Fred Kelsall

Fred Kelsall
Personal information
Full nameFrederick Thomas Kelsall
Born4 May 1906
Died14 May 1931(1931-05-14) (aged 25)
Playing information
Weight14 st 8 lb (93 kg)
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1925–30[1] Widnes 188 11 0 0 33
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1927–30 Lancashire 12 1 0 0 3
1930 England 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [2][3]

Frederick Thomas Kelsall (4 May 1906 – 14 May 1931) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. He played at representative level for England and Lancashire, and at club level for Widnes, as a prop.[2]

Background

Kelsall was born in Great Sankey, Warrington, Lancashire, England, and he died aged 25 in Eccleston, St Helens, Lancashire, England.

Described as the heaviest and most skilled of the Widnes pack that won an unlikely victory at Wembley in 1930, Fred Kelsall died in a motorcycle accident (in which his pillion passenger Miss Minnie Salt and two persons on another motorcycle were also killed) in May 1931.[4]

Playing career

Club career

Kelsall played at prop in Widnes' 4-5 defeat by Wigan in the 1928–29 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1928–29 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 24 November 1928.[5]

Kelsall played prop in Widnes' 10-3 victory over St. Helens in the 1929–30 Challenge Cup Final during the 1929–30 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 3 May 1930 in front of a crowd of 36,544.

International honours

Kelsall won a cap for England while at Widnes in 1930 against Other Nationalities.

References

  1. ^ "Widnes RLFC History | the story of the Chemics / Vikings".
  2. ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Player Summary: Fred Kelsall". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  4. ^ "Tragic Motor Crash". Widnes Weekly News and District Reporter. 15 May 1931. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "1928-1929 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2015.