Weekly Finds 2009

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These are the old finds from 2009

20th Dec 2009 - Selling more than I am buying at the moment in fact most items that are not postcard on this site are for sale, contact me if interested at referee@ovalballs.com

A small card that I have found in recent weeks that gives me the opportunity to wish you

all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

26th October 2009 - A few recent items from auction - you would have needed a little over £10k to buy this lot

25th July 2009 - I have never been a great programme collector but have recently decided to put together a set of programmes from the 1957/58 Australian tour to the UK. Got most of the items for sale on eBay covered at the moment but would welcome any items you may have for sale or to swap. Contact me at referee@ovalballs.com

4th May 2009 - A visit to the Pump Rooms in Cheltenham produced some nice cards to-day plus a couple bought in recent auctions.


A 1907 card from South Africa one of the most expensive I have ever purchased, great remarks about the Springboks home coming reception on reverse.	A new copy of this great card 1924 Olympics and rugby - For Sale £35	Comic Card - For Sale £8 in good condition	Comic Card - For Sale £8 in good condition	Varsity Types - hand draw No 1 The Rugger Blue

South African team from 1931 - 32 nice cards with details of team on reverse	Reverse of SA card	Birthday card with rugby theme	New card of the 1905 All Blacks - different as in team format.	Another 1905 NZ picture strange format with only half the team named, published Browning Exeter

Advert card for Football Boots reference to WW1	Advert for slippers on reverse of card	Another new card showing the 1908 - 9 Australian Wallabies side	Crowd postcard from the England V Wales at Goldstone Ground, Hove in1914	Gloucester card from not sure of year but W. Johns was captain

6th April 2009 - After many months of searching I have obtained these new postcards.


France 1910	Wales 1910	South Africa 1912-13	Welsh team that played against Australia at Cardiff in December 1908 Referee on far right is Gil Evans	The Wallabies 1908 The Australian Amateur Rugby Team For Sale £10 cond fair

Wales V South Africa 1906	Wales V Ireland 1905	Wales V Ireland 1909	Wales V England 1907	All Blacks 1905 - For Sale £10 cond fair

Large postcard of Wales team v England 1907 in poor condition For sale £10	Postcards 1924 New Zealand All Blacks, damaged For Sale £7.50	1908 Devonport Albion Football Club	Wallabies Team 1908 at Swansea	1946 New Zealand Army team with facsimile autographs

3rd March 2009 - As there is a shortage of finds due to work and concentrating on selling a few bits on eBay I have got something different for you this month. I have a small collection of postcards of International Rugby Players that I have obtained over the years, some you will recognize other will require a bit of research. I will add what details I have and perhaps you can supply any more that you know.

As always all contribution gratefully received.


W. M. LLewellyn Capt Wales & Newport 1899 - 1905	6 Llanelli players who took part in the 1928 match against Scotland at Murrayfield where Wales won 13-0. Back 3 are: Arthur John, Albert Jenkins and Dai John. In front: Iorwerth Jones, Ifor Jones and Archie Skym.	R. H. "Dick" Jones - Wales & Swansea 1901-10	R. T. Gabe - Wales & Cardiff 1905	Phil L. Hopkins - Wales & Swansea 1908-10	Reggie A. Gibbs - Wales & Cardiff 1906-11	Welsh but who?

Percy Bush say no more?	R. W. Poulton of England & Harlequins(1909-14) and G. Andre of France & R.C.F (1913-14)	Paddy Reid Ireland & Garryowen 1947-48 (went north)	J W (Jim) Brough who played twice at full-back as a 21-year-old in 1925 against New Zealand and Wales.	Alphonse Masse France & S.B.U.C. 1908-10	Unknown player NU picture taken in Leeds	E. J. Owen York?

Bob McMaster, a prop on the 1947-48 Wallabies tour to Britain, Ireland and France. He was later a RL player in England with Leeds - also a professional wrestler.	Tony Sutton - playing for Somerset 1929-30	J. Daniell - England & Richmond 1899-04	Advert on back says " Prince of Wales" Hotel Proprietor - A. E. Wood - England & Gloucester 1908	Sam Tucker England & Bristol 1922-31	Tom and Sam Tucker before WW2	Welsh International for 1934? might be a schools (14 group) player

Frank Bede Smith, Ernest Row, Sydney Middleton, Stanley Wicknam, Ernest Booth 1908 Wallabies 1st UK tour	R. Read Masters, Canterbury & New Zealand signed by Masters 1924	1905 New Zealand Captain David Gallaher in classic pose	New Zealand B. S. Sadler 1935-36 played against Sct, Ire, Wal plus 2 test against Aus.	2 New Zealand 1905 players C. Seeling & W. Johnstone	Back of cards says Pearce, Payne, Beer & James but what team?	Somerset player by the name of David ?

Picture taken by Liverpool/Manchester Studio but who is it?	Neath RFC?	Gwyn Nicholls as ex Captain of Wales from Health & Strength series	Gwyn Nicholls out of his kit	W. H. King 1901-02 posted in 1907 a Gloucester player?	W. H. King or perhaps W. A. King	A. S. Pickering 1906-7 - Yorkshire, England

Bert Dunnington - Guiseley .C.A.F.C	Matthe French Football and Rugby?	Unknown	1st reserve Wales & Swansea 1938 but no name	From George to his grandmother?	Sidney Smart England and Gloucester - 1913-20	Hale and Baker from Gloucester RFC @1913

Arthur Hudson England 1906-10 played club rugby for Gloucester	Henry Berry who played 2 games for England in 1910 - played club rugby for Gloucester	Redding a Gloucester player @1910	Hamblein? another Gloucester player	George Cook of Gloucester 1910	A rare picture of Percy Bush Jones and his brother Frank	C. H. Pillman of Blackheath hand draw

Hand draw picture of H. C. Laird England & Harlequins 1928	French rugby 1956 from Mirror des Sport but whom?	And for my friend in Paris Max Rousie French International

I would like to thank the author of "The book of English International Rugby" John Griffiths for his help identifying many of the above players.

Some more Welsh internationals from @1908 http://flickr.com/gp/rugby_pioneers/0b1330

7th February 2009 - I have not found much new memorabilia recently due to be stuck at home recovering from an operation to replace my knee. So I have put together this display of rugby caps, a couple I own, some are from friends and others have been sent to me to identify or admire. I hope you enjoy this small collection.


A pair of caps from the 1906 Springboks team that toured the UK, one is rare but a pair.	What every Welshman dreams off	1928-29 rugby club honours cap	Pontypool F. C. 1904/05

Irish cap from 1926	1900 Welsh Trial cap there must be a lot of these as every Welshman I have ever met has had at least one trial for Wales...LOL	Cornish Cap from the school of mining 1929-30 see School of Mines cap below	South African cap from 1891 one of the oldest I have seen.

Old Blues 1927-28	A collection of caps and ties	Leeds grammar school 1929-30-1-2	Edinburgh Academy 1st XV 1915-16 war time schools cap rare

English Pubic schools cap - Unknown	Even the French have caps- Henri Amend - Stade Francais 1891-92	Great French cap with honours for the 1st international 1906 against New Zealand	Camborne School of mines 1896 - 67 very early cap see older cap above from Cornwall

2nd January 2009 - I have been sent the following scans and details from Pat Walsh in Australian who shares the details of his grandfather Patrick Bernard 'Nimmo' Walsh

Here is a short biography-

Pat Walsh had played Rugby union for N.S.W 1903/04/05 & Australia 1904 (3 tests) he also played in the Australian Rules Competition in Johannesburg South Africa in 1905 (Vice Captain of the Commonwealth team winners. The trophy in Australian sporting hall of fame at the M.C.G.)
In1906/07/08 He played Rugby union in the Auckland Comp. (representing Auckland in1907) in1908 he received a cablegram from J J Giltinan re. the 1908/09Kangaroo tour. He returned to Australia and Played his first Rugby League Match for Queensland in 1908,the first Interstate series. He played for Newcastle in 1908 & went to England on a 2nd ship (the Salamis) taking the Kangaroo Mascot with him. He played in 29 games including the 3 tests & scored 9 tries on the tour. He was signed by Huddersfield1909-1911(Team of all Talents).
In 1911 he returned to Australia,& captained The Newcastle & Hunter Tour of Qld. His team defeating the Qld. State team in all 3 games.
In Feb 1915 He enlisted in 12th Light Horse Serving at Galipolli, Palestine & Egypt. He was mentioned in Despatches by General Allenby.
During the war He Contracted a paralysis to his legs & thereafter had to walk on crutches.
J. J. Giltinan 'considered him the Finest forward in the northern Union'. (Huddersfield Rugby News 10th April 1909) Dally Messenger listed him in his favourite Team & He was listed in W.A."Billy"Cann's Best All time team in1938.
Unfortunately his Achievements have been long forgotten.


Pat Walsh honour caps	Pat in Huddersfield strip	In the 1908-09 Kangaroo team	In the 1905 commonwealth team

A few links to find more information on Pat Walsh rugby life and times:-

http://www.RL1908.com/Legends/pat-walsh.htm

http://www.RL1908.com/blog/museum.htm

http://rugby-pioneers.blogs.com/rugby/2006/05/pat_nimmo_walsh.html

A couple of newspaper articles from Auckland the first game after the 1905 tour:-

Click on the image for large version.....

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