Clubs > Illingworth > The 1990’s
The 1990’s
The club started the new decade with enthusiasm with both first and “A” teams looking forward with positivity and the juniors continuing the progress. The club itself provided good facilities for players and this included a team physio and the use of a heat lamp for injury recovery.
The 1992 side progressed to the last 16 of the BNFL BARLA National Cup with a stunning 16-2 win over Blackbrook from the NW Counties’ Premier Division and who included two BARLA Great Britain players. This was typical of the success of the side under coach Arnie Thorpe who was one of the players who joined the club six years earlier when Mixenden disbanded. Arnie spoke to the Halifax Courier after the Blackbrook victory praising his team
“They have a great spirit and played brilliantly. Ian Taylor(assistant coach) and I prepared the players but the lads out there worked hard and deserve all the credit.”
This side included ex-Bradford Northern forward Edie Okulicz as well as local talent such as Tim Hardcastle, John McGuire, Paul Shaw, Mark Gudor and Peter Cahill. The next round saw Illingworth drawn away at Woolston Rovers, Warrington a very successful club who were National Conference League champions for three consecutive seasons. Once again Illingworth didn’t travel well and their exciting cup run ended across the Pennines.
Not to minimise this cup success, the club’s aim for the season was, however, to gain promotion to the Pennine Premier Division. With five games of the season remaining, Illingworth needed to win four. With a loss and three wins the run into the season culminated in a final must win game at home to Bradford side, Odsal Sedbergh who were 3rd in the division. A thrilling and tense game saw Illingworth win by 36-20 and gain their target of promotion to the Premier Division having won 17 of their 18 games.
During the 1993-94 season, Illingworth had a good run in the Yorkshire Cup finally bowing out in a closely fought home game with East Yorkshire side Beverley. The final score 22-27. It was reported as a game Illingworth could easily have won but for some poor handling . Ian Fakes who scored two tries also missed two as he was unable to take the passes with the line clear.
In the Pennine League, the team was in the Premier Division until relegation to Division 1 in 1994. The team held their own in that Division finishing 3rd in the 1996-97 season.
Off the field, Tommy McGiven won the Pennine League “Most Sporting Player” Award at the Pennine presentation night in 1994.
When Wainstalls folded in 1998, many of their players moved across to Illingworth boosting player numbers significantly.