The plaque is on the side wall of the Shoulder of Mutton pub.
Harold Wagstaff
"The Prince of Centres"
1891-1939
Born in Underbank, he signed at the
pump opposite as a professional rugby
league player for Huddersfield in 1906
becoming the captain in 1911
He played for England aged 17, and
went on to captain the touring sides
of 1914 and 1920 and win a total
of 21 International caps.
Holme Valley Civic Society
"Harold Wagstaff (9 May 1891 – 19 July 1939) was an English rugby league footballer of the early 20th century. He played as a centre and was nicknamed the Prince of Centres. A captain of Great Britain, he also played representative football for England, and Yorkshire. Wagstaff has been inducted into the Rugby Football League Hall of Fame, and the Huddersfield Giants Hall of Fame.
Background
Wagstaff was born in the village of Underbank within Holmfirth on 9 May 1891[5] and first played at local amateur side, Underbank Rangers, aged 14.
Playing career
1900s
Wagstaff's first professional game, for Huddersfield in 1906, was at the age of 15 years and 175 days. He was thus the youngest person to play professional rugby league. He then became the youngest representative in rugby league football when he turned out for Yorkshire age 17 years and 141 days, and a few months later made his début for England against the first ever touring Australian side: the 'First Kangaroos' of 1908.
1910s
By 1912 Wagstaff was appointed captain of Huddersfield, aged 19. He captained Huddersfield at centre in their 2-8 loss against Wakefield Trinity in the 1910 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1910–11 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 3 December 1910, played right-centre, i,e, number 3, and scored a try in the 22-10 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1911 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1911–12 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Saturday 25 November 1911.
In 1914 Wagstaff was made captain of Great Britain, a post held during that year's tour of Australia and New Zealand. He was captain in the famous 'Rorke's Drift' match on 4 July 1914. Wagstaff and played right-centre, i.e. number 3, and scored 2-tries in the 31-0 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1914 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1914–15 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 28 November 1914. During his career as the captain of the Huddersfield team, known as The Team of all The Talents, he led them to victory in the Rugby League Challenge Cup, the Championship Trophy, the Yorkshire County Cup, and the Yorkshire County League in 1915. They thus became the second of only three teams ever to win All Four Cups, the others being Hunslet (1908) and Swinton (1928).
Wagstaff was also stationed in Egypt during World War I.
1920s
Wagstaff once again captained Great Britain on their 1920 tour of Australasia. In November that year, rugby league's first players' union, the 'Northern Rugby Union Players' Union was founded in Huddersfield under the chairmanship of Wagstaff. Wagstaff played his last Test match in January 1922, when he helped Great Britain beat Australia and regain the Ashes. His career had lasted for 19 years until his retirement in 1925.
Post-playing
Wagstaff was the manager of the Royal Swan Hotel, Westgate, Huddersfield, and died in 1939. In 1988 he was inducted into the British Rugby League Hall of Fame. He was one of five famous players to feature on a set of British stamps issued in 1995 to commemorate the centenary of Rugby League. Wagstaff and his contribution to Anglo-Australian rugby league culture were the subject of 2003's annual Tom Brock Lecture, given by Tony Collins."