Donald Metcalfe

Donald "Don" Metcalfe (15 July 1932[1] – 7 November 2006) was an English rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s, and coached rugby league in the 1960s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Sandal RUFC,[2] and representative level rugby league (RL) for England (Under-21s), and Yorkshire (captain), and at club level for Featherstone Rovers (Heritage No. 331) (captain), and Wakefield Trinity (Heritage No. 637), as a fullback, or centre, i.e. number 1, or, 3 or 4,[3] and coached at club level for Keighley.

Donald Metcalfe

Personal information
Full name	Donald Metcalfe
Born	15 July 1932 Wakefield, England
Died	7 November 2006 (aged 74) Wakefield, England
Playing information
Weight	13 st 0 lb (83 kg; 182 lb)
Rugby union
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1949–51 Sandal RUFC
Rugby league
Position	Fullback, Centre
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1952–57 Featherstone Rovers 149 54 1 0 164 1957–68 Wakefield Trinity 212 33 0 0 99 Total 361 87 1 0 263 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1955/56–≥56/57 Yorkshire ≥2
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% c. 1967 Keighley

Background

Donald Metcalfe was born in Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, he was a mathematics lecturer at Wakefield College, and he died aged 74 in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England.

Playing career

International honours

Don Metcalfe won a cap(s) for England (Under-21s) during the 1951–52 season.

County honours

Don Metcalfe won caps, and was captain for Yorkshire while at Featherstone Rovers; during the 1955–56 season against Cumberland, and during the 1956–57 season against Lancashire.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Don Metcalfe played right-centre, i.e. number 3, in Featherstone Rovers' 10–18 defeat by Workington Town in the 1951–52 Challenge Cup Final during the 1951–52 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 19 April 1952, in front of a crowd of 72,093.

County Cup Final appearances

Don Metcalfe played right-centre, i.e. number 3, and scored 3-tries in Wakefield Trinity's 20–24 defeat by Leeds in the 1958 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1958–59 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 18 October 1958, played fullback in the 16–10 victory over Huddersfield in the 1960 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1960–61 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 29 October 1960, and played fullback in the 18–2 victory over Leeds in the 1964 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1964–65 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 31 October 1964.[4]

Club career

Don Metcalfe made his début for Featherstone Rovers, and scored a try against Hull Kingston Rovers on Saturday 2 February 1952, he played his last match for Featherstone Rovers during the 1956–57 season, he made his début for Wakefield Trinity during April 1957, he played his last match for Wakefield Trinity during the 1968–69 season, he appears to have scored no drop-goals (or field-goals as they are currently known in Australasia), but prior to the 1974–75 season all goals, whether; conversions, penalties, or drop-goals, scored 2-points, consequently prior to this date drop-goals were often not explicitly documented, therefore '0' drop-goals may indicate drop-goals not recorded, rather than no drop-goals scored.

Contemporaneous Article Extract

"Don Metcalfe (Wakefield T.) who of course, held a berth in Featherstone Rovers' centre before joining Trinity in 1957. This season Don's appearances have been almost equally divided between centre and fullback and his utility qualities have been of great service to Wakefield Trinity in recent months. A local product, formerly with Sandal R.U.F.C. and has represented and captained Yorkshire county."[5]

Genealogical Information

"Four Generations. Don Metcalfe, the present Wakefield Trinity player, who joined the club from Featherstone Rovers in April 1957, continues a remarkable family association. His father, J. Metcalfe, played for Trinity some thirty years ago. Before that his grandfathers, J. D. Metcalfe and E. W. Bennett gave long and valued service and, still further back, his great-grandfather, T. O. Bennett was a player in the club's earliest days, a founder member, and at one time honorary secretary"[6] Don Metcalfe was also the nephew of the rugby league footballer, and coach, Stan Smith.

References

1. "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
2. "Sandal RUFC at pitchero.com". pitchero.com. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
3. Bailey, Ron (1956). The Official History of Featherstone Rovers R.L.F.C.. Wakefield Express. ASIN: B00O1TLDPC
4. Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC - FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-429-9
5. Lindley, John (30 March 1959). Wakefield Trinity RLFC Official Programme: Featherstone Rovers. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a
6. Lindley, John (1960). Dreadnoughts - A HISTORY OF Wakefield Trinity F. C. 1873 - 1960. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a

External links

• Search for "Metcalfe" at rugbyleagueproject.org
• Don Metcalfe RIP
• Photograph of Donald Metcalfe
• Jimmy Metcalfe and Don Metcalfe