A Man of All Talents The Extraordinary Life of Douglas 'Duggy' Clark

A Man of All Talents is the remarkable story of rugby and wrestling legend Douglas "Duggy" Clark. Born in 1891 in the sleepy Cumbrian village of Maryport, at 14 he left school to work for his father's coal merchant business. Duggy grew into an exceptionally strong but quiet and reserved young man. His two great passions were rugby and Cumberland and Westmorland-style wrestling, and he excelled at both. By 24 he was already a rugby league great and a key member of Huddersfield's "Team of All Talents," winning every honor the sport could offer. He represented Britain in the infamous 1914 "Rorke's Drift" tour of Australia before being called up to serve in the Great War. He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery, but his war injuries were so severe he was discharged with a 20% disability certificate. Doctors gave Duggy an ultimatum: either he could stay home and live a long but sedate and ordinary life or risk his health by returning to sport. He chose the latter and went on to achieve more extraordinary and pioneering feats.

This is the second published work of sports enthusiast Steven Bell following the success of From Triumph to Tragedy: The Chapecoense Story. After setting his first book in Brazil, this time Steven sought a subject closer to home. Steven lives in Huddersfield, the town where Douglas Clark spent most of his life. He was therefore perfectly placed to know and understand Duggy’s legend.