Frank Whitcombe
Encyclopedia
Frank William Whitcombe (29 May 1913 – 17 January 1958) was a Welsh
rugby union
and professional rugby league
footballer of the 1930s and '40s who played rugby union (RU) for Cardiff RFC
, London Welsh RFC, and Army Rugby Union
, playing at Prop, i.e. number 1 or 3, and at representative level played rugby league (RL) for Great Britain
, and Wales
, and at club level for Broughton Rangers
, and Bradford Northern
, playing at , i.e. number 8 or 10, during the era of contested scrums.
. His Father Fred William Whitcombe was a Prize Fighter, Bare-knuckle boxing
, at Cardiff Docks
known locally as Tiger Bay
.
Along with brother George Whitcombe
Frank attended Ninian Park Primary School in Cardiff
. On leaving school at 14 he worked for McNeils The Coal and later as a van boy with the Great Western Railway
. Then after a period of unemployment on 17 January 1931 Frank enlisted in to the Royal Engineers
which was the start of his rugby playing career with the Army
. Here he won two caps in the winning Army Rugby Union
team beating the Royal Navy
11 – 8 and then on the losing side 3 – 6 to the Royal Air Force
at Twickenham
making the Inter-Services title of 1935 a Triple Tie. While serving in the Army Frank reached the rank of Lance Corporal
, very few Non-commissioned officer
s made the Army side at this time.
Extract from Bradford Northern
1948 Challenge Cup
Final brochure.
of King George V at Cardiff Arms Park
. Wales defeated the Rest 13–5.
After turning professional in 1936 he went on to win caps for Wales
while at Broughton Rangers, and Bradford Northern
. From 1938 to 1948 Frank won 14-caps his first cap
for Wales was in their 17–9 victory over England
on 10 November 1938 at Llanelli
crowning Wales European Champions.The Welsh team was captained by the record points scorer for Wales Jim Sullivan. His second cap against France
away in Bordeaux
in front of a crowd of 25,000 on 16 April 1939 resulting in a 16 – 10 defeat for Wales. His final game being against Australia on 20 November 1948 at St. Helens Swansea
Australia winning by 12 – 5.
while at Bradford Northern
in 1946 against Australia on the famous "Indomitables" tour. He scored the opening try in the 8–8 drawn first test at the Sydney Cricket Ground
on 17 June in front of a crowd of 64,527. Then played in the Winning side against Australia 14–5 in the second test at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground
on 6 July 1946. Great Britain went on to Win 1946 Rugby League Ashes
series
Fellow tourist Trevor Foster MBE said of Frank. "He was an outstanding player on the 1946 Indomitables tour, scoring tries and was the best forward in the scrum, he was feared by the Australians. It took sometimes three and often four men to get him down in the tackle. He was strong and fearless"
Frank Whitcombe's performances on tour attracted the attention of the Sydney
based club St George who made several Unsuccessful attempts to secure his signature.
Great Britain
formed a team that relaunched Rugby League
in a world devastated by World War II
.
Many regard them as the most famous touring team of all time and who remain the only Great Britain team to be unbeaten in a test series in Australia
.
The tour was historic as it was the first major event in any sport after the war ended.
The Australian government made a personal plea to the British parliament to enable the tour to go ahead, as it wanted to lift the morale of its people, struggling to come to terms with the tragedy of the war.
At that time Royal Navy
vessels were the only way to travel, but the team managed to secure berths and made the trip aboard the aircraft carrier, the touring party stoked the boilers to keep fit on board HMS Indomitable, from where the nickname came.
Final v Wigan
. (The cup final was played over two legs up until 1946). First leg lost 3-nil away, then won 8-nil at home, Frank played both legs scoring in home leg. The 1944–45 Challenge Cup Final v Huddersfield
Lost, losing 7–4 away & 5–6 at home.
Frank Whitcombe played , in three consecutive Challenge Cup
finals of 1946, 1947, and 1948; in Bradford Northern
's 8–4 victory over Leeds
in the 1946–47 Challenge Cup
final at Wembley Stadium on 3 May 1947, won the Lance Todd Trophy
, in Bradford Northern
's 3–8 defeat to Wigan
in the 1947–48 Challenge Cup
final at Wembley Stadium on 1 May 1948, becoming the first player to be awarded The Lance Todd Trophy while on the losing team. This was the first Rugby League match ever attended by the reigning monarch, King George VI
, who presented the trophy to Frank after the game. Also in Bradford Northern
's 12–0 victory over Halifax
in the 1948–49 Challenge Cup
final at Wembley Stadium on 7 May the first Challenge Cup final to be "sold out" the crowd was 95,050 spectators.
Wembley Stadium
1948. Team mate Trevor Foster
MBE
remembered "On our bus journey to the stadium we were caught up in a traffic jam and running late. The driver was in a state of panic, it could have been something to do with him not being sure of the route through London. Much to our amusement the great character, Frank Whitcombe, took over the driver's seat and proceeded to bypass all traffic in front and put his foot on the pedals. We sailed through the centre of the big city. Past the Palace of Westminster
with motorists bellowing and waving fists at our bus. Frank, with a huge smile sailed away to get us to Wembley bang on time". No nervous tension for this man prior to turning out at Wembley Stadium
. Later that afternoon he was named Lance Todd Trophy
winner, "Man of the Match
".[3]
A personal record came in the 1949 final when, just 29 days short of his 35th birthday, he became the oldest player to play in a Challenge Cup final. Four days later he retired and was awarded a bronze medal for his services to the game and to commemorate his award the previous year.
away won 21–13 home won 16–9 .
1940/41 RL Championship play-off final against Wigan
played in both legs away won 17–6 home won 28–9 .
1944/45 RL Championship play-off Final against Halifax
Won, losing 9–2 away before winning 24–11 at home .
The 1947/48 RL Championship Final was Lost to Warrington
5–15 at Maine Road
, Manchester
.
15–5 against Dewsbury
1941–42: Bradford win the Yorkshire Cup final 24–0 against Halifax
1945–46: Bradford win the Yorkshire Cup final 5–2 against Wakefield Trinity
try being scored by Frank Whitcombe
1948–49: Bradford win the Yorkshire Cup Final 18–9 against Castleford
Winners 1939–40, 1940–41, and 1947–48
1938 in a 11–5 victory over Bramley
at Odsal Stadium
. He scored his first Bradford try against Wakefield Trinity
in a 22 – 0 home win on 2 January 1939.
Frank’s only goal for the club was against Leeds
in a RL Challenge Cup second round second leg 12–2 defeat.
His last game for Northern was the final match of the 1948/49 season against Dewsbury
, fittingly at Odsal
in a 10–9 win. Prior to this game Frank shook hands with Ernest Ward
on the field so the Northern supporter's could say farewell. The Northern Captain described Whitcombe as a great player.
During his career at Northern Frank Whitcombe played in thirteen major finals including five Challenge Cup finals in total he made 331 league and cup appearances.
Frank Whitcombe was included in Bradford Bulls
Millennium Masters.
Harry Hornby, the Chairman, and financial power behind Bradford Northern
in those days paid a world record fee for Frank Whitcombe. Frank was a hard player during an era when the game was at its toughest. His rivalry with the great Australian
and New South Wales
Second Row forward i.e. number 11 or 12, Arthur Clues
who played for Leeds
was legendary. Clues was the first Australian to join an English club after World War II
. Their confrontations on the field during the Bradford Northern
v Leeds local derby
games are part of rugby league folklore.
Trevor Foster, MBE, recalled an incident during one of these games in the late 1940s when Clues kicked out violently at Bradford Northern scrum-half Donald Ward. Immediately Frank stood up from the scrum and confronted his reckless action. He ran towards Arthur with both fists clenched Whitcombe drove the full force of his 18 stone frame in to Arthur Clues chest and pole axed him. Clues could not get his breath and for ten minutes received emergency medical attention in front of the 40,000 capacity Headingley
crowd. The referee
sent Frank off for his actions while Arthur Clues was carried off on a stretcher and also sent off. In time honoured tradition the two men shook hands after the game to show their mutual respect for each other.
Frank Whitcombe and Arthur Clues became great friends when their playing days were over. They used to spend a lot of time in Whitcombe's public house
"The Kings Head" in Bradford
.
and baseball
captain for Wales
, and Grange Albion, George Whitcombe
, and the baseball player for Grange Albion, Teddy Whitcombe, was the father of the Rugby Union
footballer for Bradford RFC, Brian Whitcombe, and the rugby union prop for North Eastern Counties, Yorkshire
, Bradford RFC, and Keighley RUFC
, Frank Whitcombe Jr
, and was Grandfather of the Rugby Union prop for England 'B'
, Yorkshire
, RAF
, and Leicester Tigers
, Martin Whitcombe
.
at Bradford Northern
, a position he held for five years between 1950 and 1955.
With his wife Doris they were the landlord and lady of two public houses in Bradford. Firstly in 1947 Whitcombe took on the "The Hallfield Hotel" an ale house off Manningham Lane, and then the "The Kings Head" on Westgate in the city centre. This was from 1948 until September 1952 when the family moved to "The Airedale Heifer Inn" at Sandbeds in Keighley
.
Frank Whitcombe died at home on 17 January 1958 aged 44 years.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and 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...
footballer of the 1930s and '40s who played rugby union (RU) for Cardiff RFC
Cardiff RFC
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
, London Welsh RFC, and Army Rugby Union
Army Rugby Union
The Army Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in the British Army and a constituent body of the Rugby Football Union . The ARU was formed on 31 December 1906 and marked the fulfilment of Lieutenant J.E.C...
, playing at Prop, i.e. number 1 or 3, and at representative level played rugby league (RL) 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 Wales
Wales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
, and at club level for Broughton Rangers
Broughton Rangers
Broughton Rangers was a British rugby football, and subsequently a rugby league club. It was based in Broughton, Salford.-History:Broughton Rangers was founded in 1877 as Broughton and added Rangers for its second season...
, and 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....
, playing at , i.e. number 8 or 10, during the era of contested scrums.
Early life
Frank was one of ten children growing up on Wedmore Grove in GrangetownGrangetown, Cardiff
Grangetown is a community in the south of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It is one of the largest districts in the south of the city and is bordered by Riverside, Canton and Butetown. The River Taff winds its way through the area...
. His Father Fred William Whitcombe was a Prize Fighter, Bare-knuckle boxing
Bare-knuckle boxing
Bare-knuckle boxing is the original form of boxing, closely related to ancient combat sports...
, at Cardiff Docks
Cardiff Docks
Cardiff Docks is a port in south Cardiff, Wales. At its peak, the port was one of the largest dock systems in the world with a total quayage of almost...
known locally as Tiger Bay
Tiger Bay
Tiger Bay was the local name for an area of Cardiff which covered Butetown and Cardiff Docks. It was re-branded as Cardiff Bay following the building of the Cardiff Barrage which dams the tidal rivers Ely and Taff to create a body of water.-History:...
.
Along with brother George Whitcombe
George Whitcombe
George Charles Whitcombe was a Welsh footballer. He also captained Wales at baseball, winning a total of five caps....
Frank attended Ninian Park Primary School in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
. On leaving school at 14 he worked for McNeils The Coal and later as a van boy with the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
. Then after a period of unemployment on 17 January 1931 Frank enlisted in to the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
which was the start of his rugby playing career with the Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. Here he won two caps in the winning Army Rugby Union
Army Rugby Union
The Army Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in the British Army and a constituent body of the Rugby Football Union . The ARU was formed on 31 December 1906 and marked the fulfilment of Lieutenant J.E.C...
team beating the Royal Navy
Royal Navy Rugby Union
The Royal Navy Rugby Union was formed in 1906 to administer the playing of rugby union in the Royal Navy. It fields a representative side that competes in the Army Navy Match, although a side representing the Royal Navy predates the formation of the union by twenty-eight years...
11 – 8 and then on the losing side 3 – 6 to the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
making the Inter-Services title of 1935 a Triple Tie. While serving in the Army Frank reached the rank of Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.- Etymology :The presumed...
, very few Non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
s made the Army side at this time.
Extract from 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....
1948 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 brochure.
Genial giant Frank is the wit as well as the heavy-weight of the team. He turns the scales at over 18st. And opposing forwards really know they have been in a game after 80 minutes with him. But as a boy in Cardiff, where he was born in 1913, Frank was a full back. He turned to the pack after joining the Army. He played 27 times for the Army team and won a Welsh international trial.
In 1936 Broughton RangersBroughton RangersBroughton Rangers was a British rugby football, and subsequently a rugby league club. It was based in Broughton, Salford.-History:Broughton Rangers was founded in 1877 as Broughton and added Rangers for its second season...
signed him, and he gained his first Welsh Rugby LeagueRugby leagueRugby 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...
International cap the following season. He has been WalesWales national rugby league teamThe Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
's first choice as prop forward ever since, and played in Australia with Gus RismanGus RismanAugustus "Gus" John F. Risman was a Welsh rugby league footballer of the 1920s through to the 1950s.A devastating three-quarter who also played at , and /, Risman was born in Cardiff, brought up in Barry where he went to Barry County School, and played rugby union in South Wales as a schoolboy...
's team and played in the first two tests. Northern made one of their best moves ever when they signed him from Broughton RangersBroughton RangersBroughton Rangers was a British rugby football, and subsequently a rugby league club. It was based in Broughton, Salford.-History:Broughton Rangers was founded in 1877 as Broughton and added Rangers for its second season...
in 1938 for £850 a world record fee for a front row forward. He takes a well earned benefit this season.
International Honours
Frank Whitcombe played for The Rest V Wales on 4 May 1935 in a special Rugby Union match to mark the Silver JubileeSilver Jubilee
A Silver Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 25th anniversary. The anniversary celebrations can be of a wedding anniversary, ruling anniversary or anything that has completed a 25 year mark...
of King George V at Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park , also known as The Arms Park, is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green, and is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World...
. Wales defeated the Rest 13–5.
After turning professional in 1936 he went on to win caps for Wales
Wales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
while at Broughton Rangers, and 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....
. From 1938 to 1948 Frank won 14-caps his first cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Wales was in their 17–9 victory over 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...
on 10 November 1938 at Llanelli
Stradey Park
Stradey Park was a rugby union stadium located near the centre of the town of Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It was the home of the Scarlets region and Llanelli RFC rugby teams. The stadium was a combination of seating and standing with a total capacity of 10,800...
crowning Wales European Champions.The Welsh team was captained by the record points scorer for Wales Jim Sullivan. His second cap against France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
away in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
in front of a crowd of 25,000 on 16 April 1939 resulting in a 16 – 10 defeat for Wales. His final game being against Australia on 20 November 1948 at St. Helens Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
Australia winning by 12 – 5.
International Games for Wales 1938 – 1948
- 1938 5 November Wales 17 England 9,
- 1939 16 April Wales 10 France 16,
- 1939 23 December Wales 16 England 3,
- 1940 9 November Wales 5 England 8,
- 1941 18 October Wales 9 England 9,
- 1943 27 February Wales 9 England 15,
- 1944 26 February Wales 9 England 9,
- 1945 24 November Wales 11 England 3,
- 1946 24 March Wales 7 France 19,
- 1946 12 October Wales 13 England 10,
- 1946 16 November Wales 5 England 19,
- 1947 18 January Wales 5 France 14,
- 1948 20 March Wales 12 France 20,
- 1948 20 November Wales 5 Australia 12.
Great Britain International Career
Frank was selected for the Great Britain tour to Australia in 1940 which was cancelled due to the outbreak of the Second World War. However he won two caps for Great BritainGreat 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 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 1946 against Australia on the famous "Indomitables" tour. He scored the opening try in the 8–8 drawn first test at the Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...
on 17 June in front of a crowd of 64,527. Then played in the Winning side against Australia 14–5 in the second test at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground
Brisbane Exhibition Ground
The Brisbane Exhibition Ground , is a showground established in Brisbane during 1875 especially for Ekka . The Exhibition ground is owned and operated by the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland...
on 6 July 1946. Great Britain went on to Win 1946 Rugby League Ashes
Rugby League Ashes
The Ashes is the name given to the trophy awarded to the winner of a best-of-three series of rugby league football test series between Great Britain and Australia...
series
Fellow tourist Trevor Foster MBE said of Frank. "He was an outstanding player on the 1946 Indomitables tour, scoring tries and was the best forward in the scrum, he was feared by the Australians. It took sometimes three and often four men to get him down in the tackle. He was strong and fearless"
Frank Whitcombe's performances on tour attracted the attention of the Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
based club St George who made several Unsuccessful attempts to secure his signature.
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"....
formed a team that relaunched 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...
in a world devastated by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Many regard them as the most famous touring team of all time and who remain the only Great Britain team to be unbeaten in a test series in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
The tour was historic as it was the first major event in any sport after the war ended.
The Australian government made a personal plea to the British parliament to enable the tour to go ahead, as it wanted to lift the morale of its people, struggling to come to terms with the tragedy of the war.
At that time Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
vessels were the only way to travel, but the team managed to secure berths and made the trip aboard the aircraft carrier, the touring party stoked the boilers to keep fit on board HMS Indomitable, from where the nickname came.
Challenge Cup Final appearances
Bradford Northern won the 1943–44 Challenge CupChallenge 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 v Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
. (The cup final was played over two legs up until 1946). First leg lost 3-nil away, then won 8-nil at home, Frank played both legs scoring in home leg. The 1944–45 Challenge Cup Final v 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....
Lost, losing 7–4 away & 5–6 at home.
Frank Whitcombe played , in three consecutive 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....
finals of 1946, 1947, and 1948; in 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....
's 8–4 victory over Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
in the 1946–47 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 3 May 1947, won the Lance Todd Trophy
Lance Todd Trophy
The Lance Todd Trophy is awarded to the Man-of-the-Match in rugby league football's Challenge Cup Final.The trophy was introduced in 1946, in memory of Lance Todd, the New Zealand-born player and administrator, who was killed in a road accident during the Second World War...
, in 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....
's 3–8 defeat to Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
in the 1947–48 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 1 May 1948, becoming the first player to be awarded The Lance Todd Trophy while on the losing team. This was the first Rugby League match ever attended by the reigning monarch, King George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
, who presented the trophy to Frank after the game. Also in 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....
's 12–0 victory over Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
in the 1948–49 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 7 May the first Challenge Cup final to be "sold out" the crowd was 95,050 spectators.
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
1948. Team mate Trevor Foster
Trevor Foster
Trevor J. F. Foster MBE , was a Welsh rugby footballer and coach. He played rugby union for Newport and rugby league for Bradford Northern...
MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
remembered "On our bus journey to the stadium we were caught up in a traffic jam and running late. The driver was in a state of panic, it could have been something to do with him not being sure of the route through London. Much to our amusement the great character, Frank Whitcombe, took over the driver's seat and proceeded to bypass all traffic in front and put his foot on the pedals. We sailed through the centre of the big city. Past the Palace of Westminster
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
with motorists bellowing and waving fists at our bus. Frank, with a huge smile sailed away to get us to Wembley bang on time". No nervous tension for this man prior to turning out at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. Later that afternoon he was named Lance Todd Trophy
Lance Todd Trophy
The Lance Todd Trophy is awarded to the Man-of-the-Match in rugby league football's Challenge Cup Final.The trophy was introduced in 1946, in memory of Lance Todd, the New Zealand-born player and administrator, who was killed in a road accident during the Second World War...
winner, "Man of the Match
Man of the match
In sport, a Man of the Match or Player of the Game or Man of the Series award is given to the outstanding player, almost always the one who makes the most impact, in a particular match or series. The term was originally used more often in cricket before being adopted by other sports. This can be a...
".[3]
A personal record came in the 1949 final when, just 29 days short of his 35th birthday, he became the oldest player to play in a Challenge Cup final. Four days later he retired and was awarded a bronze medal for his services to the game and to commemorate his award the previous year.
Rugby Football League Championship
1939/40 Championship play-off final played both legs, scoring a try in each game. against SwintonSwinton Lions
Swinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:...
away won 21–13 home won 16–9 .
1940/41 RL Championship play-off final against Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
played in both legs away won 17–6 home won 28–9 .
1944/45 RL Championship play-off Final against Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
Won, losing 9–2 away before winning 24–11 at home .
The 1947/48 RL Championship Final was Lost to 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....
5–15 at Maine Road
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...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.
Yorkshire Cup Final appearances
1940–41: Bradford win the Yorkshire Cup finalRugby league county cups
Historically, British rugby league clubs competed for the Lancashire Cup and the Yorkshire Cup, known collectively as the county cups. The leading rugby clubs in Yorkshire had played in a cup competition for several years prior to the schism of 1895...
15–5 against Dewsbury
Dewsbury Rams
Dewsbury Rams RLFC is a professional rugby league club based in the West Yorkshire town of Dewsbury. They are arguably most famous for becoming Champions in 1972-73 after finishing the regular season in 8th place. In the playoffs they beat Featherstone away, Warrington away, and then Leeds in the...
1941–42: Bradford win the Yorkshire Cup final 24–0 against Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
1945–46: Bradford win the Yorkshire Cup final 5–2 against Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
try being scored by Frank Whitcombe
1948–49: Bradford win the Yorkshire Cup Final 18–9 against Castleford
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
Yorkshire League
Yorkshire LeagueRugby league county leagues
The Yorkshire League and the Lancashire League formed two sections of the Rugby Football League Championship for much of its history. Initially, the 22 clubs that broke away in 1895 played in one combined league, however the following season saw the addition of many clubs, and the League was split...
Winners 1939–40, 1940–41, and 1947–48
Honoured at Bradford Bulls
Frank made his debut on Boxing DayBoxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
1938 in a 11–5 victory over Bramley
Bramley Buffaloes
Bramley Buffaloes is a rugby league club from the Bramley area of West Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. Previously known simply as Bramley RLFC, the club is a famous name in rugby league, having existed prior to the formation of the Northern Union in 1895...
at Odsal Stadium
Odsal Stadium
Odsal Stadium is a stadium situated in Odsal, Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. The venue is used for rugby league and has been the home ground of Bradford Bulls/Bradford Northern since 1934...
. He scored his first Bradford try against Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
in a 22 – 0 home win on 2 January 1939.
Frank’s only goal for the club was against Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
in a RL Challenge Cup second round second leg 12–2 defeat.
His last game for Northern was the final match of the 1948/49 season against Dewsbury
Dewsbury Rams
Dewsbury Rams RLFC is a professional rugby league club based in the West Yorkshire town of Dewsbury. They are arguably most famous for becoming Champions in 1972-73 after finishing the regular season in 8th place. In the playoffs they beat Featherstone away, Warrington away, and then Leeds in the...
, fittingly at Odsal
Odsal Stadium
Odsal Stadium is a stadium situated in Odsal, Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. The venue is used for rugby league and has been the home ground of Bradford Bulls/Bradford Northern since 1934...
in a 10–9 win. Prior to this game Frank shook hands with Ernest Ward
Ernest Ward
Ernest Ward was a rugby league player who most famously played for Bradford Northern. He also made 20 test appearances for Great Britain, and at club level has coached for Castleford...
on the field so the Northern supporter's could say farewell. The Northern Captain described Whitcombe as a great player.
During his career at Northern Frank Whitcombe played in thirteen major finals including five Challenge Cup finals in total he made 331 league and cup appearances.
Frank Whitcombe was included in Bradford Bulls
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....
Millennium Masters.
Harry Hornby, the Chairman, and financial power behind 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 those days paid a world record fee for Frank Whitcombe. Frank was a hard player during an era when the game was at its toughest. His rivalry with the great Australian
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
and New South Wales
New South Wales Rugby League
The New South Wales Rugby League is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby League. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League until 1984 when forward thinking marketing managers decided...
Second Row forward i.e. number 11 or 12, Arthur Clues
Arthur Clues
Arthur Clues was an Australian professional rugby league player for Wests, New South Wales, and Australia. He primarily played in the second-row, i.e. number 11 or 12...
who played for Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
was legendary. Clues was the first Australian to join an English club after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Their confrontations on the field during the 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....
v Leeds local derby
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
games are part of rugby league folklore.
Trevor Foster, MBE, recalled an incident during one of these games in the late 1940s when Clues kicked out violently at Bradford Northern scrum-half Donald Ward. Immediately Frank stood up from the scrum and confronted his reckless action. He ran towards Arthur with both fists clenched Whitcombe drove the full force of his 18 stone frame in to Arthur Clues chest and pole axed him. Clues could not get his breath and for ten minutes received emergency medical attention in front of the 40,000 capacity Headingley
Headingley Stadium
Headingley Stadium is a sporting complex in the Leeds suburb of Headingley in West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, rugby league team Leeds Rhinos and rugby union team Leeds Carnegie ....
crowd. The referee
Rugby league match officials
Rugby league match officials are responsible for fairly enforcing the Laws of the Game during a match of rugby league football and imposing penalties for deliberate breaches of these Laws...
sent Frank off for his actions while Arthur Clues was carried off on a stretcher and also sent off. In time honoured tradition the two men shook hands after the game to show their mutual respect for each other.
Frank Whitcombe and Arthur Clues became great friends when their playing days were over. They used to spend a lot of time in Whitcombe's public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
"The Kings Head" in Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
.
Genealogical information
Frank Whitcombe was the brother of the association (Soccer) footballer for Cardiff CityCardiff city
Cardiff City may refer to:* Cardiff city centre* Cardiff City Council* Cardiff City F.C.* Cardiff City L.F.C.* Cardiff City Stadium...
and baseball
British baseball
British baseball, sometimes called Welsh baseball, or in the areas where it is popular simply baseball, is a bat-and-ball game played primarily in Wales and England. It is closely related to the game of rounders, and indeed emerged as a distinct sport when governing bodies in Wales and England...
captain for Wales
Welsh Baseball Union
The Welsh Baseball Union is the national governing body of British baseball in Wales.It is a member of the International Baseball Board. The WBU organises the men's and youth league and cup competitions, as well as selecting and managing the Wales international teams at adult and youth level.The...
, and Grange Albion, George Whitcombe
George Whitcombe
George Charles Whitcombe was a Welsh footballer. He also captained Wales at baseball, winning a total of five caps....
, and the baseball player for Grange Albion, Teddy Whitcombe, was the father of the Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer for Bradford RFC, Brian Whitcombe, and the rugby union prop for North Eastern Counties, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, Bradford RFC, and Keighley RUFC
Keighley RUFC
Keighley RUFC is a Rugby Union club based in Keighley, West Yorkshire. The club currently play in Yorkshire 1.- History :Keighley R.U.F.C. was formed by a group of old boys of Keighley Grammar School in 1920. It’s name was first changed to Keighlians R.U.F.C...
, Frank Whitcombe Jr
Frank Whitcombe Jr
Frank William Whitcombe was a Rugby Union footballer of the 1950s, '60s and '70s who played Rugby Union for Bradford RFC, Keighley RUFC and Army Rugby Union, playing at Prop, i.e...
, and was Grandfather of the Rugby Union prop for England 'B'
England Saxons
England Saxons is the current name of England's men's second national rugby union team. The team has previously been known by a number of names, such as England B, Emerging England and, most recently, England A...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, and Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
, Martin Whitcombe
Martin Whitcombe
Martin Alun Whitcombe is a former Rugby Union Footballer of the 80's and 90's.He learnt to play rugby at Keighley RUFC and went on to have a long playing career for Leicester Tigers, Bedford RFC, Sale FC, and Leeds Tykes, at prop i.e. 1 or 3...
.
Outside of rugby league
Following his retirement from rugby league, Whitcombe was asked to sit on the board of directorsBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
at 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....
, a position he held for five years between 1950 and 1955.
With his wife Doris they were the landlord and lady of two public houses in Bradford. Firstly in 1947 Whitcombe took on the "The Hallfield Hotel" an ale house off Manningham Lane, and then the "The Kings Head" on Westgate in the city centre. This was from 1948 until September 1952 when the family moved to "The Airedale Heifer Inn" at Sandbeds in Keighley
Keighley
Keighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
.
Frank Whitcombe died at home on 17 January 1958 aged 44 years.
External links
- http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/frank-whitcombe/summary.html (4)
- http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/TomBrock/TomBrockLecture6.pdf Australian view of the 1946 Great Britain RL tour
- International Statistics at englandrl.co.uk
- Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
- Bradford win Yorkshire Cup
- The Millennium Masters – Forwards
- West Town Boys and Frank Whitcombe at rugbyleagueoralhistory.co.uk
- Frank-Whitcombe, Jr. Obituary at yorkshirepost.co.uk
- Photograph 'A trio of British Players' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph 'Whitcombe at work' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph 'The 1947 Team' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph '1947 Welsh team' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph 'Mine host Frank Whitcombe admires the cups' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph 'Frank Whitcombe, Lance Todd Trophy winner 1948' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph 'Benefits presented' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph 'Bradford Northern v Halifax 1942' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph 'Mighty Frank' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph 'Benefits presented' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph '1948 Challenge Cup Final' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph 'Farewell to a great player' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph 'Here come the victors' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph 'Touring quartet' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph 'Championship winning team 1945' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph 'Frank Whitcombe' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph 'Eric Batten Kicks' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph 'Challenge cup winning side.' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph 'Frank Whitcombe' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com
- Photograph 'Northern at Fartown' at rugbyleagueheritageproject.com