Ernest Pollard (rugby league) – Wikipedia

GB & England international rugby league footballer

Ernest “Ernie” Pollard (fourth ¼ 1910^[4] – death unknown) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity (Heritage № 330) (captain), Leeds (Heritage №) and Bradford Northern (Heritage №), as a centre, or stand-off, i.e. number 3 or 4, or, 6.^[1] Ernie Pollard’s career was ended in October 1938 when he suffered a severe knee injury.^[5]

Background[edit]

Ernie Pollard’s birth was registered in Wakefield district, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.

Playing career[edit]

International honours[edit]

Ernie Pollard won caps for England while at Wakefield Trinity in 1932 against Wales (2 matches),^[2] and won caps for Great Britain while at Wakefield Trinity in 1932 against Australia (2 matches).^[3]

County honours[edit]

Ernie Pollard won cap(s) for Yorkshire while at Wakefield Trinity.

County Cup Final appearances[edit]

Ernie Pollard played left-centre, i.e. number 4, in Wakefield Trinity’s 0–8 defeat by Leeds in the 1932 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1932–33 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 19 November 1932, right-centre, i.e. number 3, and scored a goal in the 5–5 draw with Leeds in the 1934 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1934–35 season at Crown Flatt, Dewsbury on Saturday 27 October 1934, played stand-off, and scored a goal in the 2–2 draw with Leeds in the 1934 Yorkshire County Cup Final replay during the 1934–35 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Wednesday 31 October 1934, and played left-centre in the 0–13 defeat by Leeds in the 1934 Yorkshire County Cup Final second replay during the 1934–35 season at Parkside, Hunslet on Wednesday 7 November 1934.

Club career[edit]

Ernie Pollard is the second youngest player to make his début for Wakefield Trinity aged 16-years and 4-months in 1927, the youngest player being Richard Goddard, he made his début for Wakefield Trinity during March 1927, he appears to have scored no drop-goals (or field-goals as they are currently known in Australasia), but prior to the 1974–75 season all goals, whether; conversions, penalties, or drop-goals, scored 2-points, consequently prior to this date drop-goals were often not explicitly documented, therefore ‘0’ drop-goals may indicate drop-goals not recorded, rather than no drop-goals scored. In addition, prior to the 1949–50 season, the archaic field-goal was also still a valid means of scoring points.

Genealogical Information[edit]

Ernest Pollard’s marriage to Dorothy (née Rayner) was registered during first ¼ 1933 in Wakefield district.^[6] They had children; the Wakefield RFC rugby union footballer from 1956 to 1958, Anthony Pollard (birth registered during third ¼ 1935 in Wakefield district). Ernest was the younger brother of the rugby league footballer Charles Pollard, and the older brother of the Wakefield Trinity fullback of the 1930s Lionel Pollard (birth registered during first ¼ 1913 in Wakefield district), Frank Pollard (birth registered during first ¼ 1914 in Wakefield district), Donald Pollard (birth registered during second ¼ 1916 in Wakefield district), and Wilfred Pollard (birth registered during second ¼ 1917 in Wakefield district), and was the uncle of the rugby league footballer, Roy Pollard, Oxford University RFC, Wakefield RFC, Colwyn Bay RFC and North Wales rugby (captain) rugby union footballer, David Pollard (birth registered during fourth ¼ 1929 in Wakefield district), and Barbara M. Pollard (birth registered during third ¼ 1932 in Wakefield district),

References[edit]

External links[edit]