John Etty facts for kids

John W. Etty (born 1927, died 1 March 2024) was a famous English rugby league player. He played professionally from 1944 to 1961. John Etty was known for playing as a winger (wing) or centre (centre). He represented teams like the British Empire XIII and Yorkshire. At the club level, he played for Batley, Oldham, and Wakefield Trinity.

About John Etty

Early Life and Background

John Etty was born in Batley, England. His birth was officially recorded in Dewsbury. He went to Batley Grammar School from 1937 to 1943.

During World War II, John Etty was a "Bevin Boy." This meant he worked in coal mines to help the country's war effort. Instead of joining the armed forces, these young men mined coal. In 2007, John Etty was invited to the House of Commons for a special event for former Bevin Boys. He even met the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, at No. 10 Downing Street in 2008. He received his Bevin Boys' Veterans Badge there.

John Etty's Rugby Career

Playing for His Country and County

John Etty was a talented player who represented his country and county.

• He played for the British Empire XIII team in a game against Wales XIII in 1951.
• He was also chosen as a "reserve" player for the England team against France in 1947. This meant he was ready to play if someone else couldn't.
• John Etty also played for the Yorkshire County XIII team. He was part of this team during the 1947/48, 1948/49, and 1949/50 seasons while playing for Batley.

Big Final Games

John Etty played in several important final matches during his career.

• He was a winger (number 5) for Oldham when they won the Championship Final in the 1956–57 season. They beat Hull F.C. 15–14 in a very close game.
• He also played as a winger for Wakefield Trinity in the 1959–60 Championship Final. However, his team lost to Wigan 3–27 in that game.

Winning County Leagues

John Etty helped his teams win important local league titles.

• He played for Oldham when they won the Lancashire County League in both the 1956–57 and 1957–58 seasons.
• Later, he played for Wakefield Trinity when they won the Yorkshire County League in the 1958–59 and 1959–60 seasons.

Challenge Cup Success

One of John Etty's biggest achievements was winning the Challenge Cup.

• He played as a winger (number 5) for Wakefield Trinity in the 1959–60 Challenge Cup Final.
• Wakefield Trinity had a huge victory, beating Hull F.C. 38–5 at Wembley Stadium in London on 14 May 1960.

County Cup Finals

John Etty also played in and won several County Cup Finals.

• In the 1952 Yorkshire County Cup Final, playing for Batley, he scored a try but his team lost to Huddersfield.
• While at Oldham, he scored a try and helped them win the 1956 Lancashire County Cup Final against St. Helens.
• He also played in Oldham's victory in the 1957 Lancashire County Cup Final against Wigan.
• Finally, playing for Wakefield Trinity, he scored a try in their 16–10 victory over Huddersfield in the 1960 Yorkshire County Cup Final.

Club Journey

John Etty started his professional career with Batley in 1944. He played for Batley until January 1955. Then, he moved to Oldham. After playing for Oldham, he transferred to Wakefield Trinity, making his debut in April 1959. His last match for Wakefield Trinity was during the 1960–61 season.

Back then, how points were scored was a bit different. Before the 1974–75 season, all goals (conversions, penalties, and drop-goals) were worth 2 points. This means that sometimes, drop-goals weren't always written down separately in records.

The "All Six Cups" Achievement

John Etty is one of only five rugby league players who have won "All Six Cups" during their careers! This is a very rare and impressive achievement. The "All Six Cups" means winning all of these major competitions:

• The Challenge Cup
• The Rugby Football League Championship
• The Lancashire County Cup
• The Lancashire League
• The Yorkshire County Cup
• The Yorkshire League

The other four players who achieved this amazing feat are:

• Aubrey Casewell (with Salford and Leeds)
• Alan Edwards (with Salford and Bradford Northern)
• Edward "Ted" Slevin (with Wigan and Huddersfield)
• Derek Turner (with Oldham and Wakefield Trinity)

Honoured by Clubs

John Etty was highly respected by the clubs he played for.

• In 1990, the Batley RLFC invited him to officially open the Heritage Stand at their home ground, Mount Pleasant.
• On the same day, he was given an Honorary Life Membership of Batley RLFC, which is a very special award.
• He was also inducted into the Oldham Hall of Fame, recognizing him as one of the greatest players in Oldham's history.