Clubs > Siddal > The “A” and “B” Teams
The “A” and “B” Teams
The Siddal “A” team had its origins in the early 1970’s when Eric O’Connor was asked to form a second team.
The first record of the “A” team is in the 1974-5 season when they played in Division 3 winning 15 of their 26 games to finish 9th.
There was a Siddal “A” team in the Pennine league from then for over 30 years.
They spent the first four seasons in Division 3 generally in a mid-table position typically winning 50% of their games. However, they were relegated at then end of the 1977-78 season during which they won only 4 of their 22 games. They spent one season in that division finishing 6th with nine victories. Strangely, they were put in Pennine Division 3 for the 1979-80 season but were immediately relegated back into division 4 at the end of the season.
In the 1980’s the team struggled along in at the bottom of Division 4 and were finally relegated at the end of the 1982-3 season having won only 2 of their 18 games.
The team was made up of youngsters and a few older players. Graham Bradley was experienced player who had returned from having a good time working in Benidorm around this time and went straight into the “A” team . As he admitted,
“I came back and played in the second team; I was do ok but couldn’t get back into the first team!”
Division 5 remained the home of the “A” team as they generally finished in the bottom half or at the bottom of the table.
The final season of the 1980’s was a big improvement in the “A” performance as they suddenly won 18 of their 22 games and were promoted. They also won the 1989 Halifax Supplementary Cup Final at Thrum Hall against Park Amateurs “A” by 16 points to 15.
The “A” started the 1990’s just as they played throughout most of the 1980’s by winning only 4 of their games in Division 4! They were spared the ignominy of another relegation as the Pennine League restructured in 1991 to introduce Alliance Divisions for teams below first team level. Siddal “A” was placed in Alliance Division 1 where they finished mid-table for the four seasons until the Pennine League re-organised again.
The “A” were involved again in the Halifax Supplementary Cup Final in 1992 when they were defeated by Ovenden “A” who were winners for the third consecutive season and would go on to make that 5 in a row!
Another big step was taken by the club in 1995 when it was decided to form a “B” team. The club had a successful U 18 side and the club wanted to keep them at the club and put some experienced players with them. The “ “B” team in Alliance 3. One of those joining the “B” team was Mick Scott. Mick enjoyed his time with the lads.
“we had some good trips out with the “B” teams”.
Another former Siddal first team player who turned out in the “B” team was Paul McCormack. “Stores” enthused about his time with the lads,
“probably the best time, the most fun I had playing. And we were promoted three seasons running”
The A” team was playing in Division 5 during the 1995-96 season.
The 1996-97 season was a notable one. The “A” team were crowned Division 5 Champions winning all but one of their 22 games and they also won the Halifax Supplementary Cup against Illingworth “A” . The “B” team also had a very successful season winning all but 2 of their 21 games to finish Alliance Division 3 Champions.
Both “A” and “B” teams continued for the next 4 seasons before the “B” folded at the end of the 2000-01 season. But the “B” team would be back two years later.
The Siddal “B” of 2000’s was a blend of experienced players such as ex pro players Andy Hancock Jimmy Bailey, Carl Gregg together with youngsters Sean Mc Cormack and Paul Simpson. The team was coached by Andy Whitely and Johnny Whittam. They reached the Halifax Supplementary Cup Final in 2006 where they faced the Halifax Irish “A” team. Siddal “B” overwhelmed the Irish winning by 42-4.
Siddal “B” were not finished yet! In 2009 they reached the final of the Pennine League Supplementary Cup at the Tetley Stadium, Dewsbury to face New Earswick “A” from York. The Siddal “B” squad included some very experienced players: George Parkinson (52) Ian Muirhead (38) and Mark Dinsmore (39) Jason Barrett (38) and Simon Longbottom (35).
Jimmy Bailey, who had played for Siddal in his late teens when Dilwyn Lewis was coaching, came back to Siddal to play for the “B” team.
“We had a great team spirit and were a mix of ex pros and juniors who went on to play together. Really enjoy it”
The “A” continued on its merry way still giving chances to new players and allowing older players to pass on their knowledge and keep playing. However, with the decision taken for the Siddal “A” rather than the Siddal first team to enter the Halifax Cup, the opportunity of an amateur club’s “A” winning the famous old trophy became a possibility.
And, of course, Siddal “A” managed to do just that! Not just on one occasion but on three occasions; 2000-01, 2002-03 and 2008-09.
In the 2001 final, Ovenden first team were odds-on favourites to register a big win. Siddal “A” put up an amazing performance and beat Ovenden by 10-8.
Paul Nicholson, now a Siddal Masters player, remembers his entry into the game from bench.
“First pass, I knocked on! Not a good start. Gareth Blackburn scored a breakaway try to win the game”
The Siddal “Winter” team also won the Cup for Siddal again in 2016-17.
The “A” team switched to summer Rugby League, became known as Siddal Academy and began to play in the Yorkshire Mens League Premier Division. In their first season Siddal Academy finished as Champions. They were undefeated throughout the season with 13 victories and two draws. A great achievement in a division including Brighouse Rangers, East Hull and Queensbury.
The Siddal Academy continued in the YML Premier Division and in 2022 finished a creditable 3rd in the table with 11 wins from their 17 games. The good years were not to last as in 2023 the Academy team finished bottom of the Premier Division with only 2 wins from their 14 games.
The drop to YML Division 1 for the 2024 season obviously spurred the team on and they finished in second place to Milford Marlins only on points difference as both teams won 11 of their 14 games. It was so close: even though Siddal Academy had scored more points during the season it was Milford’s point difference was 212 and Siddal Academy’s of just 202 which made the difference.