1. Frank Whitcombe played rugby union for Cardiff RFC, London Welsh RFC, Aldershot Services and Army Rugby Union, as a prop, and representative level rugby league for Great Britain, Rugby League XIII, and Wales, and at club level for Broughton Rangers and Bradford Northern, as a prop.
Frank Whitcombe's sport was as a prize fighter, bare-knuckle boxing, at Cardiff Docks known locally as Tiger Bay.
Mrs Frank Whitcombe would send one of the children to the brewery for a jug of yeast, and would brew her own beer, the children would sell this to the neighbours, and she would make sloe gin to sell in the autumn.
Frank Whitcombe had a sparkling career playing 27 times for the Army team and won two caps.
On 25 July 1933, in Cardiff, Frank Whitcombe married Doris May who lived at 15 Sussex Street in Grangetown.
Frank Whitcombe's father-in-law, Alfie Bryan, was an amateur boxing trainer who worked in the gym with Jim Driscoll.
Frank Whitcombe had a brief boxing career while in the army.
Frank Whitcombe won his first 11 bouts, but when he lost his twelfth he decided eleven good wins were not worth one good hiding.
Twenty nine years later Arthur's son, Rodney Childs, and Whitcombe's son, Frank Whitcombe Jr, were the two prop forwards for the North Eastern Counties side against Sir Wilson Whineray's 5th New Zealand All Blacks team on their tour of Britain in 1964.
Frank Whitcombe shared his house with former Llanelli RFC and Wales rugby union player, Bryn Howells, who like Frank Whitcombe had made the decision to 'Go north' and seek a better life for their families.
Frank Whitcombe was now the Broughton Rangers fullback, Howells was a professional Lancashire League cricketer.
Frank Whitcombe made his debut against Swinton at home on 19 October 1935 and played his last game for Broughton Rangers against St Helens away on 17 December 1938.
Genial giant Frank Whitcombe is the wit as well as the heavy-weight of the team.
Frank Whitcombe turned to the pack after joining the Army.
Frank Whitcombe played 27 times for the Army team and won a Welsh international trial.
Frank Whitcombe has been Wales' first choice as prop ever since, he played in Australia with Gus Risman's team and played in the first two tests.
Frank Whitcombe was selected for the Great Britain tour to Australia in 1940 which was cancelled due to the outbreak of the Second World War.
On tour Frank Whitcombe did not start the first game against Southern Districts, but then played nine successive matches including the Queensland game in Brisbane, and the two games against New South Wales in Sydney.
Frank Whitcombe took on the Aussie pack on his own and was genuinely feared by the Australians.
Frank Whitcombe signed the two-year contract with St George, however on his return to Bradford the family decided to stay in Yorkshire.
Frank Whitcombe played 19 games on the 1946 tour of Australia and New Zealand more than any other player.
Frank Whitcombe played in 5 Rugby League Challenge Cup Cup finals;.
Frank Whitcombe played prop, in three consecutive Wembley Challenge Cup Finals of 1946,1947, and 1948.
Much to our amusement the great character, Frank Whitcombe, took over the driver's seat and proceeded to bypass all traffic in front and put his foot on the pedals.
Frank Whitcombe was a hard player during an era when the game was at its toughest.
Immediately Frank Whitcombe stood up from the scrum and confronted his reckless action.
Frank Whitcombe ran towards Arthur with both fists clenched Whitcombe drove the full force of his 18 stone frame in to Arthur Clues chest and pole-axed him.
Frank Whitcombe took on the role of self-appointed 'minder' for Bradford Northern's slightly built, mercurial Welsh stand-off Willie Davies when he was targeted by opposing teams.
Under the command of Lieutenant "Two pips" Teddy Lightfoot, Frank Whitcombe served as a sergeant major in the Wibsey branch of the Home Guard, meeting at the Park Hotel, Reevy Road, Wibsey.
Frank Whitcombe was the brother of the association footballer for Cardiff City and Wales baseball captain; George Whitcombe, and the baseball player for Grange Albion; Teddy Whitcombe, and he was the cousin of the rugby union footballer; Frank Trott.
Frank Whitcombe then took The Kings Head, a Heys Brewery Public House on Westgate in the city centre.
Frank Whitcombe died of Pneumonia at home on Friday 17 January 1958 aged 44 years.
Frank Whitcombe will be a tremendous loss to his family and hundreds of friends at Bradford Northern.
Frank Whitcombe was one the game can ill afford to lose.
Gideon Shaw, Chairman of the Rugby League selection committee, asked Frank Whitcombe to apply for the team manager's post for the 1958 Ashes tour to Australia.
Frank Whitcombe is buried at Morton Banks Cemetery, not far from the Heifer, with his wife Doris, who died on 18 August 2003.