Frank Whitcombe Jr
Encyclopedia
Frank William Whitcombe was a Rugby Union
footballer of the 1950s, '60s and '70s who played Rugby Union (RU) for Bradford RFC, Keighley RUFC
and Army Rugby Union
, playing at Prop, i.e. number 1 or 3, and at representative level played Rugby Union (RU) for Yorkshire
, and North Eastern counties.
a suburb of Manchester
where his rugby-playing father, also Frank
and originally from Cardiff
, had turned professional on the 18th September 1935 with Broughton Rangers
Rugby League
Club who had bought him out of the Army
for a fee of £90.00. His new club provided him with a job as a Zookeeper
at Belle Vue Zoological Gardens where Rangers played on the Belle Vue Stadium
inside the Motorcycle Speedway
track. When Whitcombe senior was signed by Bradford Northern
for a world record fee in 1938 , the family crossed the Pennines
. Frank Whitcombe senior, a huge man with a matching presence on the field retired from the game in 1949 after an illustrious rugby career.
After moving to Bradford
the family lived on Wibsey Park Avenue close to the Odsal Stadium
home of Bradford Northern
. Frank attended Buttershaw St Pauls Primary School and later after passing his 11 plus Grange Boys Grammar School. After leaving school he began an electrical apprenticeship before being called up for National Service.
near to Bradford, before switching to Bradford RFC.
Under the guidance of the Bradford RFC second team captain, David Firth, both settled quickly to the union game and soon broke in to the First Team. Frank making his first appearance for the 1st team at 16 years, like his father before him as a prop forward, Brian made the 1st team age 17 as a back row forward.
Frank became part of a formidable front row with Peter Crowther at hooker and Peter Harrison at Tight Head prop the trio went on to play for Bradford together 12 years.
Frank captained Bradford for a season and played in their Yorkshire Cup
winning side of 1966. Playing for Bradford – who had fixtures in London
and the Midlands – meant he was often away much of Saturday evening, the busiest time of the week at the Airedale Heifer, so he decided to play instead for Keighley RUFC
a club he later Captained. When his playing days were over in the first team he took over the second team captaincy for several seasons, ensuring the next generation of players knew how to do it the right way.
- Mike Dixon 369
- Frank W Whitcombe 329
- Jim Golby 318
- Phil Carter 255
- David S Lightowler 275
- Roger Pickering 255
- Geoff Cooke
244
- Foss Howard 235.
including the County Championship Final of 1963 Which Yorkshire lost in the last minutes 13 - 10 to Warwickshire
at Coundon Road
, Coventry
.The Yorkshire side was Captained by Bradfords Colin Heighton. In the same year he was named as a reserve for the England final trial at Twickenham
. He represented the North Eastern Counties against Sir Wilson Whineray
's New Zealand
All Blacks
team on their tour of Britain at the Great Yorkshire Show
ground's Harrogate
on 11 January 1964, a game the North Eastern Counties lost by 11 - 17. Frank also played in Bradford's Yorkshire Cup
winning team of 1966 in there 8 - 3 victory over Harrogate at Cross Green
, Otley
Frank did his National Service
and served with the Royal Corps of Signals
who had an out standing rugby team at this time. Here he represented The Army Rugby Union
for a full season and was selected for his first cap against the Royal Navy
at Twickenham
. However due to the unfortunate death of his Father he was unable to take his place in the Army
team on this occasion.
Whitcombe the clubs captain had been out of action for a good part of the season through injury and during his absence Dixon had taken over the leadership. So well did Bradford play that when Whitcombe returned from injury he insisted that Dixon should continue as Captain and it was Dixon who last night led the side in their first cup final triumph for 41 years.
With an equally sporting gesture Dixon insisted that Whitcombe should share with him the honour of receiving the cup.
captain for Wales
, and Grange Albion, George Whitcombe
and the Baseball player for Grange Albion, Teddy Whitcombe Was the brother of the Rugby Union Footballer for Bradford RFC, Brian Whitcombe.He was Father to the Rugby Union prop for England 'B'
, Yorkshire, RAF, and Leicester Tigers
, Martin Whitcombe
.
Whitcombe was Son in law to the former Keighley Cougars
Rugby League scrum half Thomas Cockroft and Brother in law to the former Keighley Cougars winger William Cockroft.
at Sandbeds, Keighley
along with his Mother and later his wife Mollie. A popular stop off for many rugby friends and rugby supporters which the family ran successfully for nearly 30 years until Frank and Mollie moved on in 1981 to live in East Morton.Frank devoted his time after retirment to his family and walking in the Yorkshire Dales
Frank died at his home in East Morton aged 73 after a short illness. At his funeral there was standing room only in the village church, St Lukes. Mr Dean Richards MBE
read the Eulogy
to Frank Whitcombe's life .
A week prior to his death Frank was on the touchline supporting Keighley RUFC
At the beginning of the 1971 season Whitcombe took on the Vice Captains job in support of the new club Captain Kevin McGee, he continued in this job for the next three seasons. Frank then held the position of "Honorary Trainer" from 1974 until 1977 before handing over to John Longbottom.
Following his retirment from the rugby Frank turned to coaching the Keighley Colts, the clubs U19 side a position he held for over 15 years.When he finally stepped down from coaching he continued as a regular supporter on the touchline at Keighley RUFC
On 29 August 2010 the main stand was named the "Frank Whitcombe Stand" as a tribute to Frank's hard work at the club over many years especially with the young players at Keighley RUFC. A game took place between Keighley RUFC and Skipton RFC after which Mrs Mollie Whitcombe , Frank's widow, after a short ceremony officially named the stand.
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 of the 1950s, '60s and '70s who played Rugby Union (RU) for Bradford RFC, 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...
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 Union (RU) for 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...
, and North Eastern counties.
Early life
Frank was born on 21 July 1936 on Nell Lane in WithingtonWithington
Withington is a suburban area of the City of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies south of Manchester city centre, about south of Fallowfield, north-east of Didsbury, and east of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, near the centre-to-south edges of the Greater Manchester Urban Area; in the...
a suburb of 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...
where his rugby-playing father, also 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...
and originally from 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...
, had turned professional on the 18th September 1935 with 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...
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...
Club who had bought him out of the Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
for a fee of £90.00. His new club provided him with a job as a Zookeeper
Zookeeper
A zookeeper is a worker in a zoo, responsible for the feeding and daily care of the animals. As part of their routine, they clean the exhibits and report health problems...
at Belle Vue Zoological Gardens where Rangers played on the Belle Vue Stadium
Belle Vue Stadium
Belle Vue Stadium is a greyhound racing track in Belle Vue, Manchester where the very first race around an oval track in Britain was held on 24 July 1926. It is also used for speedway as the home ground of Elite League team Belle Vue Aces since 1988 and since 1999 has British Stock Car Association...
inside the Motorcycle Speedway
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
track. When Whitcombe senior was signed by 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....
for a world record fee in 1938 , the family crossed the Pennines
Pennines
The Pennines are a low-rising mountain range, separating the North West of England from Yorkshire and the North East.Often described as the "backbone of England", they form a more-or-less continuous range stretching from the Peak District in Derbyshire, around the northern and eastern edges of...
. Frank Whitcombe senior, a huge man with a matching presence on the field retired from the game in 1949 after an illustrious rugby career.
After moving to 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...
the family lived on Wibsey Park Avenue close to the 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...
home of 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....
. Frank attended Buttershaw St Pauls Primary School and later after passing his 11 plus Grange Boys Grammar School. After leaving school he began an electrical apprenticeship before being called up for National Service.
Rugby career Bradford RFC
Frank Whitcombe (329 Appearances) and his brother Brian Whitcombe (174 Appearances) went on to give long and loyal service to Bradford Rugby Football club. They began their rugby careers with Sedbergh Boys' Club playing the junior Rugby League. The club was based near to their home in WibseyWibsey
Wibsey is a ward in the Metropolitan Borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. Wibsey is named after Wibsey village which makes up the main part of the ward...
near to Bradford, before switching to Bradford RFC.
Under the guidance of the Bradford RFC second team captain, David Firth, both settled quickly to the union game and soon broke in to the First Team. Frank making his first appearance for the 1st team at 16 years, like his father before him as a prop forward, Brian made the 1st team age 17 as a back row forward.
Frank became part of a formidable front row with Peter Crowther at hooker and Peter Harrison at Tight Head prop the trio went on to play for Bradford together 12 years.
Frank captained Bradford for a season and played in their Yorkshire Cup
Yorkshire Cup (rugby union)
The Yorkshire Cup is an English Rugby Football Union competition founded in 1878. It is open to all eligible clubs in the Yorkshire area. It was initially known as the Yorkshire Challenge Cup.-History:...
winning side of 1966. Playing for Bradford – who had fixtures in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and the Midlands – meant he was often away much of Saturday evening, the busiest time of the week at the Airedale Heifer, so he decided to play instead for 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...
a club he later Captained. When his playing days were over in the first team he took over the second team captaincy for several seasons, ensuring the next generation of players knew how to do it the right way.
Most Bradford RFC appearances
Peter V Crowther 414- Mike Dixon 369
- Frank W Whitcombe 329
- Jim Golby 318
- Phil Carter 255
- David S Lightowler 275
- Roger Pickering 255
- Geoff Cooke
Geoff Cooke
Geoff Cooke OBE is a former England Rugby coach.-Early career:During his playing career he played mainly as a Centre/Fly Half 1962-72 and captained his Club and his County. Cooke also attended York St John University. He was coach to Bradford RFC 1973 to 1975, coach to Yorkshire Rugby Football...
244
- Foss Howard 235.
Representative Honours
Frank Whitcombe was one of the youngest players ever to play for Yorkshire making his debut for the county as a prop forward at age 17 years, he went on to make 31 appearances for Yorkshire in the County ChampionshipCounty Championship (rugby union)
The County Championship is an annual rugby union competition in England between teams representing English counties. After restructuring in 2007 the top tier of the Championship has been known as the Bill Beaumont Cup, after the trophy awarded to the competition winners was named in honour of Bill...
including the County Championship Final of 1963 Which Yorkshire lost in the last minutes 13 - 10 to Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
at Coundon Road
Coundon Road Stadium
The Coundon Road Stadium in Coventry was the home ground for Coventry R.F.C. from 1921 to 2004. The stadium has now been demolished.The first game at the ground was against United Services, Portsmouth, with Coventry R.F.C...
, Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
.The Yorkshire side was Captained by Bradfords Colin Heighton. In the same year he was named as a reserve for the England final trial at Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
. He represented the North Eastern Counties against Sir Wilson Whineray
Wilson Whineray
Sir Wilson James Whineray, KNZM, OBE is a former business executive and the longest-serving captain of the All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby union team. Rugby writer T.P. McLean considered him the All Blacks' greatest captain.He first played for the All Blacks in 1957...
's New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
team on their tour of Britain at the Great Yorkshire Show
Great Yorkshire Show
The Great Yorkshire Show is an agricultural show which takes place on the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate, North Yorkshire in the North of England annually from the second Tuesday of July until the following Thursday...
ground's Harrogate
Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
on 11 January 1964, a game the North Eastern Counties lost by 11 - 17. Frank also played in Bradford's Yorkshire Cup
Yorkshire Cup (rugby union)
The Yorkshire Cup is an English Rugby Football Union competition founded in 1878. It is open to all eligible clubs in the Yorkshire area. It was initially known as the Yorkshire Challenge Cup.-History:...
winning team of 1966 in there 8 - 3 victory over Harrogate at Cross Green
Cross Green
Cross Green is a multi-use stadium in Otley, England. It is currently used mostly for rugby matches and is the home ground of Otley R.U.F.C.. The stadium holds 5,000 people....
, Otley
Otley
-Transport:The main roads through the town are the A660 to the south east, which connects Otley to Bramhope, Adel and Leeds city centre, and the A65 to the west, which goes to Ilkley and Skipton. The A6038 heads to Guiseley, Shipley and Bradford, connecting with the A65...
Frank did his National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
and served with the Royal Corps of Signals
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
who had an out standing rugby team at this time. Here he represented The 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...
for a full season and was selected for his first cap against the 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...
at Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
. However due to the unfortunate death of his Father he was unable to take his place in the Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
team on this occasion.
Captain's Gesture
Yorkshire Cup 1966. The team spirit that enabled Bradford to beat Harrogate in the Yorkshire Cup final at Otley was demonstrated when Mike Dixon and Frank Whitcombe went up together at the end of the match to receive the trophy.Whitcombe the clubs captain had been out of action for a good part of the season through injury and during his absence Dixon had taken over the leadership. So well did Bradford play that when Whitcombe returned from injury he insisted that Dixon should continue as Captain and it was Dixon who last night led the side in their first cup final triumph for 41 years.
With an equally sporting gesture Dixon insisted that Whitcombe should share with him the honour of receiving the cup.
Genealogical information
Frank Whitcombe Jr is the son of the Bradford Northern & Great Britain international Rugby League player Frank Whitcombe was the nephew of the association (Soccer) Footballer for Cardiff City, and BaseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
captain for Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, 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 brother of the Rugby Union Footballer for Bradford RFC, Brian Whitcombe.He was Father to 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, RAF, 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...
.
Whitcombe was Son in law to the former Keighley Cougars
Keighley Cougars
Keighley Cougars are a professional rugby league club from Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. As of 2012 they will play in Co-operative Championship having won the Co-operative Championship 1 play off final 32-12 against Workington...
Rugby League scrum half Thomas Cockroft and Brother in law to the former Keighley Cougars winger William Cockroft.
Life after rugby
Following the death of his Father on 17 January 1958 Frank was discharged from the Army on Companionate grounds to allow him to help run the family business " The Airedale Heifer" Public HousePublic 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...
at Sandbeds, 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...
along with his Mother and later his wife Mollie. A popular stop off for many rugby friends and rugby supporters which the family ran successfully for nearly 30 years until Frank and Mollie moved on in 1981 to live in East Morton.Frank devoted his time after retirment to his family and walking in the Yorkshire Dales
Frank died at his home in East Morton aged 73 after a short illness. At his funeral there was standing room only in the village church, St Lukes. Mr Dean Richards 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...
read the Eulogy
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
to Frank Whitcombe's life .
A week prior to his death Frank was on the touchline supporting Keighley RUFC
Honoured at Keighley RUFC
Frank Whitcombe joined Keighley RUFC in season 1967-68 taking over from E D Thomas as 1st team Captain. Frank Captained Keighley 1st team for the next four seasons until 1970-71.At the beginning of the 1971 season Whitcombe took on the Vice Captains job in support of the new club Captain Kevin McGee, he continued in this job for the next three seasons. Frank then held the position of "Honorary Trainer" from 1974 until 1977 before handing over to John Longbottom.
Following his retirment from the rugby Frank turned to coaching the Keighley Colts, the clubs U19 side a position he held for over 15 years.When he finally stepped down from coaching he continued as a regular supporter on the touchline at Keighley RUFC
On 29 August 2010 the main stand was named the "Frank Whitcombe Stand" as a tribute to Frank's hard work at the club over many years especially with the young players at Keighley RUFC. A game took place between Keighley RUFC and Skipton RFC after which Mrs Mollie Whitcombe , Frank's widow, after a short ceremony officially named the stand.
External links
- http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/community/obituaries/frank_whitcombe_1_2304460
- http://www.keighleynews.co.uk/sport/4645299.Frank_Whitcombe_jnr_dies_aged_73/
- http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8330683.Keighley_pay_tribute_to_stalwart_Whitcombe/?ref=rss
- http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/rugbyunionbees/9032383.Former_Bees_president_Harrison_dies_aged_75/