Frank Walton Townsend (16 April 1925 – 28 September 1946[2]) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s. He played for Wakefield Trinity as a centre. After signing for Wakefield in January 1945, he made regular appearances during the 1945–1946 and 1946–1947 seasons scoring 13 tries in 39 appearances.[1][3] On 28 September 1946 he was fatally injured in a match against the Featherstone Rovers at Post Office Road, Featherstone during the 1946–47 season.[4] Townsend was injured in a tackle and was helped off the field. He was later taken to hospital, unconscious, where he died of a brain haemorrhage.[5]
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Frank Walton Townsend | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 16 April 1925 Wakefield, England | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 28 September 1946 (aged 21) Featherstone, England | |||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 10.5 in (1.8 m)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 12 st 4 lb (78.0 kg)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre | |||||||||||||||||||||
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His father, Harry "Chick" Townsend, had also played for Wakefield after the First World War.[1]
See Also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Trinity player's tragic end". Bradford Observer. No. 25815. 30 September 1946. p. 1 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Footballer killed". Weekly Dispatch. No. 7561. 29 September 1946. p. 1 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Trinity Heritage numbers". Wakefield Trinity. 21 November 2014. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016.
- ^ "R.L. player 'sandwiched'". Yorkshire Evening Post. No. 17448. 1 October 1946. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "R.L. player 'sandwiched'". Yorkshire Evening Post. No. 17448. 1 October 1946. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.