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William "Billy" Batten, (born in Kinsley, near Fitzwilliam, West Yorkshire) was an English rugby league footballer of the early 20th century. He played for Hunslet, Hull and Great Britain was one of rugby league's first superstars. He was a brilliant athlete and a huge crowd-puller - and also well aware of his own worth.

Contents 1 Early career 2 Hull 3 International Honours 4 Popularity 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Early career

Born in the Yorkshire mining village of Kinsley, near Fitzwilliam, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, Batten joined Hunslet at the age of 17 and helped the club win all four cups in 1907-08. He was also a member of the first touring team to travel to Australasia under the leadership of James Lomas in 1910. He was later to decline the opportunity to tour again with Britain in 1914 for "business reasons".

[edit] Hull

He joined Hull for a then record fee of £600 in 1913 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £218,000 in 2007)^[1], and was to be paid £14 per match (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £5,000 in 2007)^[1], plus an additional special bonus. These were huges figures at the time and made Batten possibly the highest-paid professional footballer in Britain, if not the world^[2]. He helped the club win the Challenge Cup in his first season, when his presence in the side reportedly added £500 to gate receipts per game.

[edit] International Honours

Billy Batten won caps for England while at Hunslet in 1908 against Wales (2 matches); in 1908-09 against Australia (3 matches), Wales; in 1910 against Wales; in 1911-12 against Australia (2 matches); in 1912 against Wales; in 1913 against Wales; while at Hull in 1921 against Wales, and Other Nations; in 1922 against Wales; in 1923 against Wales, for Great Britain while at Hunslet in 1908 against New Zealand, and Australia; in 1909 against Australia (2 matches); in 1910 against Australia (2 matches), Australasia (2 matches), and New Zealand; in 1911 against Australia; in 1912 against Australia; and while at Hull in 1921 against Australia.^[3]

[edit] Popularity

Such was his popularity that Hull would print "Batten certain to play" over posters advertising their home games at The Boulevard. His benefit match in 1920 reaped an incredible £1,079 13s 8d. (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £141,000 in 2007)^[1]. To put that in context Alex Murphy, one of the game's true legends, raised approximately £2,000 in his "phenomenally successful testimonial year" almost 50 years later.

Billy Batten was known for his trademark "Batten Leap" - his ability to hurdle players. He passed this trick on to his son Eric Batten, but the tactic was later outlawed because of its potential dangers. Billy Batten's other son's, Bob Batten and Billy Batten, Jr. were also top class rugby league footballers, as was Billy Batten, Jr.'s son, the Leeds, Great Britain and England international Ray Batten.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• International Statistics at englandrl.co.uk
• Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
• Billy Batten at rugbyleaguehistory.co.uk
• Billy Batten at hunslet.org.uk

v • d • e British Rugby League Hall of Fame Inductees 1988 Billy Batten • Brian Bevan • Billy Boston • Alex Murphy • Jonty Parkin • Gus Risman • Albert Rosenfeld • Jim Sullivan • Harold Wagstaff 1989 Neil Fox 2000 Vince Karalius • Roger Millward • Tom van Vollenhoven 2005 Eric Ashton • Douglas Clark • Ellery Hanley • Martin Hodgson