Earlier teams

As early as 1881, there was a rugby team in the village of Stainland. Originally part of the Stainland Cricket Club they became independent in 1890 and were based at the Red Lion public house. In their early seasons, they played mainly across in Huddersfield and entered the Yorkshire Cup. They became members of the new Halifax and District League in 1895 but were disbanded in 1899 due to lack of local support and loss of players to professional clubs.

A new club with no known connection to the one that had folded in 1900, debuted in 1907 playing on a ground described in the press at the time as being “nearer the top of the village”. However, they lasted one season in the Halifax & District of the Intermediate League.

Stainland reappeared several times on and off throughout the inter-war period. They beat Siddal in the Intermediate Championship Final at Thrum Hall in their first season, 1927-8. Changing facilities were in the Mechanics Institute. They produced future professional players Albert Rawnsley and Ernest Norcliffe for Halifax, and Eric Swallow for Huddersfield. By the mid-1930’s there was a Stainland team playing on Stainland Rec. and changed in a shed at the Bull and Dog public house. Scott Fletcher posted an insight into both Stainland and Rugby League at the time.

“My great grandad, Fred, told me he can remember them getting changed in those sheds. They used to walk down the road to the rec for the game. One of my Great Grandad’s brothers, Arthur, was playing for Dewsbury back then, but had the week off, as they had no game, so he played that week for Stainland. He had a reputation of being an animal and hard as nails. When they had just got onto the rec walking down to the pitch, Arthur started braying one of the opposing team. My great Grandad said to his brother “Arthur!.. What a you doing?!”

Arthur replied.. “I’m just softening ’em up.”

In 1934 they were defeated by Halifax West End in the Halifax Championship play off final.

There is no further mention of a Rugby League team in Stainland village until 1957 when Stainland Youth Club emerged as an Under 17 team. They had a player roster of 20 lads all from the village or from Greetland and Holywell Green. This team progressed to Under 19 and by the start of the 1959 -60 season and had grown their squad to 26 lads. Sadly, by the end of that season, the team had disappeared after failing to fulfil their fixtures.