Emlyn Walters

Emlyn Walters (20 May 1918 – 2001) born in Glynneath (birth registered in Merthyr Tydfil district), was a Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s playing club level rugby union (RU) for Glynneath RFC & Pontypridd RFC, and playing representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for Bradford Northern, as a Wing, i.e. number 2 or 5, he died in Cwmgwrach.

Playing career

Pontypridd RFC flyhalf Oliver Morris lodged at a house in Rosser Street, Maesycoed before he 'went North' and signed for Hunslet in November 1937, with team mate Emlyn Walters, who went on to Captain Pontypridd RFC from 1937 to 1939, before he too turned professional with Bradford Northern in July 1939. Walters was an outstanding player in the great Bradford Northern team of this era. His career was interrupted in 1944 when he was called up to the Royal Navy in the second world war where he served as a Chief Petty Officer

International honours

Emlyn Walters won 10 caps for Wales (RL) in 1940–1948 while at Bradford Northern.

Yorkshire Cup final appearances

Yorkshire Cup Final (Win 15-5) 1940-41 against Dewsbury at Fartown, Huddersfield, the Yorkshire Cup Final (Win 24-0) 1941-42 against Halifax at Fartown, Huddersfield and the two legged Yorkshire Cup Final aggregate (Win 10-7) 1943-44 against Keighley

Challenge Cup final appearances

Emlyn Walters played in Bradford Northern's 8-3 aggregate victory over Wigan in the 1944 Challenge Cup final during the 1943-44 season, absent from the 0-3 first-leg defeat at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 15 April 1944, he played in the 8-0 second-leg victory at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 22 April 1944, and played and scored the opening try in the 8-4 victory over Leeds in the 1947 Challenge Cup final during the 1946-47 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 3 May 1947 in front of a crowd of 77,605.

Rugby Football League Championship

1939–40 Championship play-off final played over two legs, played in the first leg, against Swinton away won 21–13 home won 16–9. The 1940–41 Championship play-off final against Wigan played in both legs away won 17–6 home won 28–9 away, scoring a try in the home and away ties. The 1941-42 Championship play-off final against Dewsbury losing 0-13, at Headingly, Leeds.

Yorkshire League

Yorkshire League Winners 1939–40 and Yorkshire League Winners 1940–41

Testimonial match

Bradford Northern's home fixture with Dewsbury on Wednesday 12 May l949 was Emlyn Walters Testimonial match which he shared with Willie Davies, this match was also their great friend and fellow Welshman Frank Whitcombe's final appearance for Bradford Northern, a crowd of 19,000 attended Odsal to witness the game