2 or 5. He also played football for Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
, and Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
(Reserves).
International honours
Bryn Knowelden won caps for EnglandEngland national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
while at Barrow in 1944 against Wales, in 1945 against Wales, in 1947 against France, and won a cap for Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
while at Barrow in 1946 against New Zealand.
Rugby Football League Championship final appearances
Bryn Knowelden played in WarringtonWarrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
's 15-5 victory over Bradford Northern
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
in the 1947-48 Rugby Football League Championship final at Maine Road, Manchester
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
, and in the 12-13 defeat to Huddersfield
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
in the 1948-49 Rugby Football League Championship final at Maine Road, Manchester
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
Challenge Cup final appearances
Bryn Knowelden played in WarringtonWarrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
’s 19-0 victory over Widnes
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
in the 1949-50 Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final at Wembley Stadium on 6 May 1950.
Club career
During December 1947 Bryn Knowelden transferred from Barrow to Warrington for £1500 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £136,000 in 2008).Outside of rugby league
Bryn Knowelden was a pupil of Dowdales SchoolDowdales School
Dowdales School which was founded 1928, is a community, comprehensive school in Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria for both boys and girls in the age range 11-16. There are approximately 1000 pupils on roll....
. After retiring from rugby league, he ran a newsagent in Cadishead
Cadishead
Cadishead is a suburban town within the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. Historically a part of Lancashire, Cadishead is the most southwesterly settlement in the city of Salford.-History:...
, before retiring to Blackpool.