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Frank Whitcombe Jr

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For his father, see Frank Whitcombe.

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.

Early life

Frank was born on 21 July 1936 on Nell Lane in Withington a suburb of Manchester where his rugby-playing father, also Frank and originally from Cardiff, had turned professional in 1936 with Broughton Rangers Rugby League Club who had bought him out of the Army and 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 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.

Rugby career Bradford RFC

Frank Whitcombe (329 Appearances) and his brother Brian Whitcombe (174 Appearances) went on to give long amd 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 Wibsey 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 season ,ensuring the next generation of players new 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 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 Championship including the County Championship Final of 1963 Which Yorkshire lost in the last minutes 13 - 10 to Warwickshire at Counden Road , Coventry.The Yorkshire side was Capatined by Bradfords Colin Heyton. 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.

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 Baseball 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.

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 House 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. Following his retirment from the rugby Frank turned to coaching the Keighley Colts 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

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 .[1]

Honoured 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.

References

  1. ^ "Obituary: Frank Whitcombe". Yorkshire Post. 25 September 2009.


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