The 1980’s

Evie Godfrey

Old team photo with team in two rows, one standing, one sitting, wearing kits

Clubs > Brighouse Rangers > The 1980’s

The 1980’s

Old team photo with team in two rows, one standing, one sitting, wearing kits

Throughout the 1980’s, Brighouse Rangers were members of the Pennine League and therefore played against clubs across the Halifax, Huddersfield, Keighley, Oldham and Rochdale area.

The decade opened with Brighouse Rangers still in Division 4 of the Pennine League. They continued to be consistent and finished in 8th place.  The club were honoured at the end of the season when players and secretary, Jeff Greenwood, was presented with the Division 4 Clubman of the Year Award.

black and white newspaper photo of two people wearing stripey shirts, smiling for the cameraRangers were also unique in Rugby League in that they had two deaf players in their squad, Rod Ehlert, a hooker and Gary Lund, a prop forward. Both enjoyed their Rugby League and helped other members of the squad learn some sign language. Club secretary at the time, Peter Smith told the Huddersfield Examiner;

“We notify the referee before the game and so far there has never been any trouble”

The team continued to make good progress as they were promoted in successive seasons: 1982-3 to Division 3 and 1983-4  (see photo above) to Division 2. Once again 1982-3, Rangers were recognised as Willian Carson won the Pennine  League Clubman of the Year for Division 4.

The team’s stay in the higher Division 2 did not last as they struggled with increase standard of play. Rangers won only 5 of their 18 league games and were bottom place at the end of the 1984-85 season. However, they were not relegated and started the 1985-86 season sill in Division 2. This season was a lot better with the team winning 8 of their 16 games leaving them in 6th position.

Brighouse Rangers started their third season (1987-88) in Division 2 in good form and by the end of the year had won 9 of their 18 games and finished in a creditable 4th place. just missing out on promotion but had proved that the club were capable of holding their own against the best teams in the Pennine league. They were coached that season by Dean Loynes.

However, the successful run did not continue as they were relegated for the first time in1988/9.

In June 1988, there had been rumours circulating that Rangers would move from their headquarters at the Brighouse Sports Club to a local public house. It was reported that there had been a number of offers made from local pubs to the host the club including “a very reasonable one from the Commercial Inn on Huddersfield Road”. A special meeting was held at the Sports Club to decide on the future headquarters of Brighouse Rangers Rugby League. Attendees were reminded, Brighouse Rangers ARLFC was a registered section of the Brighouse Sports Club. Those who wished to move the club headquarters sited issues with the facilities. However, the Sports Club had obtained grant aid to improve the changing facilities and improvements were also being made to the bar area and the public toilets. A vote at the end of the meeting decided by 12 votes to 9 to remain at the Brighouse Sports Club. In light of the move to the new ground some 15 years later, this was a fortuitous decision.

Rangers stay back in the Division 3 was not a long one as they won 14 of 20 games and were promoted again in 1989/90 and, as they had done previously, they were promoted for a consecutive season in 1990/91 up to Division 1.