Alfred Cattell

Alfred Cattell (27 April 1857 – 10 September 1933)[2] was an English-born international rugby union player for Wales who in his later life became Lord Mayor of Sheffield. As a rugby player Cattell represented Oxford University[3] before joining club team Llanelli and being selected for Wales.

Alfred Cattell

Birth name	Alfred Cattell
Date of birth	27 April 1857
Place of birth	Cottesmore, Rutland, England
Date of death	10 September 1933 (aged 76)
Place of death	Sheffield, England
School	Cottesmore School
University	Oxford University
Occupation(s)	headmaster
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Oxford University RFC Llanelli RFC () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1882-1883 Wales[1] 2 (0)

Early life

He was born in Cottesmore, Rutland where his father, Thomas Cattell, was the headmaster of the village school.

He trained as a teacher. He was successively headmaster at schools at Woodford Bridge, Essex; Llanelli; and St Paul's Church Schools, Sheffield. When the Free Education Act (1891) was passed, he left teaching for business.

Rugby career

Cattell came to prominence as a rugby player representing first class Welsh team Llanelli. In 1882 Cattell was selected for the Welsh national team as part of the 1883 Home Nations Championship against England. This was the first match of the first Home Nations Championship and Cattell along with Thomas Judson and Harry Bowen became the first players to represent Llanelli in an international game. Under the captaincy of Charles Lewis, and played on Welsh soil for the first time, Wales were outclassed by an English team that had lost only three times in their first 21 matches. Although the Welsh were beaten by two goals and four tries to nil, it was seen as a far more promising result than the teams first meeting 22 months prior, and the selectors kept faith with the majority of the team. Cattell gained his second and final cap for Wales in a game away to Scotland at Raeburn Place. This was the first time the countries had faced each other in a rugby union match, and Wales lost by three goals to one. In the next season four new caps were brought into the Welsh pack and Cattell was not reselected to represent Wales again.

International matches played

Wales (rugby union)[4]

•  England 1882
•  Scotland 1883

Later career and death

Cattell returned to England. He served as a Conservative councillor[5] and alderman[6] on Sheffield City Council and as a magistrate in Sheffield. In 1917 he was elected to the position of Lord Mayor of Sheffield.

Cattell was at one time the Chairman of Sheffield United F.C..[7] He died in Sheffield on 10 September 1933.

Bibliography

• Godwin, Terry (1984). The International Rugby Championship 1883-1983. Grafton Street, London: Willow Books. ISBN 0-00-218060-X.
• Jenkins, John M.; et al. (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Rugby Players. Wrexham: Bridge Books. ISBN 1-872424-10-4.
• Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.

References

1. Wales Rugby Union player profiles
2. Alfred Cattell player profile Scrum.com
3. Jenkins (1991), pg 29.
4. Smith (1980), pg 464.
5. Municipal Year Book 1902.
6. "Reminiscences of Rotherham by Alderman Geo. Gummer, JP". Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
7. Jenkins (1991), pg 30.