Clubs > Ovenden > Previous Clubs

Previous Clubs

There was rugby in Ovenden for several years in the 1880’s although it was for the 1899-1900 season that a team from Ovenden joined the newly formed Halifax and District Junior Rugby League. In a league table printed in the local press in November of that season, the Ovenden team were second in a league comprised of twelve teams.

Like many other teams at the time Ovenden were destined not to survive long. They were based at the Ovenden Cross Inn and played on the field beside it. They acquired n Ovenden iplayers from disbanded teams at Page Hill and Denfield and performed well in the new league, restyling themselves as Ovenden United into the 1900-01 season after which they disbanded.

During the 1920’s a team known as Ovenden St, George came and went and over the years there were teams for youngsters including Ovenden Juniors and Ovenden Cadets in addition to school teams.

The senior Halifax club, now known as the Halifax Panthers, also played in Ovenden during their second season, 1875-6, on a pitch rented from Ovenden United Cricket Club, thought to have been on land above Cousin Lane, now long built over.