help (old player)

[big jim mills]

hi im new to this site so here gos recently my brothers mother in law passed away and while clearing through her belongings found so very old widnes memoribly which belong to here dead husband william todd im trying to gather info about william apparently whilse playing for widnes v warrington he suffered akick to the head and possible cause of death a bit unsure about this ?? may be you can help also is it possible to put his winners medal widnes crest badge programes place in frame and put on show?

[PeteH]

I'm sure the Heritage Group will be able to help you.

[Steve Fox]

William Todd

First game was a friendly (possibly v South Wales at Bridgend) in 1949/50 season.

First team debut - 4 November 1950 v Leigh, (H), L 15-0

Last first team game - 10 April 1954 v Salford (A), L 20-3

Last Widnes game 7 August 1954 v Leigh, A&B Motors Cup

Played 67 games mainly at loose forward but some in second-row.

scored 11 tries as follows...

Wed, Sep 3, 1952   Wigan   Lancs Cup (1)   A   L   5-38   
Sat, Sep 13, 1952   Doncaster   League   H   W   14-9   
Sat, Feb 28, 1953   Leeds   Chall Cup (2)   A   L   17-26   
Sat, Mar 14, 1953   Oldham   League   H   W   9-8   
Sat, Sep 12, 1953   Belle Vue R   League   H   W   47-6   (2 tries)
Sat, Sep 26, 1953   Barrow   League   H   L   5-18   
Sat, Oct 10, 1953   Hunslet   League   H   W   21-9   
Sat, Oct 24, 1953   Salford   League   H   W   18-0   
Sat, Nov 7, 1953   Bramley   League   H   W   28-5   
Sat, Mar 13, 1954   Whitehaven   League   H   W   13-3

He signed for Salford on 28 Jan 1955, and was on the teamsheet for Salford at Naughton Park, 16 April 1955.

I don't know any more about his Salford career but will ask a historian of that club if he can tell me anything.

[big jim mills]

thanks for that steve could you shed any light on this boot to this head we are lead to belive happened

[Steve Fox]

thanks for that steve could you shed any light on this boot to this head we are lead to belive happened

Don't have any record of that, I'm afraid. In the fullness of time I might turn up something as I'm looking at every edition of the Weekly News from 1878 onwards. But as I'm only up to 1891 at the moment don't hold your breath!

Do you happen to have the date of death for William Todd? I might be able to find something from that.

The following is what I've had from Graham Morris, Salford club historian, He refers to Warrington because I mentioned that you had an idea he might have been injured against them...

"William Todd was indeed signed by Salford from Widnes and made his debut on 29 January 1955 at home to Belle Vue Rangers.

He played mostly at loose forward and appeared in all of the last 17 matches of 1954/55 season and seemed to be a regular at the start of 1955/56 (played in first 7, missed 2, played 6, missed another 3, and played 1 - this being his last first team appearance on 10 December 1955 at home to Oldham.

He only played against Warrington once in the first team and that was during his 17 match run in 1954/55 and he was in the team again the following week. He made 31 first team appearances (1 try). He also played in the, then, annual Red Rose Cup match against Swinton at Station Road on 13 August 1955.

Yes, he played against Widnes at Naughton Park on16 April 1955 and at home to Widnes on 27 August 1955 in Lancashire Cup.
Not sure what happened to him after his last match, whether he transferred, dropped into the reserves or got injured."

[craigies6pack]

thanks for that steve could you shed any light on this boot to this head we are lead to belive happened

Just read this thread for the first time - sorry I didn't read it earlier now.

I used to work with the late Horace Shaw - ex Widnes captain - at ICI in the late 80's early 90's and he told me a story about one of his team mates being kicked in the head maliciously by a Warrington player as they were packing down in the scrum.

IIRC Horace said that the poor chap never recovered and that his assailant may have been an Aussie, Harry Bath rings a bell??

It seems too much of a coincidence for the two stories not to be connected.