Billy Little (1900s rugby league)

William Beatty Little (c. 1880 – 1965) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s. He played at representative level for England, Cumberland and Yorkshire, and at club level for Halifax and Bradford Northern, as a fullback.[2]

Billy Little
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Beatty Little
Bornc. 1880
Cumberland, England
Died (aged 85)[1]
Playing information
PositionFullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1901–10 Halifax 305 4 326 0 664
Bradford Northern
Total 305 4 326 0 664
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Yorkshire 4
Cumberland 8
1904 England 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [2][3]

Background edit

Billy Little was born in Cumberland, England.

Playing career edit

Club career edit

Billy Little made his début for Halifax on Saturday 21 September 1901, and he played his last match for Halifax on Monday 28 March 1910.[4]

Little played fullback in Halifax's 7–0 victory over Salford in the 1902–03 Challenge Cup Final during the 1902–03 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 25 April 1903, in front of a crowd of 32,507,[5] and he played fullback in the 8–3 victory over Warrington in the 1903–04 Challenge Cup Final during the 1903–04 season at The Willows, Salford on Saturday 30 April 1904, in front of a crowd of 17,041.[6]

Little played fullback in Halifax's 3–13 defeat by Hunslet in the 1905–06 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1905–06 season at Park Avenue, Bradford on Saturday 2 December 1905, in front of a crowd of 18,500.[7]

In January 1911, he was transferred to Bradford Northern for a fee of £50.[8]

Representative honours edit

Billy Little won a cap for England while at Halifax in 1904 against Other Nationalities.

Billy Little won caps for Cumberland and Yorkshire while at Halifax.[4]

Honoured at Halifax edit

Billy Little is a Halifax Hall Of Fame Inductee.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ "Billy Little (85) dies". Halifax Daily Courier & Guardian. 20 February 1965. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Player Summary: Billy Little". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Halifax RLFC Hall of Fame". halifaxrlfc.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 September 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  5. ^ Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 7 – 1902–03". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
  6. ^ Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 8 – 1903–04". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
  7. ^ Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 10 – 1905–06". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
  8. ^ "W. B. Little Transferred". Halifax Evening Courier. 31 January 1911. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.

External links edit