tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88526726216501997282024-03-06T01:24:25.845+00:00Drop Kick BooksBooks and articles on Rugby League and Rugby Union.Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.comBlogger121125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-38668945213697698282023-06-09T11:39:00.000+01:002023-06-09T11:39:05.293+01:00Changing Times - Review<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 24.0pt;">Changing Times<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt;">Grassroots rugby union in Yorkshire<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt;">1987-2022</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">In <span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">partnership
with Duncan Gawthorpe, Stuart Sheard has made an important contribution to an
ongoing debate regarding the changing face of the game in the county with their
book – ‘Changing Times: Grassroots rugby union in Yorkshire 1987-2022’.
Following on from Stuart’s previous volume, which reviewed the game’s solid
growth between 1930 and 1980, the latest one focuses on the challenging period
since the introduction of adult male leagues at all levels into the county in
1987. It takes for itself a wide remit covering schools, universities and
colleges, women, the impact of COVID as well as the adult male game. The new
opportunities for growth are explored, as are the prospects for the winners and
losers in a fast changing world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As
the title makes clear this is a history of the impact of those leagues
primarily at grassroots level, which the authors take to mean the lowest four
divisions of the Yorkshire league structure. From a historically high-point in
1987, playing numbers in the male adult game have fallen significantly and
while this is offset to some extent by the rise in other areas it is still a
major concern and the authors examine the possible causes in some detail. All
this is well documented and incorporates contributions from many who were
involved in the grassroots game at key points over the last 40 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">While
noting there is still a good degree of loyalty at all levels of the game in the
county, it is clear that the authors think it has changed and weakened particularly
in the longer established male world. As the numbers playing the game change so
does its character and it is interesting to read that private school products
are once again playing an increasing role at all levels but not as members of
traditional old boy clubs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There
is no doubt that a league structure was both wanted and needed at the top-level
of the club game in the north of England. Some way had to be provided for an
ambitious junior club to rise to the top tier and provide some older senior
clubs with the jolt they needed to up their game. Lower down the proposed structure
the need was less clear cut. Some clubs that had operated for many years with
quite localised opposition wanted new horizons to open up. Others didn’t and
the end result is patchy. Whether leagues needed to be brought in at all levels
where in many cases the realities of week in week out competitive rugby were
little understood having been shunned for 80 years is perhaps doubtful in
retrospect. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
authors present the evidence well. League rugby inevitably played an ever
greater emphasis on results and with them came a greater reliance on coaching
and discipline. Players had to make more time available and that was not without
issue. The ways that some grassroots clubs are now attempting to work outside
the league structure are examined but the idea that there might be a way back
to a viable more flexible, perhaps more haphazard existence which allowed for
greater freedom for the players and their social life is not pursued. Who
knows, that’s maybe something the authors are already considering.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Graham Williams<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-19273279503826791622023-05-25T08:28:00.000+01:002023-05-25T08:28:34.101+01:00Successful Clubs - Otliensians<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In Chapter Eight of '<b>Changing Times - Grassroots rugby union in Yorkshire 1987-2022'</b> we feature a number of clubs both large and small from different parts of the county.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of the clubs operate in the top Northern or Yorkshire divisions others much lower down the pyramid. Some of the clubs have impressive modern facilities others much more modest. If success is only judged on 1st XV results then a number of the clubs featured would not be included in the chapter.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We leave it to the reader to decide whether the clubs we decided to include are successful.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Otliensians</b></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Otliensians
really struggled during the 2021-22 season. Playing numbers had been in decline
for a number of years. Only fifteen years earlier the club had been able to
field four teams and that became two in 2019, just a year after Otliensians had
won the RFU Junior Shield at Twickenham. By 2021 the club was only able to
field one adult team. Many of the club’s problems in 2021-22 were caused by the
Covid pandemic but with only one team the loss of two or three experienced
players had a big impact on results and also the club’s ability to field a team
every week. Otliensians facilities are not as impressive as some of the other
clubs featured in the case studies. However, they do have a small welcoming
clubhouse well maintained changing rooms, two full size pitches and three
junior pitches. The club was relegated to Yorkshire Four at the end of 2021-22
season and is finding that the level of competition in that division means that
they are able to field a team that can compete. Off field there is a group of
former players, the majority of them well past state retirement age, who give
their time willingly to ensure that the ground is well maintained, clubhouse
and dressing rooms are clean and the pitch prepared for the weekend’s fixtures.
The club is optimistic about the future, former players have returned to the
club and a colts team shared with Otley, their professional neighbours, should
ensure a supply of young players in the coming years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you would like to buy a copy of the book please email me using the address on the Home page of this website.</span></span></p><br /><p></p>Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-40300627973826687792023-05-24T15:55:00.001+01:002023-05-24T15:55:57.681+01:00Lost Rugby Union Clubs - South Yorkshire<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Between 1987 and 2022 fourteen South Yorkshire rugby union clubs went out of existence. Some of those clubs appeared to be well established and were able to organise multiple teams while others just managed to field one team and, as result, were often unable to cope with the loss of a few key players.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Rossington Hornets RUFC</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rossington Hornets were an unusual rugby union club in that they managed to become established in a village that had always been seen as a rugby league stronghold.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In 2005 the newly formed rugby union club took over the
facilities at Rossington Miners Welfare that the amateur rugby league club also known as Rossington Hornets had
previously used.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfuSJDTIFbWkegWOqgujMl70zQQlvSiiwIGzNF948F3O5MTDg5XvK68rPPS0Uh8goQNtsqaVPAYhRyW7PrOhZRFxqFm6ZkW_rVh5wg34tAeQKL8ow-_gEOjlS0PcxGRtHCtsLFdVM7XHc6KpDQaqTGYVIuZ0yECbZ8_kfyNa3xBCJtxi8j7UPICMsIg/s336/Rossington%20Hornets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="336" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfuSJDTIFbWkegWOqgujMl70zQQlvSiiwIGzNF948F3O5MTDg5XvK68rPPS0Uh8goQNtsqaVPAYhRyW7PrOhZRFxqFm6ZkW_rVh5wg34tAeQKL8ow-_gEOjlS0PcxGRtHCtsLFdVM7XHc6KpDQaqTGYVIuZ0yECbZ8_kfyNa3xBCJtxi8j7UPICMsIg/w400-h300/Rossington%20Hornets.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rossington Hornets RUFC</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The club played in the lower Yorkshire divisions and apart
from the early years struggled to win many games. The team was made up
initially of former rugby league players augmented by a number of young players
brought to the club by their first coach. Unfortunately, Rossington’s lack of
success meant that good players often moved to more established Doncaster clubs
and for their last two seasons Rossington struggled both to raise a team and
win games. The club folded in 2017 having finished bottom of Yorkshire Six.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What happened to the other thirteen South Yorkshire Clubs and rugby union in Yorkshire between 1987 and 2022?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">'<b>Changing Times - Grassroots rugby union in Yorkshire 1987 - 2022'</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0IcH9Z3F28_zaW_wVpoR6jKbsR_5yfR_ci_jPTiY5Wl1au7U3_zOI47VMGAjRrIfsyjo7HxJTGGjRG3rTkpGGj1XtvDu6da8Sj7vGPFnOhLzg3DARcFsRf6LU7z37JOxNbJj8DEx-q2jYJumB4Y_llUFb-fNXgbEhMV9tjHDFHgpe_Uqf5nu3nn_cw/s2763/Changing%20Times%20Front%20Cover%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2763" data-original-width="2010" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0IcH9Z3F28_zaW_wVpoR6jKbsR_5yfR_ci_jPTiY5Wl1au7U3_zOI47VMGAjRrIfsyjo7HxJTGGjRG3rTkpGGj1XtvDu6da8Sj7vGPFnOhLzg3DARcFsRf6LU7z37JOxNbJj8DEx-q2jYJumB4Y_llUFb-fNXgbEhMV9tjHDFHgpe_Uqf5nu3nn_cw/s320/Changing%20Times%20Front%20Cover%20(1).jpg" width="233" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The book costs £9.99 plus post and packing. For further details please email me using the address on the Home page of this website.</span></p><br /><p></p>Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-1724287877797435742023-04-12T14:04:00.001+01:002023-04-12T14:07:25.718+01:00<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Laurie Stirling XV</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">1973</span></p></blockquote><p>In late 1973 I was invited to play for a Laurie Stirling XV at the Stairfoot ground against Barnsley. Laurie had a long association with Barnsley Rugby Club and the majority of the players invited by Laurie had some connection with Barnsley. I had played with Barnsley from January 1970 until the beginning of December 1973 when I left the club to concentrate solely on rugby league.</p><p>Over the past few years I have attempted, without success, to find out why the game was played and exactly when it took place. Surprisingly, the photograph below that confirmed who played was sent from San Diego by Martin Lodge, one of the players invited to play in the game. Martin had been in contact with Duncan Gawthorpe in order to buy a copy of Changing Times - Grassroots rugby in Yorkshire 1987-2022 the book that Duncan and I recently published.</p><p>The photograph gives the names of the players but no detail on the date the game was played and why it took place.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sXhy3ZZZTvi98i81RhTwmqs8sDA0tYmHA3BWS2BPwzTVqv1EjTF-UF9SBJDqN4RnYcu2Vlxq8ods_X4Zjc_vtNCGVl2TOeIeHne1aVch1yx8NiYCHmN4MRfMV21pR8Dy7gD2fj2O0VU06cTpMhCcZ28zqNND4djzP3p1Ms3-vj7nDbEGmXpKRjh27Q/s2463/BRUFC%20Invitational%20XV%201973%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1553" data-original-width="2463" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sXhy3ZZZTvi98i81RhTwmqs8sDA0tYmHA3BWS2BPwzTVqv1EjTF-UF9SBJDqN4RnYcu2Vlxq8ods_X4Zjc_vtNCGVl2TOeIeHne1aVch1yx8NiYCHmN4MRfMV21pR8Dy7gD2fj2O0VU06cTpMhCcZ28zqNND4djzP3p1Ms3-vj7nDbEGmXpKRjh27Q/w400-h253/BRUFC%20Invitational%20XV%201973%20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>If anyone reading this article has any more information about the game I would be delighted to hear from them.</p>Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-68204318386250131142023-02-03T20:30:00.006+00:002023-02-15T17:44:22.356+00:00<p style="text-align: center;"><b> <span style="font-size: x-large;">NEW BOOK</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">NOW IN PRINT!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewr678v8bW6cV49k5xzSR-tQhBynYk34SKjwuFK9187NUDkczBWgDrVsDdz3vLCTSyihMyINkmZaYw7lZKZsViRfatpqSFWNqaAnWfvf1YYlk7lqqzgyG3e1UCACB-4591GMd9OKHHwyBJu3mWUjjGoiSKH7PO92_ebRUp-Cjl3Zw5RguvDYqyM4F3w/s2763/Changing%20Times%20Front%20Cover%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2763" data-original-width="2010" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewr678v8bW6cV49k5xzSR-tQhBynYk34SKjwuFK9187NUDkczBWgDrVsDdz3vLCTSyihMyINkmZaYw7lZKZsViRfatpqSFWNqaAnWfvf1YYlk7lqqzgyG3e1UCACB-4591GMd9OKHHwyBJu3mWUjjGoiSKH7PO92_ebRUp-Cjl3Zw5RguvDYqyM4F3w/w466-h640/Changing%20Times%20Front%20Cover%20(1).jpg" width="466" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">My latest book is a collaboration with Duncan Gawthorpe a former team mate from my days at Barnsley Rugby Union Football Club in the 1970s.</span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>This book looks at the key elements that impact grassroots rugby union
clubs in the county. It paints the background against which the game and the
leagues have changed and considers the factors that are linked to those
changes. The authors have gathered information about many grassroots clubs to
illustrate their findings. </i></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">he book costs £9.99 plus post and packing £12.50 in total</span></b></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">If you would like to buy a copy please email me at:</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">enquiries </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">{at}</b><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"> dropkickbooks </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">[dot]</b><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"> co </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">(dot)</b><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"> uk</span></p><b></b><p></p>Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-70789390730016110792021-09-09T12:44:00.000+01:002021-09-09T13:05:28.764+01:00NEW BOOK: 50 YEARS OF YORKSHIRE RUGBY UNION 1930-1980<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxd4keYKnOMmYrMqZwBzH0WuZRFNtLieRqGTO_01OfkkaJkTrlsMdPN_9rx3OOvXVuvyBu_ylc4P90f55cfUvg8qhu2BRcCOJOhqpz4uYOrfnhn9uk_43v68VppkGDYgGs1YkdUN6vsVU_/s2048/50+Years+Front+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1364" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxd4keYKnOMmYrMqZwBzH0WuZRFNtLieRqGTO_01OfkkaJkTrlsMdPN_9rx3OOvXVuvyBu_ylc4P90f55cfUvg8qhu2BRcCOJOhqpz4uYOrfnhn9uk_43v68VppkGDYgGs1YkdUN6vsVU_/w426-h640/50+Years+Front+Cover.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Available from ypdbooks.com</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Follow the link below </span></p></blockquote></blockquote><p><br /></p><p> https://www.ypdbooks.com/non-fiction/1982-50-years-of-yorkshire-rugby-union-1930-1980.html</p>Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-26881806908383936252020-04-15T14:09:00.001+01:002020-04-15T14:09:41.682+01:00Yorkshire Rugby Union in the 1940s<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">World War Two had a massive impact on all sport in the
County and although a number of Yorkshire clubs did manage to play regular
fixtures during the War many closed down as soon as War was declared. Some clubs
that had initially closed down found, at the end of September that they still had
sufficient players available and keen to play and so they organised fixtures
for the first part of the 1939/40 season. However, the terrible winter weather
of early 1940, the impact of petrol rationing and probably the loss of some of
their leading players to the forces caused many of those clubs to close down
for the duration of the War. The clubs that did play all the wartime seasons
often depended on players from other local clubs. A Serviceman home on leave
who wanted a game of rugby on a Saturday would be welcomed with open arms
irrespective of which club he had played for pre-war.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Harrogate Old
Boys 1940<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There were only eleven Yorkshire clubs that played in all
six wartime seasons. Those clubs were often kept going through the enthusiasm
of one or two officials or because of a merger with neighbouring clubs. The
merger usually meant they had a bigger pool of players to call upon and
probably some additional officials. Organising regular fixtures in wartime
wasn’t an easy task. In the case of the York club that task was made even more
difficult when its ground was requisitioned and ploughed up to grow crops. York
lost its ground in October 1939 but despite having no home ground York played
in every wartime season by borrowing any pitch that was available in the City,
including Clarence Street, the home of the local professional rugby league
club. There were two clubs that only played during World War Two. Wakefield Old
Boys and Hunslet Engine Company hadn’t existed pre-war but had full fixture
lists right through to April 1945 when they both disbanded and the players
returned to the clubs they had played for pre-war.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When the War in Europe ended in May 1945 it left
insufficient time for many of the clubs that hadn’t played during the War to
get ready to re-start in September. After six years of inactivity some grounds
were in a terrible state and needed a great deal of work in order to get them ready.
Many players were still in the forces and would not be returning home in time
for the start of the new season. Finding playing kit was also a major problem
as rationing meant that new rugby shirts were in very short supply.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Despite having all those hurdles to overcome twenty
six clubs did manage to put together fixture lists and find enough players and
sufficient kit and equipment in order to start their season in September or
October 1945.This was a remarkable achievement given the short time since the
end of the War in Europe and the fact that the War in the Pacific didn’t end
until August 1945. The majority of clubs that did publish fixture lists for the
1945/46 season were those that had played right through the War or had played in
some of the wartime seasons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Huddersfield
RUFC</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">1945/46<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Surprisingly, Headingley who only played three games
in late 1939 before closing down had organized a nearly full fixture list and
planned to start their season on 15<sup>th</sup> September with an away game at
Waterloo. The majority of the clubs were planning to play their first fixture
on either the 15<sup>th </sup>or 22<sup>nd</sup> of September 1945 and had gaps
in their fixture list that they hoped to fill as the season got underway. There
were also four additional clubs that had indicated to the Yorkshire R.F.U. that
they were organizing fixtures and planned to play in the 1945/46 season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1945/46<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">September
1946 saw a large increase in the number of clubs returning to action. In the
County handbook for the 1946/47 season sixty nine clubs were listed as having managed
to organise and publish a fixture list. Some of the sixty nine were Army or RAF
bases that were still well staffed and able to play regular fixtures. Most of
the clubs preparing to play in 1946/47 were only fielding one team but as the
season got underway were probably hoping to raise a second team on occasions.
There were twenty eight clubs listed in the handbook that hadn’t re-started or
hadn’t submitted a fixture list in time for publication. Sadly a number of
those clubs never returned to action after World War Two, Batley, Bohemians and
Cross Gates are examples of clubs that weren’t able to re-start. The three
clubs were listed again in the 1947/48 handbook but there were no fixture lists
or club officials named. When the 1948/49 handbook was published all three club
names had disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The 1949/50
season saw ninety one clubs publish fixture lists a figure that was nearly back
to the numbers involved in the 1930s. Many of the clubs had established second
and third fifteens and what Yorkshire Secretary Bob Oakes predicted in his
message to clubs in the 1946/47 handbook had taken place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘So season 1945-46 saw the re-start
of the game proper in Britain. Although play was not actually up to pre-war standard,
it was clear to any observer that the old time keenness was still manifest, and
today, all Clubs, Counties and Countries are looking keenly forward to next
season and if perchance there is still hard spadework in plenty before all, it
is felt that the game will quickly recover its old-time glory.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bob Oakes August 1946<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-58908876343817063152020-03-10T15:30:00.001+00:002020-03-10T15:30:47.796+00:00Yorkshire Rugby Union in the 1930s<br />
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<span lang="EN-US">The decade began</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> with a hundred Yorkshire clubs playing regular
fixtures. That number hadn’t increased by very much at the end of the 1938/39
season but the number of clubs fielding more than two teams had. When the
handbook for the 1939/40 season was sent to print eight clubs hadn’t submitted
a fixture list in time for publication which meant that there could have been in
excess of a hundred clubs playing fixtures. However, when the Second World War
began on 3<sup>rd</sup> September 1939 all the fixtures listed in the handbook
were cancelled and even when permission was given, later in the month, for
clubs to organize games many Yorkshire clubs had decided to close down for the
duration of hostilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When you
flick through the County handbooks for the 1930s you get a picture of a sport
that had recovered from the terrible impact of World War One and is now
thriving. The ‘rush to rugby’ that had occurred in the 1920s had a big impact
on participation in the sport. In most seasons entries in the Yorkshire Cup
approached a hundred and the majority of Yorkshire clubs were able to field at
least two teams regularly, with three or four sides taking the field at some
clubs. Headingley, probably the strongest club in Yorkshire, would on most
weeks of the season be able to turn out a fifth team. Many of the players who
featured regularly in the junior teams were very unlikely to ever progress to
the first XV although there must have been some young players in those teams
who did hope to eventually play first team rugby. If there was no real prospect
of ever playing in the first team for the majority for players at the senior
clubs why did they turn out every week? I think the reason many young men were
happy, in the 1930s, and probably right up until the formation of the leagues
in the late 1980s, to play thirty plus games of rugby a season may well have
been because the choice of leisure activities was much more limited than it is
today. There is probably little doubt that once a young man started playing for
the club of his choice he probably remained loyal to that club irrespective of
which team he was playing for. He would probably build his social life around
the rugby club and expected to play rugby every Saturday from the beginning of
September until the end of April. The ambitious players and those that had
played first XV rugby at the top public schools generally gravitated to clubs
like Headingley, Bradford or Otley as those clubs had fixtures outside the
County and often provided a majority of players for the Yorkshire team as well
as some players who received international caps. The majority of players at the
top clubs were also loyal and many remained at the same club their entire
playing career taking on administrative and committee roles after they retired
from playing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In the days
before leagues were introduced into Rugby Union, clubs organized their own
fixtures. The club fixture secretary would negotiate with other club fixture
secretaries and agree dates and venues for the forthcoming season. In some
cases, where two clubs had a long standing arrangement, fixtures would be
agreed for more than one season. Ambitious clubs were always looking to improve
their fixture list by agreeing a fixture against one of the senior or big
clubs. Headingley, in Yorkshire, was seen as a senior club as were clubs
outside the County such as Leicester or Northampton. If a club trying to improve
its fixture managed to agree a fixture with one of the stronger clubs the game
would need to be competitive and played in a good spirit for regular fixtures
to be agreed in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The club
scene in Yorkshire was healthy in the 1930s with the leading ‘senior’ clubs
continuing to look for opportunities to improve their fixtures. Headingley had
a number of big names in their fixture list. Clubs like Leicester, Bedford,
Northampton and Oxford University were happy to travel to Clarence Field to face
Yorkshire’s strongest club and there is little doubt that the visits of those
big names were eagerly anticipated. Roundhay, the other strong club in the
Leeds area, hadn’t got a fixture list to match that of Headingley but did play
clubs outside the County such as New Brighton, Heaton Moor and Instonians.
Otley also had an impressive fixture list with Hartlepool Rovers, Sale and
Durham City all playing regular fixtures against the Cross Green outfit.
Bradford, probably vying with Headingley to be regarded as the top Yorkshire
club, attracted some big names to Lidget Green such as Edinburgh Academicals,
Birkenhead Park and Blackheath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
majority of Yorkshire clubs rarely played opponents from outside the County
apart from perhaps on an Easter tour, a very popular feature of most clubs
fixtures right up to the 1980s. There were ambitious clubs, Wakefield being a
good example that arranged fixtures outside the County and usually managed to
attract Broughton Park, West Hartlepool <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and Durham City to College Grove. Huddersfield
Old Boys, probably because of their geographical location, were another club that
looked for fixtures further afield, Tyldesley, St Helens, Sale and Heaton Moor
featuring regularly in the Old Boys fixture list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Some of the
leading Yorkshire clubs in 2020 such as Rotherham, Doncaster and Upper
Wharfedale had in the 1930s, fixture lists that included only the second and
third teams of some of the senior clubs in the County. While, in contrast,
Hornsea ,who now play in the Merit leagues, ran three teams most seasons and
had clubs like Roundhay, Hull and East Riding and Scarborough in their fixture
list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At the end
of the decade and the outbreak of World War Two more than half the Yorkshire
clubs decided that they wouldn’t be able to find sufficient players in order to
play regular fixtures. Of the clubs that did play in the 1939/40 season a
number only played a handful of games before deciding to close down. The
beginning of the 1940/41 season saw less than thirty clubs attempting to play
regular fixtures. The 1930s, a decade that began with such optimism for the
sport based on the massive increase in participation, ended with many people
fearing that rugby and the Country they lived in would never be the same again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-80032170748645926052019-10-23T16:21:00.000+01:002019-10-23T16:21:05.987+01:00<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Where are they now? (Updated)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">My
first season playing for Barnsley was 1969/70 and when I recently looked again at the
fixture list for that season and compared that fixture list with the 2019/20 fixture list I was struck by how many things have changed in rugby
union over the past 40 years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTyBHRzVlBPPX6tBSk8pxyiOy7ZJMW7hyryZNkbsoPfWa6VYhlyP7z00spCNw_9ceahXbUbYpwVGtM66bAWTNBX5G0-33WtY5ecwGs6QAKJkdyINx7qf3PVJpQIXeWULkUs9IusiJ3hjr/s1600/Barnsley+69-70+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="882" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTyBHRzVlBPPX6tBSk8pxyiOy7ZJMW7hyryZNkbsoPfWa6VYhlyP7z00spCNw_9ceahXbUbYpwVGtM66bAWTNBX5G0-33WtY5ecwGs6QAKJkdyINx7qf3PVJpQIXeWULkUs9IusiJ3hjr/s640/Barnsley+69-70+a.jpg" width="404" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">1969/70 season </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Exactly why some clubs have disappeared, while
others have improved their status and still another group has declined is hard
to explain. Was the reason the impact of leagues, professionalism or the
increasing range of leisure activities available? Rugby union has suffered, as
have many other team sports, a significant decline in playing numbers. Clubs
that once organised four or five teams now only organise two or three. Players
can now move freely between both codes of rugby but that doesn’t appear to have
had a significant impact on player numbers.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The
reality is that the reasons for the changes are obviously complex. There isn’t
just one reason for clubs disappearing, improving their status or declining. I
have listed below the clubs that were in the 1969/70 Barnsley fixture list, the
name they go by today and, if they are still in existence, which league they
are in.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">CURRENT CLUB NAME</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">2019/20 LEAGUE</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">HEATH OLD BOYS</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">HEATH RUFC</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">YORKSHIRE ONE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">YORKSHIRE COPPER WORKS</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NO LONGER IN EXISTENCE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">ROTHERHAM</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">ROTHERHAM TITANS</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NATIONAL LEAGUE ONE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">BRAMLEY BARBARIANS</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">BRAMLEY PHOENIX</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">YORKSHIRE FOUR</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">RODILLIANS</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">STANLEY RODILLIANS</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">YORKSHIRE FOUR</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">STOCKSBRIDGE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NO CHANGE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">YORKSHIRE FOUR</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">LEEDS CHIRONS</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NO LONGER IN EXISTENCE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">SHEFFIELD TIGERS</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NO CHANGE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NATIONAL LEAGUE TWO (NORTH)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">WEST PARK OLD BOYS</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">WEST PARK LEEDS</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">YORKSHIRE TWO</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">BEVERLEY</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NO CHANGE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">YORKSHIRE ONE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">OLD WATHONIANS</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">WATH UPON DEARNE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">YORKSHIRE TWO</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">YARNBURY</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NO CHANGE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">YORKSHIRE TWO</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">HUDDERSFIELD YMCA</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NO CHANGE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NORTH ONE EAST</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">CLECKHEATON</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NO CHANGE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NORTH ONE EAST</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">OLD RISHWORTHIANS</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NO CHANGE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">YORKSHIRE
TWO</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">LEEDS CORINTHIANS</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NO CHANGE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">YORKSHIRE THREE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">BAILDON</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NO CHANGE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">YORKSHIRE THREE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 18;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">LEEDS ENGINEERS</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NO LONGER IN EXISTENCE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">BURLEY</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NO CHANGE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">YORKSHIRE FOUR</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 20;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">HALIFAX VANDALS</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NO CHANGE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">YORKSHIRE THREE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 21;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">OLD GRAMMARIANS</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NO LONGER IN EXISTENCE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 22;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">EAST RETFORD</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NO CHANGE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">MIDLAND FOUR EAST (NORTH)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 23; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">YORK</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NO CHANGE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205">
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in Yorkshire Two in 2019/20 only have fixtures against four of the twenty three
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<br />Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-29382569930352904402019-04-23T16:29:00.000+01:002019-04-23T16:29:34.055+01:00Doncaster College of Education RUFC UpdateI have decided to record the first season of the Doncaster College of Education RUFC as, apart from two very tatty fixture lists that have, some how survived for over 50 years, some fading memories and a short piece I posted on this site in 2011, I am not aware of any records of the 1968/69 College season, still in existence.<br />
As well as a fixture list and results, I have also included below that post from 2011.<br />
<br />
In the late 1960s I was playing Rugby Union for Leeds Chirons and during 1968 and 1969 I also played Sunday morning Rugby League for General Accident.<br />
When plans were being made to form a Rugby Union club at Doncaster College of Education I wasn't involved as, in the summer of 1968, I intended to travel home at weekends to play both codes of rugby in Leeds. However, as the start of the 1968/69 season came closer, I decided that I would play for Leeds Chirons in the holidays and then for the College team in term time travelling to Leeds after the College games to play Rugby League for General Accident in the Leeds Sunday League. There were a few of the players involved in the 1968/69 College season that had played Rugby League but insufficient to form a team and with Student Rugby League only just beginning the likelihood of very few fixtures even if we had enough players.<br />
The majority of home games were played on a new pitch on the High Melton site but because the pitch wasn't ready for the start of the season we played an early home game on Doncaster's Town Fields Recreation Ground.<br />
<br />
The fixture list below has five additional fixtures that I know did take place but I do not have any confirmed dates. The fifth fixture in the list may have been against a local club but I don't know which club that was as I didn't play in the game. I had probably, by the end of April 1969 when that final fixture took place, played over 50 games and I decided that I needed a break from rugby.<br />
<br />
<b>These are some of my memories from 1968/69, the first season of College rugby at Doncaster College of Education.</b><br />
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<b>In one interesting game, just after Christmas 1968, we played a new club called Barton on Humber. In the Barton team were some experienced players who had obviously told their team mates that as they were going to play a team full of young students then they needed a very physical approach or we may be too quick for them. They certainly had a physical approach, but we had one or two players who could handle themselves and so we were not intimidated and gave as good as we got. Unfortunately the referee was intimidated and so just after half time he said he had seen enough violence and was going to abandon the game. This was a disappointment as we hadn't won on a Saturday for a while and we were leading at the time.</b><br />
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<b>Most of the college games were enjoyable because we did try to play open rugby. The twelve games we won were mostly on a Wednesday when we played other student teams. We usually managed to get a stronger team out on a Wednesday, probably because of the night out that followed the game. We had some good players at college but the occasions when we managed to field our best team were few and far between.</b><br />
<b>Ian Cooke, who was a good non-league footballer, played for us when his football commitments allowed. Ian hadn't played much rugby, but he was a very good ball player as well as being quick and he could be relied on to kick well either from hand or at goal.</b><br />
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<b>A second year mature student called Les Clarkson always made an impact when he played. He was a massive man who had played amateur rugby league at a good standard and his presence on the field often struck fear into the opposition.In one particular game against Scawsby College we were winning by over sixty points at half time, quite a feat in those days when tries were only worth three points. there was some talk of abandoning the game as we seemed to score every time we got the ball. However, Scawsby were keen to play the second half so Les Clarkson suggested that we swopped the backs and the forwards around. I played as a flanker in a very small pack with the rest of the backs and Les played stand-off with prop forwards in the centre and second rows on the wings. It did keep the score down a little but we still got over a hundred points. Scawsby was a local college but because of that heavy defeat they were not very keen to play us again.</b><br />
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<b>I recall a student in our year called Robert Gate, who later became a well known author on rugby league history, making an appearance in a Wednesday afternoon game against Bishop Lonsdale College from Derby. Robert had been very keen to play, but was very skinny, probably weighing in at under nine stones. He played on the wing and took some heavy punishment. After one particular tackle he struggled to get up and I am not sure that he finished the game. Robert didn't play again!</b><br />
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<b>The College continued to play regular fixtures until the late 1970s when the Minister of Education decided that the national arrangements for the training of teachers should be revised, and one consequence of this was the termination of teacher-training courses at Doncaster College of Education.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSEknSmhPNUjBtbX5LCtjErFAGWCezu2SSvCYoD2Stv0jcSJFzyI9dwJ150ImvYQoxPUWGNMWLO_YpfSWQvAg5-KYWqjF6DC-OZsupNg0Aa7pRlzp_p5h2cNhXN1XKEoAEj-ZEusANequ/s1600/DCE+Fixtures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1031" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSEknSmhPNUjBtbX5LCtjErFAGWCezu2SSvCYoD2Stv0jcSJFzyI9dwJ150ImvYQoxPUWGNMWLO_YpfSWQvAg5-KYWqjF6DC-OZsupNg0Aa7pRlzp_p5h2cNhXN1XKEoAEj-ZEusANequ/s640/DCE+Fixtures.jpg" width="412" /></a></div>
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<b>Unfortunately, there were to my knowledge no team photographs taken during the 1968/69 season. If anyone reading this post has connections with someone who played for the College team and does know of any photographs in existence I would be delighted to hear from them.</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-674424265906761692019-04-22T11:51:00.000+01:002019-04-23T21:37:47.148+01:00Amateur Rugby League in Doncaster in the 1970s<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few press cuttings, team photographs and programmes that reflect some of the amateur Rugby League activity in Doncaster in the 1970s</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-D-x22_37vXxtOP69CYZwRvslCQFTYO5WvLdJ7Sudv0rqwWdqu96SeHOWhfXx_F79zN37kfxfJSe-ZOcwqtqGQnuFiMWS0tvYgnE7hOBPgoBqOUGxO2VnsrrAwD_x7-nbqY1g34EG2xR/s1600/Doncaster+ARL+2_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1183" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-D-x22_37vXxtOP69CYZwRvslCQFTYO5WvLdJ7Sudv0rqwWdqu96SeHOWhfXx_F79zN37kfxfJSe-ZOcwqtqGQnuFiMWS0tvYgnE7hOBPgoBqOUGxO2VnsrrAwD_x7-nbqY1g34EG2xR/s640/Doncaster+ARL+2_0001.jpg" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">1978</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aaW-NmhvVxTJnqkVuvay3UJyLpirNi_U6Nre_Nq76o-n86A28NVZTp7NZZkJmEsRkDyscX4TCfOIdEM6vZVom78ZsJdCsUg7x10uXc4hGJSZ0Es5Qw4GUpyaAnsZYZOQvnq5Z54rgxYD/s1600/Doncaster+ARL+2_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="537" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aaW-NmhvVxTJnqkVuvay3UJyLpirNi_U6Nre_Nq76o-n86A28NVZTp7NZZkJmEsRkDyscX4TCfOIdEM6vZVom78ZsJdCsUg7x10uXc4hGJSZ0Es5Qw4GUpyaAnsZYZOQvnq5Z54rgxYD/s640/Doncaster+ARL+2_0002.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">1977</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPPwTE7u611C85D_Su0VqMXHO8UL3k8K0KtIV5rBlnNMbjQSjFa7PlMf_FjemWTFRdzAEsd2CVfm6aI-ocFFAS9kABpMU_EjALhFbQ_MOoFLM2bIQ48DHg2hrc6prTpHknEzUNzOswby0/s1600/Doncaster+ARL+2_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="1272" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPPwTE7u611C85D_Su0VqMXHO8UL3k8K0KtIV5rBlnNMbjQSjFa7PlMf_FjemWTFRdzAEsd2CVfm6aI-ocFFAS9kABpMU_EjALhFbQ_MOoFLM2bIQ48DHg2hrc6prTpHknEzUNzOswby0/s400/Doncaster+ARL+2_0003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bentley Yarborough Recs 1976</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvV2ug_h7ivYDIXb9-GWDiJYwHbQfMi_pU-oCsgL_XZmrI05vUtciDMUAdSWuZ1XUdQGHJDj9QXUyUsyljvIzDHTjb85MpWKKai9m83W-afV-o4f3fH7RtQ_Q30m96o1E9G-WHtX-QBZzd/s1600/Doncaster+ARL+2_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="1600" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvV2ug_h7ivYDIXb9-GWDiJYwHbQfMi_pU-oCsgL_XZmrI05vUtciDMUAdSWuZ1XUdQGHJDj9QXUyUsyljvIzDHTjb85MpWKKai9m83W-afV-o4f3fH7RtQ_Q30m96o1E9G-WHtX-QBZzd/s400/Doncaster+ARL+2_0004.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bentley Yarborough</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Doncaster Cup Final Team 1972</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpqawiuTB4zYwvTylrYTTWQfxI-v7Ob78rOuLloWUWpEAAZOCOlPvUHE5dv0EwaTsoogr_PVYSxbqgLcLPByX-mGcZn9zZMxsqCU_5ftq3t1MiwTXCxbZ5WOLO_mLpgXS4o7Vy8kMZpI7/s1600/Doncaster+ARL+2_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="1600" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpqawiuTB4zYwvTylrYTTWQfxI-v7Ob78rOuLloWUWpEAAZOCOlPvUHE5dv0EwaTsoogr_PVYSxbqgLcLPByX-mGcZn9zZMxsqCU_5ftq3t1MiwTXCxbZ5WOLO_mLpgXS4o7Vy8kMZpI7/s400/Doncaster+ARL+2_0006.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Doncaster Cup Final Programme 1972</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKT-eO71V53ciV7wIgy73qKSoxJsOYg2zJS4eYCHysACEFth-5qcPzoTZWdjRDxDSRYUcd0pI7qIrI6V9WshGHzUs4MZR3z0_mYxEj-7d0M8cQKIJxd5qz0xAt6OpZGoFjN5Kp2kpBtO7/s1600/Doncaster+ARL+2_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1335" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKT-eO71V53ciV7wIgy73qKSoxJsOYg2zJS4eYCHysACEFth-5qcPzoTZWdjRDxDSRYUcd0pI7qIrI6V9WshGHzUs4MZR3z0_mYxEj-7d0M8cQKIJxd5qz0xAt6OpZGoFjN5Kp2kpBtO7/s640/Doncaster+ARL+2_0007.jpg" width="531" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Bentley 7s</span></td></tr>
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Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-87401167499419942952018-11-13T09:33:00.000+00:002018-11-13T09:33:53.285+00:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The 1954 World Cup Final Programme Cover</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9_c7zyY3Giyl7JfOWmGRkZ0i65Z73dDFL0mM7EOELKYNEUC7wqW5o8fNjIMLDnGLO5aV49HtZyU4g76Zn1KAWs7v-EQF8teTqDNGgSSC3RmTh1e8Qro0pBHmyZQmOcxste70Ql15e50a/s1600/1954+World+Cup+Final+Programme_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1130" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9_c7zyY3Giyl7JfOWmGRkZ0i65Z73dDFL0mM7EOELKYNEUC7wqW5o8fNjIMLDnGLO5aV49HtZyU4g76Zn1KAWs7v-EQF8teTqDNGgSSC3RmTh1e8Qro0pBHmyZQmOcxste70Ql15e50a/s640/1954+World+Cup+Final+Programme_0001.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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This programme is part of the Nigel Wood Collection. I would like to thank Nigel for allowing me to use this image</div>
Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-38623431955425644412018-10-10T10:03:00.000+01:002018-10-10T10:03:55.928+01:00Ebbw Vale N.U.F.C.I found this short article in a Kent Invicta programme from 1984. The Ebbw Vale unbeaten record was, of course, beaten in 1995 when Beverley defeated Highfield by 27 points to 4 in the third round of the Rugby League Challenge Cup.<br />
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There is a post on this blog about Bob Fox, one of the authors of the article.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Op0MaCaCVS6b3tUnS6UHIJYP7WlGVpyRVbiRMgzw0FOK975CvFBY-e9sLKADGwX6NPMZicSSglEC8pNBn-siE9nTkVI6t55gnJRlk9SzDdBFmnI_ETSZqzXvXN5L2uee56kHh2S9LSdz/s1600/Ebbw+Vale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1137" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Op0MaCaCVS6b3tUnS6UHIJYP7WlGVpyRVbiRMgzw0FOK975CvFBY-e9sLKADGwX6NPMZicSSglEC8pNBn-siE9nTkVI6t55gnJRlk9SzDdBFmnI_ETSZqzXvXN5L2uee56kHh2S9LSdz/s640/Ebbw+Vale.jpg" width="454" /></a></div>
<br />Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-38158102481123574062018-09-06T16:21:00.000+01:002018-09-06T16:21:55.687+01:00The 'All Golds' in YorkThe groundbreaking All Golds tour in 1907/08 stopped off in York on Wednesday 29th January 1908.<br />
I am grateful to Nigel Wood for allowing me to use an image of the 'Official Card' with the teams that took the field that day. The card is part of the Nigel Wood Collection, a remarkable programme archive, the majority of which is housed in the Rugby League Archives at the University of Huddersfield.<br />
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The tourists put out a strong team including H.Messenger and L.B. Todd whose names live on today.<br />
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York won the game by 5 points to 3</div>
Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-88829319806808324492017-01-03T17:06:00.000+00:002017-01-03T17:06:59.307+00:00A Changing GameIn this article I am attempting to illustrate how Amateur Rugby League has, over the years, responded to changes in the way in which young people spend their leisure time. I am going to list the Open Age clubs, in Leeds, in the 1953/54 season and compare that list with those clubs taking part the 1974/75 season.<br />
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In the 1953/54 Rugby Football League Official Guide the following clubs were listed as members of the Leeds and District Amateur Rugby League.<br />
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<b>1953/54</b><br />
<b>OPEN AGE CLUBS</b><br />
ALL SOULS<br />
BEESTON W.M.C.<br />
BURTON SPORTS<br />
BUSLINGTHORPE VALE<br />
EAST HUNSLET L.C.<br />
FOX ROVERS<br />
GREENTHORPE<br />
HAWKSWORTH O.B.<br />
HUNSLET SUPPORTERS<br />
KIRKSTALL R.L.C.<br />
LEEDS ELECTRIC<br />
MIDDLETON COLLIERY<br />
MIDDLETON O.B.<br />
MULBERRY TREE SUPPORTERS<br />
R.O.F. BARNBOW<br />
ROWLAND ROAD W.M.C.<br />
THORPE MELBOURNE<br />
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It is interesting to speculate on why none of these clubs are still in existence today. One reason may be that some of them were works teams e.g. Burton Sports, Leeds Electric and Middleton Colliery and those places of work no longer exist in Leeds. Another reason might be that some of the other clubs were based at pubs or working men's clubs that either don't exist today or that young people no longer frequent e.g. Beeston W.M.C., Mulberry Tree Supporters and Rowland Road W.M.C.<br />
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<b>1974/75</b><br />
<b>OPEN AGE CLUBS</b><br />
BISON SPORTS<br />
LEEDS UNIVERSITY<br />
MIDDLETON ARMS<br />
MILFORD<br />
STANNINGLEY<br />
THREE HORSE SHOES<br />
THORPE<br />
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<b>SUNDAY LEAGUE OPEN AGE CLUBS</b><br />
ARCHBOLD SPORTS<br />
AIRE & WHARFEDALE COLLEGE<br />
BELLE ISLE<br />
BLUE MOON<br />
BURWELL REED & KINGHORN<br />
BRAMLEY WASPS & TIGERS<br />
BRASSMOULDERS<br />
COURTIER<br />
CRABTREE VICKERS<br />
CORPUS CHRISTI<br />
COOKRIDGE<br />
DOCK GREEN<br />
EAST END PARK<br />
FLEECE ROVERS<br />
KIRKSTALL REC. CLUB<br />
HAREHILLS LABOUR CLUB<br />
HUNSLET HOLDINGS<br />
LEEDS CITY TRANSPORT<br />
LEEDS POLYTECHNIC<br />
NEWLANDS<br />
OLD RED LION<br />
PLANTATION<br />
RICHMOND<br />
ROYAL PARK<br />
SHEEPSCAR W.M.C.<br />
STAGING POST<br />
SHERBURN<br />
TETLEY SPORTS<br />
WOODWAY HORNETS<br />
WHINMOOR<br />
WEST GRANGE SOCIAL CLUB<br />
WOODHOUSE HILL<br />
YEW TREE<br />
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When you compare the list of clubs from 1953/54 with those listed in the 1974/75 Official Guide only Thorpe is still in existence.<br />
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Amateur Rugby League has always had a strong presence in Leeds but the type of club playing the sport has changed. In the 1974/75 list there are two clubs that are still in existence today, Milford and Stanningley plus the Three Horse Shoes, a club that evolved into Oulton Raiders. Of the 33 Open Age clubs that are listed as members of the Sunday League only Sherburn and Woodhouse are still around today.<br />
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Since the 1950s there have been many changes in the way in which young people spend their leisure time and in many Northern towns and cities the employment opportunities are very different from those available in the immediate post war period. This snapshot featuring clubs in Leeds does, in my opinion, support the theory that Amateur Rugby League has always changed and evolved over time possibly without the people involved even realising it was happening. The fact that in 1974/75 the vast majority of Amateur clubs in Leeds were playing on a Sunday morning is perhaps an indication that even in the 1970s the sport and clubs playing Amateur Rugby League reflected a change in the sporting priorities of young people.<br />
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Some of the Amateur clubs in existence today may possibly not be around in 20 years time, Perhaps if they no longer exist it will be because they were unable or unwilling to adapt to a changing world and provide playing opportunities that fit in with the priorities of young people in the 21st Century.<br />
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Is the Amateur game dying? In don't think so. My belief is that, as in the past, the sport is changing, evolving and adapting to the different interests, work opportunities and lifestyles of young people in 2017. I hope that the sport recognises the challenges it faces, very different to those even 40 years ago, and continues to adapt and change to meet those challenges.Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-32257785704953400172016-08-08T13:39:00.000+01:002016-08-08T13:39:09.491+01:00Where are they now?The two photographs below appear in 'The Other Rugby' - The story of Rugby League in Rotherham. I am sure quite a few of the players in these two photographs are not aware of the book. If you recognise any faces or names please let them know about 'The Other Rugby'.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7835LOkTQU3LixgKLhI528RfOInns8DysFNIhT9JqeVW-zp1RzWKh6xPnReww693SxqOcJUAb9Nhyw-5Bc8an6jyA1ZzJZmmHoGBVyaIJ3oj_F6k7wabgjP_Gmqt5o3IcHFrouLnratUy/s1600/Rotherham+Rangers+1st+League+game+18.09.77.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7835LOkTQU3LixgKLhI528RfOInns8DysFNIhT9JqeVW-zp1RzWKh6xPnReww693SxqOcJUAb9Nhyw-5Bc8an6jyA1ZzJZmmHoGBVyaIJ3oj_F6k7wabgjP_Gmqt5o3IcHFrouLnratUy/s400/Rotherham+Rangers+1st+League+game+18.09.77.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The first ever league game 18th September 1977</div>
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Back row L-R Ted Pickering, Kevin Parlett, Mike McLoughlin, Dave Wilmot, Dave Henshaw, Dave Lidster, Sam Mara, Kevin Ceaser, John Essex.</div>
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Front row L-R Paul Mortimer, Fred Toyne, Jim Abrahams, Stuart Sheard, Alf Davis, Ray Bramham.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwd657yxXOA6OmULyHyiYrIH_Q6bOqf6BreDbRQ7_7rkCNWXfMjek0fs-5JBbOH9ztSmG4kJ7GgIULdGUlnpL_H9yW0Mkzc3cP8ZgRsZ4K2Qpce5w2C913ugzjCGWaZuRBDI2sNyLUPrN/s1600/Rotherham+Rangers+1981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwd657yxXOA6OmULyHyiYrIH_Q6bOqf6BreDbRQ7_7rkCNWXfMjek0fs-5JBbOH9ztSmG4kJ7GgIULdGUlnpL_H9yW0Mkzc3cP8ZgRsZ4K2Qpce5w2C913ugzjCGWaZuRBDI2sNyLUPrN/s400/Rotherham+Rangers+1981.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Doncaster Continuation Cup Final team 1981</div>
Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-32065751445966472232016-05-23T16:47:00.001+01:002016-05-23T16:47:55.981+01:00A Review of 'The Other Rugby'<div style="text-align: center;">
This review by Harry Edgar appeared in the latest issue of Rugby League Journal</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCF6i-lYN0ERrWsXOsXNNO032BrKjqHYUBDQi6QiBOQVac3Bg1wJTmrRzThJPGn_6Mlmu5doIkdTIXmS36urvn5jD-biUfXCgY1IVfcIkxSu8FEVoELcTzAnbFwMEjnUCK3YbPjFsUlsqx/s1600/Review+RL+Journal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCF6i-lYN0ERrWsXOsXNNO032BrKjqHYUBDQi6QiBOQVac3Bg1wJTmrRzThJPGn_6Mlmu5doIkdTIXmS36urvn5jD-biUfXCgY1IVfcIkxSu8FEVoELcTzAnbFwMEjnUCK3YbPjFsUlsqx/s640/Review+RL+Journal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-55928606545067680072016-01-06T20:32:00.004+00:002016-04-07T20:06:43.250+01:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">'The Other Rugby'</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ap6J8bQF0vcMaCLV2qPg9LlQt4wP4WtYsM30prqwFaJaAmKp0NfZNSFJ639Mzo2hTYv6dr3IOzpzMn2s8IXZ7YwSnvjUXkive1bRxjEqxVOiNlRrdGB6jiWMltr2hpxq3ebnQQl3faSK/s1600/The+Other+Rugby+Front+Cover+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ap6J8bQF0vcMaCLV2qPg9LlQt4wP4WtYsM30prqwFaJaAmKp0NfZNSFJ639Mzo2hTYv6dr3IOzpzMn2s8IXZ7YwSnvjUXkive1bRxjEqxVOiNlRrdGB6jiWMltr2hpxq3ebnQQl3faSK/s400/The+Other+Rugby+Front+Cover+%25283%2529.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">£7.99</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The book tells the story of how rugby league arrived in Rotherham, struggled, prospered, declined and finally disappeared</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Updates</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>6th January 2016</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My new book is now been designed. It should be in print by the 5th April 2016, thirty nine years to the day since the Rotherham club was formed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>8th February 2016</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The second proofs have been signed off. The book will be in print in early April.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In future updates there will be further information on how to buy a copy of 'The Other Rugby'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>29th March 2016</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">'The Other Rugby' is now available from ypdbooks.com </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">follow the link below:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;"><a class="c_nobdr t_prs" href="http://www.ypdbooks.com/sport/1428-the-other-rugby-the-story-of-rugby-league-in-rotherham-YPD01627.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #004b8b;">http://www.ypdbooks.com/sport/1428-the-other-rugby-the-story-of-rugby-league-in-rotherham-YPD01627.html</span></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></span></div>
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Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-43218361510184031382015-12-26T17:51:00.002+00:002016-01-06T20:25:19.792+00:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>NEW BOOK</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuAWw490mYe9u0op22ZeFC_420mjyaBWGFRKfKW1-sBDy8jOYJ86mg90dKQdNWcmM4dTjJUtDqCln6oMKLeCkmiMf37U3nmO0hO-SmKDEUik-8PKDxs3uHuQy3NkhUiIQmwSKhBhgp1UT/s1600/The+Other+Rugby+Front+Cover+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuAWw490mYe9u0op22ZeFC_420mjyaBWGFRKfKW1-sBDy8jOYJ86mg90dKQdNWcmM4dTjJUtDqCln6oMKLeCkmiMf37U3nmO0hO-SmKDEUik-8PKDxs3uHuQy3NkhUiIQmwSKhBhgp1UT/s640/The+Other+Rugby+Front+Cover+%25283%2529.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>AVAILABLE IN APRIL 2016</b></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-17200731441611585032015-05-19T21:45:00.000+01:002015-06-03T10:13:58.440+01:00New Book<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwBggBXNbz8OiVkI7Rqh2HA_QS8DEYqQ3syfEczTmsUBrqH6BxV5AI57ciZ7VQrHJpEiAoIPtqkQJw3wiObBxX8Fl2IGq5rtLkIaKm41gReyn1xZewLeggzy9PtRDTWxshsH-Ytq6FPmd/s1600/Standing+on+the+Shoulders+of+Giants+-+Front+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwBggBXNbz8OiVkI7Rqh2HA_QS8DEYqQ3syfEczTmsUBrqH6BxV5AI57ciZ7VQrHJpEiAoIPtqkQJw3wiObBxX8Fl2IGq5rtLkIaKm41gReyn1xZewLeggzy9PtRDTWxshsH-Ytq6FPmd/s400/Standing+on+the+Shoulders+of+Giants+-+Front+Cover.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A History of Rugby League in Huddersfield<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> In 1676, Isaac Newton wrote: ‘If I have
seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.’ It seems an
appropriate metaphor for a book that relates the achievements of ‘Giants’ on
which the Huddersfield Giants club and game of rugby league continue to be
built. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The first ‘Giants’ who founded the
Huddersfield club in 1864 were quickly followed by the Huth brothers of the
1870s, who took the quality of local rugby to a new level. In 1878 Huddersfield
began 114 years at their Fartown home, developed by ambitious committeemen into
one of the great northern sporting arenas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> In 1885, club President Charles Holliday
inaugurated the Holliday Charity Cup for local clubs, which remains the
longest-running amateur rugby competition in the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Probably the greatest Giant of them all was
the slick, innovative Harold Wagstaff who jolted the game from a static,
set-piece, forward-fest into a more flowing, fluid, attractive spectacle. He captained
the 1914 England team that won the Ashes and on his return led Huddersfield’s
Team of all Talents to all four trophies in 1914-15. This team included Albert
Rosenfeld, whose 80 tries in 1913-14 remains a distant benchmark for
aspirational wingmen. It also included Douglas Clark, rugby international,
world wrestling champion and war hero, whose extraordinary courage and spirit
continues to inspire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Following in the wake of such Giants, Len
Bowkett led Huddersfield to League and Challenge Cup glories that raised local spirits
during the Great Depression. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> A host of heroes arrived after World War
II, spearheaded by Australians Johnny Hunter, Lionel Cooper and Pat Devery.
Scot Dave Valentine lifted the inaugural Rugby League World Cup in 1954, and
master tactician Tommy Smales captained Huddersfield to the League Championship
in 1962. Collectively, they inspired a generation of fans who stuck with the
club when the collapse of local manufacturing industries was almost mirrored by
the demise of the club. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Foremost among these supporters were Keith
Burhouse and his family, who led superhuman efforts that sustained the club
until better times arrived in the form of the McAlpine Stadium and, shortly
afterwards, Ken Davy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Chairman since 1996, Ken Davy is a
modern-day Giant whose input has driven the club’s progress to the top of the
game as the Leaders of Super League in 2013..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The unique decisions of 29 August 1895 at
the George Hotel are forever etched into the histories of the town and the
sport – the only sport that knows exactly when and where it was born. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> In 1973 the British Amateur Rugby League
Association (BARLA) was also founded in the town, led by officials from the
Huddersfield and District League. BARLA has developed a progressive league
structure for amateur clubs, encouraged women’s rugby league, and remains one
of the game’s significant developments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Embellished by much original research, this
book relates original stories and new perspectives on all of these developments.
It is about the broad shoulders of Giants on which the modern club and game
stand</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Priced at £10
the book will be available, at the beginning of June 2015, from the
Huddersfield Giants Club Shop, Waterstones and WH Smiths in Huddersfield, the
Tolson Museum and Huddersfield Tourist Information Centre.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISBN
978/0/9547146/8/0</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-12453807668980843992014-07-16T22:23:00.000+01:002014-07-16T22:26:52.744+01:00Doncaster RLFC 1959-60 Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKsAIHuJWm6COovI8QEIl4O6BAuzfIhuEe4Kz8xHpGbj-cM_YqnNOD9lP0GwMl_icyHoeNmUDOSDwYGGkU3h3wO3XdBJUeMCNJf2aoeWoSN9n_tdYMwl2Ig7s3vOdlgaok9asdiMXYHTz/s1600/Doncaster+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKsAIHuJWm6COovI8QEIl4O6BAuzfIhuEe4Kz8xHpGbj-cM_YqnNOD9lP0GwMl_icyHoeNmUDOSDwYGGkU3h3wO3XdBJUeMCNJf2aoeWoSN9n_tdYMwl2Ig7s3vOdlgaok9asdiMXYHTz/s1600/Doncaster+Cover.jpg" height="640" width="420" /></a></div>
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I found this programme recently and the comments, fixtures and results and the players records give, in my opinion, a fascinating insight into Rugby League at the end of the 1950s.<br />
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Were the attendances estimates?</div>
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The teams printed in the programme for this final game of the 1959-60 season were:</div>
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<br />Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-72652413429862862582014-07-09T23:31:00.000+01:002014-07-10T08:58:47.504+01:00A Barley Mow ExperienceIn the early 1960s there was no other Rugby League ground quite like the Barley Mow. Watching a Bramley home game at the ground was often an unforgettable experience for a number of reasons and some of those reasons had nothing to do with what was happening on the field.<br />
I was an occasional visitor to the Barley Mow and after paying my entrance fee (probably sixpence for a schoolboy) I then faced a couple of challenges. The first was trying to find a spot on the terrace where I could actually see all the action on the field. The second was deciding where to stand if it started raining. There was very little cover for spectators on a ground that, despite its ramshackle appearance, certainly did have a unique atmosphere.<br />
I was a Bradford Northern supporter in the 60s and so probably only managed to attend two or three games at the Barley Mow but one in particular, Bramley versus Halifax, played on 20th January 1962, is still memorable after over 52 years. I don't recall very much of the action on the field but I can certainly remember the players entering the ground from the changing rooms in the Barley Mow pub and the Bramley full back Jonny Wilson's contribution to the game.<br />
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Jonny Wilson won the match for Bramley with the three penalty goals that made up the 6-0 scoreline. Two of the goals were kicked from the half way line, a remarkable achievement on a muddy pitch with a heavy ball. Wilson also kicked a number of huge touch finders which kept Halifax penned in their own half for much of the eighty minutes. Jonny Wilson's main contribution to the game against Halifax was his kicking but as his goal kicks won the game, and probably a number of others, he was certainly a valuable member of the Bramley team.<br />
There were 2,870 spectators at the Barley Mow on that cold winter afternoon, an attendance that many of today's Championship clubs would be very happy with although, the receipts of £267 would certainly not cover the match expenses of a Championship club in 2014.<br />
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The teams that played in the game were those printed in the programme apart from the Bramley loose forward who was Yeomans. The teams were:<br />
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The match report from the Yorkshire Post</div>
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Acknowlegements:</div>
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Martyn Cheney</div>
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Andrew Hardcastle</div>
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Leeds Local & Family History Library</div>
Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-74294968124788602712014-06-27T12:17:00.000+01:002014-06-27T12:17:38.167+01:00International Rugby League in Scarborough<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Over recent years International Rugby League has been played in a number of towns and cities that wouldn't be considered to be in the 'heartlands' of the game. The 2013 Rugby League World proved through the attendances a places like Bristol and Wrexham that there is an appetite for International Rugby League in many parts of the country.<br />
Sadly, the opportunity for International Rugby League to be played again in Scarborough has probably gone following the demise of the soccer club and the demolition of the ground where the 1983 Student International was played. Although, ironically, two of the stands from the Athletic Ground still have a connection with Rugby League as they were bought by Featherstone Rovers.<br />
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The British Students team contained a number of players who featured in the teams that played against the New Zealand Universities when they toured the UK in 1984.<br />
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<u>British Students Squad</u></div>
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Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-14430895741829400222014-06-25T17:26:00.001+01:002014-06-25T17:26:32.988+01:00New Zealand Universities Tour Of Britain 1984<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The New Zealand Universities team was the first representative student side to tour the UK. The tour began on 7th January 1984 with a game against Hull Colts. A further four games were played in England before the touring party flew to France for four games the final one being against the French Universities on 1st February in Limoux.<br />
The climax of the English leg of the tour was a game against Great Britain Students at Headingley on 17th January.<br />
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The Great Britain squad contained a number of players who went on to have successful careers in the professional game. However, two of the squad are probably better known for what they have achieved away from Rugby League. Martin Winter did play professional Rugby League for Doncaster but his main claim to fame is that he was the first elected Mayor of Doncaster. Dave Alred (his name is spelled incorrectly in the programme) also played professional Rugby League. He was signed by Sheffield Eagles in the summer of 1984 and played on the wing in the Eagles first game against Rochdale Hornets. Although being part of the first team to represent a new professional club is unique it is on the training pitch the Dave Alred is best known. Dave Alred is a very successful kicking coach and has worked with Rugby Union players like Jonny Wilkinson, Johnny Sexton and George Ford. His work on the training pitch has also extended to Golf where he has worked with golfers such as Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington.Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852672621650199728.post-20449005849800125702014-06-22T22:38:00.000+01:002014-06-22T22:38:40.760+01:00Wartime Rugby<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Below is an extract from an article published in Issue 46
of Rugby League Journal. The article is taken from the chapter on the
relationship with Rugby League in my book about Yorkshire Rugby Union in World
War Two called ‘Let Them Play By All Means’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">During World War Two rugby league players in the Services
were allowed to take part in Services rugby union games against other Services
teams and also against clubs but, were not ‘officially’ allowed to take part in
club versus club fixtures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Did rugby league players take part in club
versus club games? I think almost certainly in Yorkshire they did. Pocklington was
a rugby union club that welcomed the involvement of players from both codes; I
hardly think they were alone. Many wartime fixtures were not reported and team
lists were not submitted to a Governing Body. So, it is very likely that if a
man appeared at a rugby union ground with a pair of boots and a request to
play, he would be welcomed, with no questions asked, especially in the dark
days of the war when the rugby union clubs that were still playing often
struggled to find fifteen players. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Certainly in York and probably in other rugby
league towns the reverse was happening and rugby union players were playing for
professional rugby league clubs. York Rugby League Club was quite open about
including rugby union players in its team. On 13<sup>th</sup> March 1943, W.E.
Jones, a Welsh international who had played his club rugby for Swansea and
Neath, was included in the York team that played at Leeds in the Challenge Cup.
York lost the game but Jones made a good impression. The rugby league club was
keen to include him the following week but he was required to be in Wales for a
club fixture. Around this time, York were including a number of other rugby
union players in their teams, reporting that fact in the local newspaper.
Evidently neither they nor the players received any warnings or sanctions.
There were many international rugby union players stationed in the North of
England during the war and it is very unlikely that W.E. Jones was the only one
who played for a professional rugby league club.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Stuart Sheardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443002335762183443noreply@blogger.com0