Billy Little (rugby league, born 1911) explained

Billy Little (rugby league, born 1911) should not be confused with Billy Little (1900s rugby league).

Billy Little
Fullname:William Little
Birth Date:26 January 1911
Birth Place:Great Clifton, England
Death Date:[1]
Death Place:Barrow-in-Furness, England
Club1:Barrow
Year1start:1932
Year1end:47
Appearances1:425
Tries1:47
Goals1:44
Points1:229
Teama:Cumberland
Yearastart:1932
Yearaend:46
Appearancesa:15
Triesa:1
Goalsa:0
Pointsa:3
Teamb:England
Yearbstart:1933
Yearbend:34
Appearancesb:3
Triesb:2
Goalsb:0
Pointsb:6
Coachteam1:Whitehaven RLFC
Coachyear1start:1950
Coachgames1:0
Coachwins1:0
Coachdraws1:0
Coachlosses1:0
New:yes
Retired:yes
Source:[2] [3] [4]

William Little (26 January 1911 – 17 December 2004) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s. He played at representative level for England and Cumberland, and at club level for Barrow, as a .[2]

Background

Little was born in the small mining village of Great Clifton, Cumberland, and in his early days he played for the village's club, and he died aged 93 in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England.

Playing career

International honours

Little won caps for England while at Barrow in 1933 against Other Nationalities, and in 1934 against Australia, and France.[3]

County honours

Little represented Cumberland.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Little played, and scored a drop goal with his left-foot in Barrow's 4-7 defeat by Salford in the 1938 Challenge Cup Final during the 1937–38 season at Wembley, London on 7 May 1938, and was a reserve in Barrow's 0-10 defeat by Wigan in the 1950–51 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on 5 May 1951.

County Cup Final appearances

Little played in Barrow's 4-8 defeat by Warrington in the 1937 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1937–38 season at Central Park, Wigan on 23 October 1937.[5]

Testimonial match

Little's testimonial matches at Barrow were shared with Bob Ayres, Val Cumberbatch, John Higgin and Dan McKeating, and took place against Swinton on 27 April 1946, and against Oldham on 27 January 1947.[6]

Contemporaneous article extract

On 25 January 1947, Little was described in the programme of the Big Five Benefit as "the man who spelt the end to Halifax R.L. Cup hopes in 1938. Member of a famous Great Clifton football family. International and Cumberland County man."[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Billy Little. Barrow Raiders RLFC. 17 October 2014.
  2. Web site: Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2011. 1 January 2012.
  3. Web site: England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk. englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/19941130000000/http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Little&submit=Go&c=England. 1 January 2012. 30 November 1994.
  4. Book: Gardner. Mike. Willie: The Life and Times of Willie Horne, a Rugby League Legend. 2012. Ex-L-Ence Publishing. 978-1909133044. 2nd.
  5. Web site: Barrow Make Two Finals In One Year. nwemail.co.uk. 11 July 2009. 1 January 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140517120612/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/raiders/news/barrow_make_two_finals_in_one_year_1_581660?referrerPath=%2F2.3128. 17 May 2014. dead.
  6. Web site: Barrow Testimonial Game for Big Five. cumberbatch.org. 31 December 2011. 1 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120207010457/http://www.cumberbatch.org/index.php/stories/sporting/val-cumberbatch. 7 February 2012. dead.