Harold Wagstaff

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Harold Wagstaff
Personal information
Full nameHarold Wagstaff
Born(1891-05-09)9 May 1891
Holmfirth, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died19 July 1939(1939-07-19) (aged 48)
Playing information
PositionCentre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1906–25 Huddersfield 436 175 12 549
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1908–23 Yorkshire 15 4 0 12
1910–23 England 6 5 3 0 21
1911–22 Great Britain 12 2 0 0 6
Source: [1][2][3][4]

Harold Wagstaff (9 May 1891 – 19 July 1939), also known by the nickname of "Waggy", was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s, 1910s and 1920s. He played as a centre and was nicknamed the Prince of Centres. A captain of Great Britain, he also played representative rugby league for England, and Yorkshire. Wagstaff has been inducted into the Rugby Football League Hall of Fame, and the Huddersfield Giants Hall of Fame.

Background

Wagstaff was born in the village of Underbank within Holmfirth on 9 May 1891[5] and first played at local amateur side, Underbank Rangers, aged 14.

Playing career

1900s

Wagstaff's first professional game, for Huddersfield in 1906, was at the age of 15 years and 175 days. For many years he was considered to be the youngest person to play professional rugby league. However it is Harold Edmondson who holds this accolade, making his first try for Bramley against Bradford Northern on 1 February 1919 aged 15 years 81 days.[6] Edmondson later joined Wagstaff at Huddersfield.[7]

Wagstaff became the youngest representative in rugby league football when he turned out for Yorkshire age 17 years and 141 days,[8] and a few months later made his début for England against the first ever touring Australian side: the 'First Kangaroos' of 1908.

1910s

By 1912 Wagstaff was appointed captain of Huddersfield, aged 19.

1911 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1911–12 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield
on Saturday 25 November 1911,

In 1914 Wagstaff was made captain of Great Britain, a post held during that year's

Yorkshire County League in 1915. They thus became the second of only three teams ever to win All Four Cups, the others being Hunslet (1908) and Swinton
(1928).

Wagstaff was also stationed in Egypt during World War I.

1920s

Wagstaff once again captained Great Britain on their 1920 tour of Australasia. In November that year, rugby league's first players' union, the 'Northern Rugby Union Players' Union was founded in Huddersfield under the chairmanship of Wagstaff, with his Huddersfield team-mate Gwyn Thomas as secretary. The enrolment fee was five shillings with a weekly contribution from each member; the declared aims of the union were (i) the promotion of the spirit of comradeship amongst the players, (ii) to redress grievances, (iii) to obtain modification of the transfer rules and (iv) to obtain benefits for players after fixed term of service.

Wagstaff played his last Test match in January 1922, when he helped Great Britain beat Australia and regain the Ashes.[11] His career had lasted for 19 years until his retirement in 1925.

Post-playing

Wagstaff was the manager of the Royal Swan Hotel, Westgate,

British Rugby League Hall of Fame.[13] He was one of five famous players to feature on a set of British stamps issued in 1995 to commemorate the centenary of Rugby League. Wagstaff and his contribution to Anglo-Australian rugby league culture were the subject of 2003's annual Tom Brock Lecture, given by Tony Collins
.

References

  1. ISBN 978-0-7524-2693-8
    .
  2. ^ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ^ "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Harold Wagstaff". britannica.com. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  6. ^ "#RFL125 | This Week in Rugby League". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Bramley Legends - Harold Edmondson". Bramley Buffaloes. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  8. ISBN 978-0-85112-378-3
    . Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  9. ISBN 9780415396141
    . Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  10. Sunday Mail (Brisbane)
    .
  11. ISBN 978-0-19-927373-7
    .
  12. ^ "Huddersfield v Keighley Match Programme Monday 24 April 1939" (PDF). rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  13. ^ "Harold Wagstaff". therfl.co.uk. UK: The Rugby Football League Limited. Retrieved 20 February 2011.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harold_Wagstaff&oldid=1184843313"