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John Etty 1954-59 |
               
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John Etty was born in
the Yorkshire mill town of Batley and would give just under ten
years great service to the "Gallant Youths", before he was
lured over the Pennines to assist Oldham. Although his favourite and
most effective position was on the wing, he often played at centre
for Batley, this being so that the tall, well built threequater
would be able to take on more defensive duties. While at "The
Mount" John represented Yorkshire county and a British Empire
XIII.
So it was that after joining Oldham in January 1955, he played 11 games in the centre position, with only reasonable success. The following season he was swithced to the wing with immedioate effect. His barnstorming runs down the flank made him a great favourite with the Watershedding fans. The 1956-57 season was a personal triumph for John, when he established the Oldham post war try record with 43 touch downs, which included two in the Championship Final against Hull at Odsal and one in the Lancashire Cup Final triumph over St Helens. The golden streak of form that John found that year was a major contribution to the championship coming to Oldham. John’s autobiography was titled "A Rugby League Winner" and, considering that while with Oldham and later at Wakefield he won every domestic honour the game had to offer, the title is most appropriate
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