Joseph Taylor (rugby league)
# Joseph Taylor (rugby league)

Joseph Taylor was an English professional rugby league footballer who played as a forward in the 1900s and 1910s.

He played at club level for Wakefield Trinity (Heritage № 153) during the era of contested scrums.

## Playing career

### County honours

Joseph Taylor won cap(s) for Yorkshire while at Wakefield Trinity, including against New Zealand at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Wednesday 18 December 1907.

### Challenge Cup Final appearances

Joseph Taylor played as a forward, i.e. number 10, in Wakefield Trinity's 17-0 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1909 Challenge Cup Final during the 1908–09 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Tuesday 20 April 1909, in front of a crowd of 23,587.

### County Cup Final appearances

Joseph Taylor played as a forward, i.e. number, in Wakefield Trinity's 8-2 victory over Huddersfield in the 1910 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1910–11 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 3 December 1910.

### Club career

Joseph Taylor made his début for Wakefield Trinity during January 1906, he appears to have scored no drop-goals (or field-goals as they are currently known in Australasia), but prior to the 1974–75 season all goals, whether; conversions, penalties, or drop-goals, scored 2-points, consequently prior to this date drop-goals were often not explicitly documented, therefore '0' drop-goals may indicate drop-goals not recorded, rather than no drop-goals scored. In addition, prior to the 1949–50 season, the archaic field-goal was also still a valid means of scoring points.

### Novelty Race

On Saturday 23 March 1907, Joseph Taylor on his début, took part in a mile foot race for £100 prize money against Oliver Littlewood, of Outwood, the veteran amateur long distance runner. 2,287 people paid for admission with receipts of £54 12s 2d (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £20,390 in 2016). Littlewood started the race bandaged and was to retire after 3/4 of a mile, leaving Taylor untested, as he finished alone amidst great excitement and cheering.

