Donald Hatfield

Donald "Don" Hatfield (6 November 1924 – 1981) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. He played at club level for Halifax (Heritage № 568), Dewsbury and Hunslet (Heritage №), as a prop i.e. number 8 or 10, during the era of contested scrums.

Don Hatfield
Donald Hatfield prior to Hunslet's 22-11 victory over Wigan in the Championship semi-final match at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 2 May 1959
Personal information
Full nameDonald Hatfield
Born(1924-11-06)6 November 1924
Dewsbury, England
Died1981 (aged 56–57)
Playing information
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight17 st 0 lb (108 kg)
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1946–51 Halifax
1951–53 Dewsbury
1953–61/62 Hunslet 284 24 0 0 72
Total 284 24 0 0 72

Background

Donald Hatfield's birth was registered in Dewsbury, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, he worked as a railway lad (messenger) aged c. 15 in c. 1939, he worked at W. E. Rawson, Portobello Road, Wakefield c. 1960s–1970s, he lived on Headfield Road, Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury c. 1980, and he died aged 56–57.

Playing career

Championship final appearance

Donald Hatfield played left-prop, i.e. number 8, in Hunslet's 22-44 defeat by St. Helens in the Championship Final during the 1958–59 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 16 May 1959, in front of a crowd of 52,560.[1]

Club career

Donald Hatfield was transferred from to Dewsbury Juniors ARLFC to Halifax during 1946, he was placed on the transfer list, at his own request, at a fee of £2,500 during October 1950 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £216,900 in 2017),[2] he was transferred from Halifax to Dewsbury on Wednesday 29 August 1951,[3][4][5] he was transferred from Dewsbury to Hunslet, he made his début for Hunslet playing left-prop, i.e. number 8, against Hull Kingston Rovers at Old Craven Park, Kingston upon Hull on Saturday 24 October 1953, he played his last match for Hunslet during the 1961–62 season.

Hunslet career statistics
SeasonAppearancesTriesPoints
1953–54 season3439
1954–55 season42721
1955–56 season34515
1956–57 season4339
1957–58 season3813
1958–59 season3039
1959–60 season3726
1960–61 season1400
1961–62 season200
Total2842472

Genealogical information

Donald Hatfield was the son of Fred Moor(e) Hatfield (born 9 June 1900, birth registered second ¼ 1900 in Dewsbury district – death unknown) and Lily (née Goodall, born 31 October 1899 in Leeds district – died second ¼ 1970 (aged 70) in Upper Agbrigg district) married 4 November 1921, marriage registered during fourth ¼ 1921 in Dewsbury district. He was the younger brother of Norman Hatfield (birth registered second ¼ 1922 in Dewsbury district), and the older brother of Joyce Hatfield (birth registered third ¼ 1926 in Dewsbury district) and Marlene Hatfield (birth registered second ¼ 1938 in Dewsbury district – death registered second ¼ 1938 in Dewsbury district). Donald Hatfield's marriage to Mary (née Cameron, birth unknown – died c. 1993) was registered during second ¼ 1953 in Dewsbury district. They had children; Lynne Hatfield (birth registered third ¼ 1954 in Dewsbury district - January 2020 (aged 65)) and Russell Hatfield (birth registered first ¼ 1962 (age 60–61) in Dewsbury district).

References
  1. Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 64 – 1958–59". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
  2. "Measuring Worth - Relative Value of UK Pounds". Measuring Worth. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. "Open To Transfer". Hull Daily Mail. 4 October 1950. p. 6.
  4. "Salford Signing". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 4 October 1950. p. 3.
  5. "Dewsbury sign Hatfield". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 30 August 1951. p. 3.
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