St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

PH112

Photograph, B&W, mounted and titled. Bob Dowdle (Swansea RFC Trainer). Photograph by Jack Thomas Gainsborough Studio, 12 St Helen's Road, Swansea. Dimensions: w12" x h15" (w30.5cm x h38cm).

Photograph

CIC

1935-1936

A mounted and framed B&W photographic portrait of longtime Swansea RFC Trainer Bob Dowdle, presented to him following Swansea's histoic victory over the 1935 New Zealand rugby team. The dedication on the mount reads: "Presented to BOB DOWDLE ESQ. by the Swansea Rugby Fifteen 1935. on the occasion of te New Zealand Victory." Born in Gower in 1873, Robert William "Bob" Dowdle as a forward for the Swansea Crusaders team around 1893, at the Recreation Ground next to St Helen's. This was a team that produced future Swansea players such as Dick Edwards, Frank 'Genny' Gordon and the james brothers David and Evan. Dowdle was also secretary of the Crusaders. he was playing for the Somerset Crusaders in the town in 1894 and played at half-back in a Probables v Possibles match for the team to play the 'All Whites' in the season's opener. Altough never selected for the District XV Bob did play for the Crusaders against the Swansea 2nd XV in a drawn game in December 1894. He took over the post of Trainer for the Swansea first fifteen from Harry Ball in 1903-1904. He filled the post until 1946-1947. Bob Dowdle was a keen athlete and held various records for distance walking, a popular sport in his day. He became Trainer for Swansea's first fifteen during their 'Golden era' (1898-1905) and was present for many of the high points of the club's history during the early part of the 20th century, including a narrow defeat (3 - 4) to New Zealand in 1905 and the famous wins over Australia (1908) and South Africa (1912). Swansea's win over New Zealand on 28th September 1935 meant that Dowdle, as well as the Swansea club, had achieved a unique 'first' in club rugby. The players from that famous 1935 win presented him with this portrait in recognition of that achievement and his long service to Swansea RFC. Bob Dowdle wore a wig from a quite young age, which the players delighted in flicking off his head during training. A Parkmill man from Gower, Dowdle died there in 1948.

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