Harold Buck

Harold Buck

Personal information
Full name	Harold Buck
Born	(1892-10-25)25 October 1892
Playing information
Position	Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1912–21 Hunslet 101 60 9 0 198 1921–24 Leeds 94 67 13 1 229 1924–25 Bradford Northern 1925–27 Hunslet 65 19 11 0 79 Total 260 146 33 1 506
Source: [1]

Harold Buck was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and 1920s. He played at club level for Hunslet and Leeds, as a wing.

Biography

Buck started his rugby league career with Hunslet, making his debut in November 1912. ^[2]

In November 1921, Buck became rugby league's first £1,000 player when he transferred from Hunslet to Leeds, ^[3] Buck made his début for Leeds against Wigan at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 5 November 1921, he went on to play 99 matches for Leeds, scoring 72 tries and 15 goals, for 246 points. ^[4] Buck played on the wing and scored a try in Leeds' 28–3 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1922–23 Challenge Cup Final during the 1922-23 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield, the only occasion the Challenge Cup final has ever been staged at Belle Vue. ^[5] The Leeds backline in the early 1920s was known as the Busy Bs, as it included; Jim Bacon, Arthur Binks, Billy Bowen, Joe Brittain, and Harold Buck. ^{[6] [7] [8]}

In 1924, Buck made a replacement appearance in the Great Britain trial match in advance of the 1924 Great Britain Lions tour, but Buck was ultimately not selected for the tour. ^[8]

After a brief spell with Bradford Northern, ^[9] Buck returned to Hunslet in January 1925. ^[10]

Outside rugby league

Buck was the landlord, and he and his wife, Florrie (née Fox), ran The Coburg Tavern at the junction of Woodhouse Lane and Claypit Lane, in Leeds. ^[11]

References

1. "Player Summary: Harold Buck". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
2. "Hunslet RLFC Heritage Numbers" (PDF). Hunslet RLFC. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
3. Baker, Andrew (20 August 1995). "100 years of rugby league: From the great divide to the Super era". Independent, The . independent.co.uk. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
4. Dalby, Ken (1955). The Headingley Story - 1890-1955 - Volume One - Rugby. The Leeds Cricket, Football & Athletic Co. Ltd ASIN: B0018JNGVM
5. "History of Leeds Rugby League Club". britishrugbyleague.blogspot.co.uk. 31 December 2012. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
6. "Leeds rugby league legend medals auction". Yorkshire Evening Post. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
7. "On This Day - 14 December". therhinos.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
8. "Profile at leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk". leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 17 November 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
9. "Heritage Numbers 1-998". Bradford Bulls Foundation. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
10. "Buck Returns to Hunslet" . Yorkshire Evening Post. 21 January 1925. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive.
11. "A rare collection of Rugby League medals awarded to Harold Buck, comprising a 15ct gold and enamel". saleroom.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.

Achievements
Preceded by Billy Batten	Rugby League Transfer Record Hunslet to Leeds 1921-1937	Succeeded by Vic Hey