John W. Etty (1927 – 29 February 2024) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played between 1944 and 1961. He played at representative level for British Empire XIII and Yorkshire, and at club level for Batley Bulldogs, Oldham and Wakefield Trinity, as a or .
Background
John W. Etty was born in
Batley, West Riding of Yorkshire,
England and his birth was registered in
Dewsbury, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.
Etty was a pupil at Batley Grammar School between 1937 and 1943. In June 2007, John Etty was invited to a reception for former Bevin Boys at the House of Commons, hosted by Gordon Banks MP, John Etty and wife Kath were introduced to the Prime Minister at No. 10 Downing Street on 25 March 2008, with John Etty receiving his Bevin Boys' Veterans Badge from Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and he lived in Cleveleys, Lancashire as of . He died at a hospital in Blackpool on 29 February 2024, at the age of 97.
Playing career
International honours
Etty was a representative for the British Empire XIII while at Batley against Wales XIII on 19 May 1951, and was an England "reserve to travel" while at Batley against France on Saturday 17 May 1947.
County honours
Etty was selected for Yorkshire County XIII whilst at
Batley Bulldogs during the 1947/48, 1948/49 and 1949/50 seasons.
Championship final appearances
Etty played on the in Oldham's 15–14 victory over Hull F.C. in the Championship Final during the 1956–57 season at
Odsal Stadium,
Bradford, and played on the in Wakefield Trinity's 3–27 defeat by
Wigan Warriors in the Championship Final during the 1959–60 season at
Odsal Stadium,
Bradford on Saturday 21 May 1960.
County League appearances
Etty played in Oldham's victories in the Lancashire League during the 1956–57 season and 1957–58 season, and played in Wakefield Trinity's victory in the Yorkshire League during the 1958–59 season and 1959–60 season.
Challenge Cup Final appearances
Etty played on the in Wakefield Trinity's 38–5 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1959–60 Challenge Cup Final during the 1959–60 season at Wembley Stadium,
London on 14 May 1960.
[Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC - FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ]
County Cup Final appearances
Etty played on the , and scored a try in
Batley Bulldogs's 8–18 defeat by Huddersfield in the 1952 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1952–53 season at Headingley,
Leeds on Saturday 15 November 1952. He played in Oldham's three successive Lancashire Cup victories 1956-8. He played on the , and scored a try in Oldham's 10–3 victory over St. Helens in the 1956 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1956–57 season at Central Park,
Wigan on Saturday 20 October 1956. He played left wing in the 13–8 victory over Wigan in the 1957 Final during the 1957–58 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 19 October 1957, and in the 12–2 victory over St Helens in the 1958 Final during the 1958–59 season, also at Station Road, on Saturday 25 October 1958. He played left wing and scored a try in Wakefield Trinity's 16–10 victory over Huddersfield in the 1960 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1960–61 season at Headingley,
Leeds on Saturday 29 October 1960.
Club career
Etty made his debut for
Batley Bulldogs in 1944. He was transferred from Batley to Oldham in January 1955. He made his debut for Wakefield Trinity during April 1959 and played his last match for them during the 1960–61 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 and thus 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. In addition, prior to the 1949–50 season, the archaic field-goal was also still a valid means of scoring points.
All Six Cups
Only five rugby league footballers have won "All Six Cups" during their career, they are;
Aubrey Casewell (while at Salford and
Leeds Rhinos), Alan Edwards (while at Salford and
Bradford Bulls), John Etty (while at Oldham and Wakefield Trinity),
Ted Slevin (while at Wigan and Huddersfield), and
Derek Turner (while at Oldham and Wakefield Trinity). "All Six Cups" comprises the
Challenge Cup, Rugby Football League Championship, Lancashire Cup, Lancashire League, Yorkshire Cup and Yorkshire League.
[Edgar, Harry (2006). Rugby League Journal Annual 2007 Page-29. Rugby League Journal Publishing. ]
Honoured at Batley and Oldham
Etty was invited by the
Batley Bulldogs board of directors to officially open the Heritage Stand at Mount Pleasant,
Batley on Sunday 12 August 1990. He was also bestowed an Honorary Life Membership of
Batley Bulldogs on the same day. He is an Oldham Hall of Fame Inductee.
External links
