Teddy Bartram

Teddy Bartram
Personal information
Full name Christopher Edward Bartram
Nickname Teddy
Born 1857
Leeds
Died 8 February 1927
Andover, Hampshire
Playing information
Rugby union
Position Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1878–≤78 Harrogate RUFC
≤1878–79 York RUFC
1879 Harrogate RUFC
1879–89 Wakefield Trinity
Total 0 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Yorkshire
North of England
Rugby league
Teddy Bartram
Personal information
Full name Christopher Edward Bartram
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1892-99 Northumberland Cricket Club
Source: 'Teddy Bartram' at cricketarchive.com

Christopher Edward "Teddy" Bartram (1857 — died 8 February 1927 (aged 70)[1]) born in Leeds, was an English cricketer of the 1880s and '90s, and cricket Umpire of the 1890s to the 1920s, and the first professional rugby union footballer of the 1870s and '80s, playing representative level cricket for Northumberland (1892–99), and at club level for Wakefield (1879–80), North Leeds (1888–89), Benwell (1890–91, 1893–94, 1896), Elswick Works (1891–92), Belford (1893), Wallsend (1897-1900), and coaching at school level for Royal Grammar School, Newcastle (1893-1903), and Loretto School, and playing representative level rugby union (RU) for North of England, and Yorkshire, and at club level Harrogate RUFC (twice), York RUFC , and Wakefield Trinity, as a Centre, he died in Andover, Hampshire. Prior to Tuesday 27 August 1895, Wakefield Trinity was a rugby union club.

Playing career

County Cup final appearances

During Teddy Bartram's time at Wakefield Trinity, they had a 2g, 1t, 7m - 0g, 0t, 0m victory over Kirkstall RUFC in the 1879 Yorkshire Cup final at Halifax on Saturday 12 April 1879, a 3g, 6g, 7m - 0g, 1t, 2m victory over Heckmondwike in the 1880 Yorkshire Cup final at Cardigan Fields, Leeds on Saturday 3 April 1880, a 1g, 2t, 11m - 0g, 0t, 0m victory over Halifax in the 1883 Yorkshire Cup final at Cardigan Fields, Leeds on Monday 23 April 1883, and a 2g, 0t, 2m - 0g, 0t, 2m victory over Leeds St John's in the 1887 Yorkshire Cup final at Thrum Hall, Halifax on Saturday 2 April 1887. In addition, they were runners-up in 1881, 1882, and 1888.

Professionalism

In 1879 Teddy Bartram became the first definite example of a rugby player being paid, he received money from Wakefield Trinity for travel expenses, etc. these were an open secret in the north of England but, at that time the RFU had no laws relating to amateurism and professionalism, since the issue had never arisen. The Yorkshire Rugby Football Union moved quickly in 1879 and copied the Marylebone Cricket Club's laws relating to the definition of a (cricketing) amateur. These were the first laws relating to amateurism in any football code. Consequently, Wakefield Trinity created an Assistant Secretary role for Teddy Bartram with an annual salary of £52 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £21,820 in 2013).[2] The Rugby Football Union did not provide national rules on professionalism until 1886. Teddy Bartram was banned from rugby union for life in 1889, he moved to North East England, and later Edinburgh, to play, coach, and umpire cricket. [3]

Genealogical information

Teddy Bartram's marriage was registered during April→June 1895 in Newcastle district.[4]

References

  1. "Death details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. "Measuring Worth - Relative Value of UK Pounds". Measuring Worth. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  3. Collins, Tony (1998). Rugby's great split: class, culture, and the origins of Rugby League football. Routledge. ISBN 9780714648675.
  4. "Marriage details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.

External links