Donald Knowles was a rugby union player who turned professional to play rugby league for Castleford in 1932.[1][2][3] He later played briefly for Newcastle, and then played association football for Hertford Town.
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Donald Knowles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 13 st 4 lb (84 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby league | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing, Centre, Second-row, Loose forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Playing career
editDonald Knowles joined Castleford rugby league club from Castleford RUFC (in Castleford, Wakefield),[4] the town's rugby union club during December 1932,[5] during the 1931–32 season, as a wing, centre, second-row or loose forward.[6] Aged 22 at the time of switching codes, he had previously played rugby union for Huddersfield College and York St John's College. He was 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 13 stone 4 pounds (84 kg)[5] and had been selected for trials for the county's union team.[7]
Knowles made his rugby league début in the match between Castleford and Hull F.C. on 17 December 1932.[8] During his first season at Castleford, the club won the Yorkshire County League.[3] During February 1934, he was granted his request to be listed for transfer, with the fee being set at £150.[9] He was still at the club during November 1935, when it was announced that he was soon to leave to take up a teaching appointment in Blaydon-on-Tyne. At that time he was deputising for the injured Ted Sadler.[10]
Personal
editThe engagement of Knowles, who was a second son, to Greta Lamb of Castleford was announced during December, prior to him leaving the club.[11] The marriage took place at Whitwood Mere Parish Church during May 1937, at which time his parents were living in Scarborough. He had played rugby league briefly for Newcastle while teaching in County Durham, and by the time of his wedding was teaching in Hertfordshire, where he was also playing association football as a centre-half with Hertford Town in the Spartan League.[12][13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ David Smart & Andrew Howard (1 July 2000). "Images of Sport - Castleford Rugby League - A Twentieth Century History". The History Press Ltd. ISBN 978-0752418957
- ^ "Castleford RLFC A to Z Player List (All Time)". 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ a b "Donald Knowles". thecastlefordtigers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
- ^ "Castleford RUFC at pitchero.com". pitchero.com. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ a b "Castleford R.L. Recruit". Yorkshire Evening Post. 13 December 1932. p. 11.
- ^ "Castleford To Lose Knowles". The Leeds Mercury. 21 November 1935. p. 9.
- ^ "Rugby". Sheffield Daily Telegraph. 4 October 1932. p. 9.
- ^ "Atkinson's Best". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 19 December 1932. p. 15.
- ^ "Atkinson's Benefit". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 15 February 1934. p. 18.
- ^ "Castleford R.L. Loss". Yorkshire Evening Post. 20 November 1935. p. 10.
- ^ "Castleford R.L. Player to Marry". Yorkshire Evening Post. 19 December 1935. p. 4.
- ^ "Footballer's Weddings". The Leeds Mercury. 24 May 1937. p. 8.
- ^ "Knowles-Lamb". Sheffield Independent. 24 May 1937. p. 5.