Clubs > Stainland Stags > The 1990’s
The 1990’s
The 1990’s began with the Stags newly promoted to Pennine League Division 4. Their season of consolidation in this higher league went well and they finished in 4th place winning 12 of their 20 games. This was enough for them to feature in Division 3 in the 1991-92 season, following the Pennine League restructuring, where they continued their good form to take 6th place seemingly enjoying their life another division higher as they won half of their 22 games.
1994-5 was an important season for the Stags as playing numbers had increased significantly and the club were able to field an “A” team for the first time. The first team continued playing in Division 3. Off the field the club moved their headquarters to the Red Lion public house. The same set up was in place for the following season when the first team finished in mid-table.
By this time, the Sutcliffe family were key members of the Stainland Stags club. Huddersfield Giants supporter, John Sutcliffe, was the Club President, his wife, Daphne, was the club Secretary, daughter, Suzanne took on the role of Club Treasurer and son, Stuart plays for the club. Their other daughter, Pam, who started preparing after match food, soon took the additional jobs including that of kit washer. In 2024, Pam, amongst other jobs, is still washing Stags kit!
However, for the 1995-96 season a move of their headquarters to the Stoneridge public house coincided with a contraction of the player squad and the disbanding of the “A” after two seasons. Things were not all gloomy, Russ Holroyd was the club coach and his assistant, former Park Amateurs and Huddersfield, Michael Wolfenden, was looking at junior teams for the following season. The club had good sponsors in the village’s largest company Sonoco Board Mills where many of the players work. Interviewed at the time, Daphne Sutcliffe explained
“There is a tremendous atmosphere at the club, they play for each other, are all good friends and you never see long faces.”
In Division 2 for the 1996-97 season, the Stags were certainly holding their own and finished in a creditable 6th position winning seven of their season’s16 games.
This division is where the Stag played for the next seven seasons. Off the field, although the club continued to use the changing room facility on the Stainland Rec., they changed their headquarters again in 1998 back to the Red Lion public house where they stayed for three seasons. There followed three seasons at the Rose and Crown public house where the changing facilities were somewhat basic. Teams got changed in a single upstairs room which had a bath just big enough for 6 players and a single shower head which was used to fill the bath, The away team got first use which meant the Stainland lads had to wait outside in the cold and rain!
Whilst at the Rose and Crown, Russ Holroyd was coach of a girls team each Sunday morning. It is reported that the pub was packed every Sunday.
After their stay at the Rose & Crown, the Stags spent a further season back at the Red Lion until Stainland’s own club house came online.