One of the best known personalities in sporting circles over a wide area was Mr Harry Eagland, of 23, The Terrace, (Moody Terrace), Congleton, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 70. Among his chief sporting activities, his prowess gained him prominence throughout Yorkshire (his native county), Lancashire, Cheshire and Staffordshire.
He played “rugger” for Oldham and Lancashire County, and for many years was a professional cricketer and played tor Staffordshire County.
In 1890, Mr Eagland came from his native district (Slaithwaite, Yorkshire) as professional to the Fenton Cricket Club, but in 1897 an operation for cartilage trouble ended his professional career.
On recovery, he played for Fenton as an amateur until 1913, being captain for 13 years, and often assisting the Staffordshire county team, with whom he played against touring teams from South Africa and the West Indies.
Also a well-known rugby player, he had assisted Mossley, Huddersfield, Oldham and Lancashire County when they won the championship in 1896-97.
Since moving to Congleton 30 years earlier, he had always been a popular figure in the realm of local sport and had served both the town’s football and cricket clubs in various official capacities. He was also a member of the Lion and Swan Bowling Club and played at the Constitutional Club.
Mr Eagland’s business associations were with the English China Clay Company, for whom he served as its representative in Edinburgh, Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester. He retired in 1939.
The sympathy of his many friends is extended to the widow and family of three daughters and son, Kenneth, who was serving with the RAF and who was reported missing following a raid over Germany last year.
Since coming to the town more than 30 years ago he has been chairman of both the football and cricket clubs. As a mark of respect the flag at Congleton Constitutional Club, of which he was a member, was flown at half-mast until after the funeral.
Modern note: His name still lives on, other than in (presumably) Eagland Place in Congleton. In 2022, the Oldham Rugby League Heritage Trust, in association with the Oldham Players Association, announced a heritage numbers of players who had featured in a first team match for Oldham, available as a “Heritage Number Certificate”.
Starting with the team who played in Oldham’s first match in the Northern Union, later to become the Rugby League, right up to this 2022 season, every player has been allocated a heritage number.
In the first match at Hunslet on 14th September, 1895, when the teams were still 15-a-side, the honour of being number one was granted to Arthur Lees, who went on to play 356 times for the club.
Number 15 went to Duncan Lamonby, who played a total of just two first team matches for the “Roughyeds” – and number 16 was Mr Eagland, who replaced Mr Lamonby for the next match.
Mr Eagland made his debut for Oldham on 21st September, 1895 and made 55 appearances, scoring 17 goals.
He played cricket for Staffordshire 10 times, scoring 161 runs and in 1897 played against Gentlemen of Cheshire at the County Ground, Chelford.
