George Whitcombe
Encyclopedia
George Charles Whitcombe (21 January 1902 – 30 April 1986) was a Welsh
footballer. He also captained Wales at baseball
, winning a total of five caps.
He began his football career at Cardiff City
in 1922, before he was sold on to Stockport County
in 1925. In August 1926, he moved on to Port Vale
. He would remain at the club for five years, playing 55 games, as the club topped the Third Division North
in 1929–30
. He was sold on to Notts County
in December 1930, a club that won the Third Division South
title in 1930–31. He later turned out for non-league sides Ashton National Gas
and Colwyn Bay
. After retiring he became a publican.
He was part of a famous sporting family; his brother Frank
represented Great Britain
and Wales
at rugby league
, his nephew Frank Whitcombe Jr
played rugby union
for Bradford RFC and Yorkshire, and his great-nephew Martin Whitcombe
played rugby union for Leicester Tigers
and England Saxons
.
Cardiff City
. He spent three years at Ninian Park
, during which time, in 1923–24, the "Bluebirds" finished second in the Football League
. However following the Welsh Senior Cup
tie with Swansea City
on 2 March 1925, which Cardiff lost 4–0, he was sold on to Stockport County
of the Second Division
.
The "Hatters" were relegated in last place in 1925–26, and Whitcombe left the club due to a dispute over wages. In total he played fifteen times for County, before joining Port Vale
back in the Second Division in August 1926.
He made his Port Vale debut in a 3–1 home win against Southampton
on 27 September. He later appeared for the "Valiants" in the FA Cup
Fourth Round clash with Arsenal
, which ended in a 1–0 defeat at Highbury
, following a 2–2 draw at The Old Recreation Ground
. The "Gunners" went on to the final, only to be beaten by Cardiff City. Whitcombe finished the 1926–27
campaign with 24 appearances to his name. He played fourteen games in 1927–28
, and appeared twelve times in 1928–29
, as the club were relegated into the Third Division North
. Following the death of manager Joe Schofield
, Vale won promotion as the division's champions under Tom Morgan
in 1929–30
; however Whitcombe made just the one appearance throughout the season. Despite only playing a further three games in 1930–31
, he was sold to Notts County
for a 'substantial amount' in December 1930, having played a total of 55 matches for the club (51 in the league).
He made only seven appearances for Notts County, having been sent off in a county cup game against Frickley Colliery
, and hit with a month long suspension as punishment. Despite this, the "Magpies" topped the Third Division South
table by the end of the season.
Whitcombe returned to Cardiff, though his playing days were not quite over. He moved to be player-coach to a works team in Ashton-under-Lyne
called Ashton National Gas
, before ending his football career at Colwyn Bay
.
for Grange Albion. He also won a total of five caps
for Wales
, all against England
. The first cap came at the Cardiff Arms Park Cricket Ground
on 2 August 1926, when he fielded at 1st Base and opened the Welsh batting; he made 4 out of 94, and England scored 47 and 43. His second cap came at The Police Athletic Ground (Liverpool
) on 30 July 1927, when he batted 6th, scoring 1 and 2; Wales made 48 and 83, England made 41 and 27. He won his third cap on 20 July 1929, at the same ground in Liverpool; he scored 2 and 2 batting 2nd out of 83 and 52 for 5, England made 71 and 62.
He captained Wales at The Old Recreation Ground
(home of his then football team Port Vale F.C.
) in a non-cap international on 17 May 1930; Wales made 45 and 70, England made 59 and 27. He fourth cap came at The Police Athletic Ground on 11 July 1931, where Wales won 46 and 41 against England's 36 and 17; batting 11th he scored 6 and 1. His final cap came on 1 July 1933, again at The Police Athletic Ground; he batted first scoring 0 and 13 out of 33 and 55, but England won with 48 and 43 for 3.
and firstly ran the "Lord Windsor Hotel" in Grangetown
, and later "The Ninian Park Hotel" near to Cardiff City
's home ground
. He then ran the "Coldstream Hotel" just outside Cardiff
city centre for a twenty seven year period between from 1937 and 1964.
He also served in the Home Guard during World War II
.
. His father, Fred William Whitcombe, was a prize fighter in bare-knuckle boxing
at Cardiff Docks
, known locally as Tiger Bay
.
He attended Ninian Park Primary School in Cardiff
, along with his brother Frank
. Frank played for rugby league
for Bradford Northern
, and also represented Great Britain
. Another brother, Teddy, played baseball for Grange Albion. His nephew, Frank Whitcombe Jr
, played rugby union
for Bradford RFC and Yorkshire. Another nephew, Brian Whitcombe, was a back row forward for Bradford RFC.
He was also the great uncle of Martin Whitcombe
, who was a prop for the rugby union side Leicester Tigers
, and also represented England 'B'
, Yorkshire, and the RAF
.
with Notts County
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...
footballer. He also captained Wales at 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...
, winning a total of five caps.
He began his football career at Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
in 1922, before he was sold on to Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
in 1925. In August 1926, he moved on to Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
. He would remain at the club for five years, playing 55 games, as the club topped the Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
in 1929–30
1929–30 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1929–30 season was Port Vale's eleventh consecutive season of football in the Football League, and their first in the Third Division North. They finished as champions and were thus promoted back to the Second Division. With 67 points they broke a division record...
. He was sold on to Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
in December 1930, a club that won the Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
title in 1930–31. He later turned out for non-league sides Ashton National Gas
Ashton National F.C.
Ashton National Football Club were an English football club from Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire which played in the Cheshire County League in the 1920s and 1930s...
and Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay F.C.
Colwyn Bay F.C. are a Welsh football club, as of the 2011–12 season are playing in the Conference North. Nicknamed the Seagulls, the club play at Llanelian Road in Old Colwyn.-History:...
. After retiring he became a publican.
He was part of a famous sporting family; his brother Frank
Frank Whitcombe
Frank William Whitcombe was a Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1930s and '40s who played rugby union for Cardiff RFC, London Welsh RFC, and Army Rugby Union, playing at Prop, i.e...
represented 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...
at 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...
, his nephew 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...
played 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...
for Bradford RFC and Yorkshire, and his great-nephew 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...
played rugby union for 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...
and England Saxons
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...
.
Playing career
A "dogged, hard working" right-half, who could also play at centre-half, Whitcombe began his football career with local side Grange Albion in 1921. In summer 1922, Whitcombe signed for First DivisionFootball League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
. He spent three years at Ninian Park
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
, during which time, in 1923–24, the "Bluebirds" finished second in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. However following the Welsh Senior Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
tie with Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
on 2 March 1925, which Cardiff lost 4–0, he was sold on to Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
of the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
.
The "Hatters" were relegated in last place in 1925–26, and Whitcombe left the club due to a dispute over wages. In total he played fifteen times for County, before joining Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
back in the Second Division in August 1926.
He made his Port Vale debut in a 3–1 home win against Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
on 27 September. He later appeared for the "Valiants" in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
Fourth Round clash with Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, which ended in a 1–0 defeat at Highbury
Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, North London, which was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006...
, following a 2–2 draw at The Old Recreation Ground
The Old Recreation Ground
The Old Recreation Ground was a football stadium, located in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent and home to Port Vale for almost 40 years. The Rec had been Vale's home between 1913 and 1950 and was the sixth ground the club used.-Structure and facilities:...
. The "Gunners" went on to the final, only to be beaten by Cardiff City. Whitcombe finished the 1926–27
1926–27 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1926–27 season was Port Vale's eighth consecutive season of football in the Football League. Vale finished in eighth position for the third season running, obtaining 45 points, this time coming nine points off promotion to the top tier in English football. For the first time in the club's...
campaign with 24 appearances to his name. He played fourteen games in 1927–28
1927–28 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1927–28 season was Port Vale's ninth consecutive season of football in the Football League. They finished in ninth place, following three consecutive eighth placed finishes in the previous campaigns. Vale were once again looking strong in the division, yet unable to find the consistency...
, and appeared twelve times in 1928–29
1928–29 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1928–29 season was Port Vale's tenth consecutive season of football in the Football League. For the first time in their history they suffered relegation. This was down to poor away form, at home they went a club record 19 games without a draw, picking up all but five of their points in front...
, as the club were relegated into the Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
. Following the death of manager Joe Schofield
Joe Schofield
Joseph Alfred Schofield was an English footballer and later football manager.A winger, he played for Stoke between 1891 and 1899, winning himself three England caps in the process. He was later appointed as Stoke's manager in 1915, before he left the post in 1919 to take up the reigns at nearby...
, Vale won promotion as the division's champions under Tom Morgan
Tom Morgan (footballer)
Thomas M. Morgan was a football manager, noted in the 1930s for twice being the manager of Port Vale, as well a having a spell as manager of Wrexham.-Playing career:...
in 1929–30
1929–30 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1929–30 season was Port Vale's eleventh consecutive season of football in the Football League, and their first in the Third Division North. They finished as champions and were thus promoted back to the Second Division. With 67 points they broke a division record...
; however Whitcombe made just the one appearance throughout the season. Despite only playing a further three games in 1930–31
1930–31 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1930–31 season was Port Vale's twenty-fifth season of football in the Football League, and their twenty-fourth in the Second Division following their promotion from the Third Division North the previous season. They finished fifth with 47 points, making it the most successful season in the...
, he was sold to Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
for a 'substantial amount' in December 1930, having played a total of 55 matches for the club (51 in the league).
He made only seven appearances for Notts County, having been sent off in a county cup game against Frickley Colliery
Frickley Athletic F.C.
Frickley Athletic F.C. are a football club based in South Elmsall, in West Yorkshire, England. They were established in 1910 as Frickley Colliery F.C., and changed to their present name in 1974.-History:...
, and hit with a month long suspension as punishment. Despite this, the "Magpies" topped the Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
table by the end of the season.
Whitcombe returned to Cardiff, though his playing days were not quite over. He moved to be player-coach to a works team in Ashton-under-Lyne
Ashton-under-Lyne
Ashton-under-Lyne is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. Historically a part of Lancashire, it lies on the north bank of the River Tame, on undulating land at the foothills of the Pennines...
called Ashton National Gas
Ashton National F.C.
Ashton National Football Club were an English football club from Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire which played in the Cheshire County League in the 1920s and 1930s...
, before ending his football career at Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay F.C.
Colwyn Bay F.C. are a Welsh football club, as of the 2011–12 season are playing in the Conference North. Nicknamed the Seagulls, the club play at Llanelian Road in Old Colwyn.-History:...
.
Baseball career
Whitcombe played baseballBritish 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...
for Grange Albion. He also won a total of five caps
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
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...
, all against England
English Baseball Association
The English Baseball Association was founded in 1892 and is the governing body of British baseball in England.It is based in Liverpool and is a member of the International Baseball Board.-External links:*...
. The first cap came at the Cardiff Arms Park Cricket Ground
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...
on 2 August 1926, when he fielded at 1st Base and opened the Welsh batting; he made 4 out of 94, and England scored 47 and 43. His second cap came at The Police Athletic Ground (Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
) on 30 July 1927, when he batted 6th, scoring 1 and 2; Wales made 48 and 83, England made 41 and 27. He won his third cap on 20 July 1929, at the same ground in Liverpool; he scored 2 and 2 batting 2nd out of 83 and 52 for 5, England made 71 and 62.
He captained Wales at The Old Recreation Ground
The Old Recreation Ground
The Old Recreation Ground was a football stadium, located in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent and home to Port Vale for almost 40 years. The Rec had been Vale's home between 1913 and 1950 and was the sixth ground the club used.-Structure and facilities:...
(home of his then football team Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
) in a non-cap international on 17 May 1930; Wales made 45 and 70, England made 59 and 27. He fourth cap came at The Police Athletic Ground on 11 July 1931, where Wales won 46 and 41 against England's 36 and 17; batting 11th he scored 6 and 1. His final cap came on 1 July 1933, again at The Police Athletic Ground; he batted first scoring 0 and 13 out of 33 and 55, but England won with 48 and 43 for 3.
Post-retirement
At the end of his football career, Whitcombe returned to CardiffCardiff
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...
and firstly ran the "Lord Windsor Hotel" in Grangetown
Grangetown, 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...
, and later "The Ninian Park Hotel" near to Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
's home ground
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
. He then ran the "Coldstream Hotel" just outside 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...
city centre for a twenty seven year period between from 1937 and 1964.
He also served in the Home Guard during 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...
.
Family
He 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 in 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:...
.
He 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...
, along with his brother Frank
Frank Whitcombe
Frank William Whitcombe was a Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1930s and '40s who played rugby union for Cardiff RFC, London Welsh RFC, and Army Rugby Union, playing at Prop, i.e...
. Frank played for 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...
for 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....
, and also represented 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"....
. Another brother, Teddy, played baseball for Grange Albion. His nephew, 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...
, played 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...
for Bradford RFC and Yorkshire. Another nephew, Brian Whitcombe, was a back row forward for Bradford RFC.
He was also the great uncle of 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...
, who was a prop for the rugby union side 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...
, and also represented 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, and the 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...
.
Honours
with Port Vale- Football League Third Division NorthFootball League Third Division NorthThe Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
champion: 1929–301929–30 Port Vale F.C. seasonThe 1929–30 season was Port Vale's eleventh consecutive season of football in the Football League, and their first in the Third Division North. They finished as champions and were thus promoted back to the Second Division. With 67 points they broke a division record...
with Notts County
- Football League Third Division SouthFootball League Third Division SouthThe Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
champion: 1930–31