Name Melville Lloyd | Died 1985 | |
Melville "Mel" De Lloyd (2 April 1917 — 1985 (aged 67–68)) born in Resolven, was a Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, playing club level rugby union (RU) for Resolven RFC, and Llanelli RFC, and playing representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for Warrington, Wakefield Trinity (Heritage № 482), and Keighley, as a stand-off/five-eighth, i.e. number 6, he died in Resolven.
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International honours
Mel De Lloyd won a cap for Wales (RL) while at Warrington in 1945.
Club career
Mel De Lloyd began his rugby union career playing alongside his brothers at Resolven RFC, aged seventeen he then played alongside Bill Clement for Llanelli RFC, he was spotted by Eddie Waring and was recommended to rugby league club Warrington, he made his début for Warrington on Saturday 26 September 1936, he played stand-off/five-eighth in Warrington's 8-4 victory over Barrow in the 1937 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1936–37 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 23 October 1937, during World War II he appeared as a guest player for Wakefield Trinity making his début for during March 1941, playing 9-matches up to May 1941, he also he appeared as a guest player Keighley, during a game against Hull F.C. on Saturday 3 January 1942 he was sent off after disputing a decision by the referee, Mr L. Dolby, alleged that De Lloyd had later "struck him", on Wednesday 7 January 1942, the Rugby Football League disciplinary committee suspended De Lloyd indefinitely (sine die), the suspension was lifted 10-months later in October 1942, he resumed playing having missed 14-games, he scored 1-try, 3-conversions, and 3-drop goals for a total of 15-points in the 21-0 victory over Huddersfield in the first leg of the 1943 Yorkshire County Cup semi-final during the 1943–44 season at Lawkholme Lane on Saturday 13 November 1943, during his time at Keighley they appeared in two Yorkshire Cup finals, the only Yorkshire Cup finals that Keighley have appeared in, the 7-10 aggregate defeat (2-5 at Odsal Stadium on Saturday 27 November 1943, and 5-5 at Lawkholme Lane on Saturday 4 December 1943) to Bradford Northern in the 1943 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1943–44 season, and the 3-17 defeat by Wakefield Trinity in the 1951 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1951–52 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 27 October 1951, after the war he resumed playing for Warrington, playing his last game for them on Saturday 11 October 1947, he then signed for Keighley in 1947, eventually retiring from playing in 1952, he appears to have scored no drop-goals (or field-goals as they are currently known in Australasia) for Wakefield Trinity, nor Keighley, 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.
Genealogical information
Mel De Lloyd's marriage to Thelma (née Smith) was registered during January–March 1940 in Warrington district, and his marriage to Mary Fagan was registered during October–December 1948 in Newton district, he is buried alongside his second wife in St. David's Cemetery, Resolven.