For the Australian rules footballer, William George "Bill" Wells (1920—2013), a.k.a. "Bomber" Wells, who played with North Melbourne and St Kilda, see Bill Wells (footballer).
The son of former Fitzroy and Richmond footballer Charles "Chinger" Wells (1892–1929), and Fanny Ellen Wells (1892–1971), née Craven,[2] William Charles Richard Wells was born in Richmond on 1 February 1916.
Football
Recruited from the Burnley Football Club,[3] for whom he had played from 1931 to 1933, he spent five seasons with Richmond (1934–1938), during which time he played in 45 Second XVIII games (1934–1938), scoring 16 goals, and in 23 First XVIII games (1934–1938), scoring 2 goals.[4]
Playing at centre half-back, in place of Norm Dickson, and playing against Ron Todd, he was one of the best players in the Richmond side that lost to Collingwood in the 1937 First Semi-Final 10.9 (69) to 18.12 (120).[5][6]
Notes
^In his profile, Hogan (1996), pp.243–244 has mistakenly included information (including date of birth and nickname) pertinent to Bill Wells, an entirely different individual, who played his first senior game for the North Melbourne First XVIII, at the age of 18, in 1939, in his entry for Billy Wells.
Hogan P, The Tigers of Old, Richmond FC, (Melbourne), 1996. ISBN0-646-18748-1
Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. ISBN978-1-921496-32-5.
