Mel Meek

Mel Meek
Personal information
Full nameAlfred Melville Meek
Bornc. 1912
Wales
Died (aged 85)
Blackpool, England
Playing information
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1934–≤34 Newport RFC
≤1934–≤34 Abertillery RFC
Total 0 0 0 0 0
Rugby league
PositionProp, Hooker, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1934–48 Halifax 390 65
1948–50 Huddersfield
Total 390 65 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1935–49 Wales 14
Source:

Alfred Melville "Mel" Meek (c. 1912 – 1997) was a Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s, and coached rugby league. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Newport RFC and Abertillery RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for Halifax and Huddersfield, as a prop, hooker, or second-row, and coached at club level for Huddersfield.

Playing career

Club career

Meek played hooker, and scored a goal in Halifax's 2–9 defeat by Leeds in the 1940–41 Challenge Cup Final during the 1940–41 season at Odsal, Bradford, in front of a crowd of 28,500, and played at second-row in the 10–15 defeat by Leeds in the 1941–42 Challenge Cup Final during the 1941–42 season on Saturday 6 June 1942.

After the Second World War, he joined Huddersfield, helping them win the 1948–49 Championship. He retired in 1950.

International honours

Meek won 14 caps for Wales in 1935–1949 while at Halifax.

Coaching career

Meek was appointed as trainer at Huddersfield in 1957. He left the club in 1963. He was then appointed as coach at Blackpool Borough in 1965, remaining with the club until his retirement in 1976.

References

  1. ↑ "Welshman Joins Halifax". Yorkshire Post. 9 October 1934. p. 19 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ↑ "Hooker Meek dies". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 7 June 1997. p. 38 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 3 "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ↑ "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "Player Summary: Mel Meek". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers' Club. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  6. ↑ Williams, Graham; Lush, Peter; Farrar, David (2009). The British Rugby League Records Book. London League. pp. 108–114. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6.
  7. ↑ "Statistics at rugbyleague.wales". rugbyleague.wales. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  8. ↑ Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 46 – 1940–41". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
  9. ↑ Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 47 – 1941–42". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
  10. ↑ ""Mel" Meek Retires". Huddersfield Examiner. 26 August 1950. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ ""Mel" Meek Trainer At Fartown". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 20 May 1957. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Mel Meek leaving Fartown". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 16 October 1963. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Mel Meek Coach at Blackpool". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 7 July 1965. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "It's bash bash says Mel Meek". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 8 February 1978. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.