Bateson Ted Image 1 Blackburn Rovers 1925

Description

Settle, West Riding of Yorkshire born right winger Ted Bateson was a multi talented sportsman, playing Rugby Union and professional Rugby League and being an association footballer, as well as a county cricketer of the 1920’s and 1930’s. As a footballer he made his Football League debut for First Division Blackburn Rovers in a 0-0 draw against West Ham United in January 1924 and played once more for Rovers, in a 1-1 draw against Sheffield United the following month.

He played representative level Rugby Union for Yorkshire, and at club level for Skipton RFC as a right wing and also playing for Yorkshire, playing club level Rugby League for Wakefield Trinity, again as a wing, and playing representative level cricket for Lancashire County Cricket Club. He also participated at athletics, boxing, and tennis. He made his Rugby League debut for Wakefield Trinity in their 8-3 victory over Batley on 19th December 1925 and played right wing in Wakefield Trinity’s 3-10 defeat by Huddersfield in the 1926 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1926-27 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on 1st December 1926.

Bateson extended the ‘most tries in a season’ record for Wakefield Trinity with 26 tries scored in the 1928-29 season, and 27 tries scored in the 1929-30 season, this record was further extended by Freddie Smart to 29 tries in the 1931-32 season. Ted Bateson is twelfth on Wakefield Trinity’s all time try scoring list,  for whom he played from 1925 to 1933 scoring 113 tries. Bateson is almost certainly the only sportsman to have played all four of the leading national sports at the highest club level. A truly remarkable all rounder.

He, Albert Brough, Ben Beynon and Dai Davies are the only four players known to have played both top level football and rugby league.

NB it is possible though not certain he’s wearing a Blackburn Rovers shirt in the photograph.