Jim Bacon (rugby)

James Arthur Bacon (fourth ¼ 1896 – fourth ¼ 1968) was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s, and coached rugby league in the 1920s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Cross Keys, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, Wales and Monmouthshire, and at club level for Leeds (captain), and Castleford, as a wing, or centre, and coached at club level for Castleford.[1][3][4][5][6][7]

Jim Bacon
Ogden's Cigarette card featuring Bacon
Personal information
Full nameJames Arthur Bacon
Bornfourth ¼ 1896
Newport district, Wales
Diedfourth ¼ 1968 (aged 72)
Weston-super-Mare, England
Playing information
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Cross Keys
Rugby league
PositionWing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1918–27 Leeds 276 121 20 403
1928–30 Castleford 41 7 21
Total 317 128 20 0 424
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1927 Monmouthshire ≥1
1921–27 Wales 6 2 0 0 6
1920–27 Great Britain 11 6 0 0 18
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1928–29 Castleford 41 16 4 21 39
Source: [1][2]

Background

Jim Bacon's birth was registered in Newport, Wales,[8] and his death aged 72 was registered in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.

Playing career

Jim Bacon played rugby union for Cross Keys RFC, and having appeared as a trialist for Wales (RU) some weeks before,[4] he moved north and made his professional début for English rugby league club Leeds against Bradford Northern at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 14 December 1918.[9] Bacon was selected to go on the 1920 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia.[10] He won caps for Great Britain (RL) while at Leeds in 1920 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand (3 matches), in 1921 against Australia (2 matches), in 1922 against Australia, in 1924 against Australia, and in 1927 against New Zealand.[1] From 1921 until 1927 he also represented Wales, winning six caps, all against England, including 1-victory, and 5-defeats.

Jim Bacon played left wing in Monmouthshire's 14-18 defeat by Glamorgan in the non-County Championship match during the 1926–27 season at Taff Vale Park, Pontypridd on Saturday 30 April 1927.[11]

Jim Bacon played left-centre and scored 2-tries in Leeds' 11–3 victory over Dewsbury in the 1921–22 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1921–22 season at Thrum Hall, Halifax on Saturday 26 November 1921.[12] Bacon played left-centre and was captain in Leeds' 28–3 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1922–23 Challenge Cup Final during the 1922–23 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield, the only occasion the Challenge Cup Final has ever been staged at Belle Vue.[12] The Leeds backline in the early 1920s was known as the Busy Bs, as it included; Jim Bacon, Arthur Binks, Billy Bowen, Joe Brittain and Harold Buck.[13]

Coaching career

Bacon coached Castleford in the 1928–29 season from Saturday 25 August 1928 to Saturday 27 April 1929, Castleford finished 21st out of 28 clubs in the Championship, and reached the semi-final of the 1928–29 Challenge Cup, losing 3-9 to the eventual runner-up Dewsbury on Saturday 6 April 1929.[14]

Genealogical information

Bacon's marriage to Vera (née Tatterson) was registered during second ¼ 1927 in Bramley district.[15] They had children; Courtney J. Bacon , and Glenys O. Bacon .

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. Williams, Graham; Lush, Peter; Farrar, David (2009). The British Rugby League Records Book. London League. pp. 108–114. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6.
  4. "Profile at leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk". leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 17 November 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  5. David Smart & Andrew Howard (1 July 2000) "Images of Sport - Castleford Rugby League - A Twentieth Century History". The History Press Ltd. ISBN 978-0752418957
  6. "Castleford RLFC A to Z Player List (All Time)". 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  7. "Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk (forename misquoted as Josepth (sic))". 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  8. "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  9. Dalby, Ken (1955). The Headingley Story – 1890–1955 – Volume One – Rugby. The Leeds Cricket, Football & Athletic Co. Ltd ASIN: B0018JNGVM
  10. New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "J. BACON, Leeds". The Rugby League News. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League (Vol. 1 No. 4 (22 May 1920)). nla.obj-626593301. Retrieved 14 November 2020 – via Trove.
  11. Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 32 – 1926–27". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
  12. "History of Leeds Rugby League Club". britishrugbyleague.blogspot.co.uk. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  13. "Leeds rugby league legend medals auction". Yorkshire Evening Post. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  14. "Coach Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk". 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  15. "Marriage details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
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