1970’s
With a balance of young and experienced players, Ovenden grew into a force within amateur Rugby League.
With new young players joining the U16 team – made up almost exclusively of the Ovenden School Rugby League side – the club continued to have a source of players as the older juniors moved on. These youngsters coming through from the U19’s were brought through into Open Age by the older lads where they were shown the ropes and looked after. Ovenden also benefitted though out the decade from the arrival of several players from the Mixenden and Hebden Bridge clubs as they folded.
Ovenden won the Halifax Cup four times in the decade: in 1970-1,1973-4, 1974-5 and again in 1976-7.
In 1976 they reached the Final of the BARLA National Cup facing Ace Amateurs from Hull at Craven Park, Hull KR’s ground, having beaten National Dock Labour Board, Hull in the quarter final and Millom, Cumberland, in the semi-final. Bob English remembers the cup run well.
“The quarter final against NDLB was a really hard game but we won it. Even the Hull lads congratulated us on a good game although they thought we were all miners! Were they surprised when they found out we hadn’t any miners but had mechanics and an accountant!”
“It was the first time I had seen a bride and groom at a game. Kevin Sharkey’s daughter, Kath and new husband Colin Proctor, watching her Dad and the team in her wedding dress!”
“The semi-final against Millom was at Four Fields. I wondered what all the coaches were doing parked up in the car park. They were all from Millom. Spectators were three deep on the touchlines.”
As the final approached Bob English picked up a leg injury and had physio in the week before the game. Bob’s memories of the final day are still vivid.
“We travelled on an Anderson Bus Co coach across to the final which was being played at Craven Park, Hull, the home of Hull Kingston Rovers. We stopped off on the way across to Hull and saw a half a dozen National Express buses also parked. These were our supporters’ buses!”
Ovenden had a formidable team, coached by former Hull FC player Brian Saville and including captain, Geoff Crowther, Eric Roberts, John and Terry Hoey, Bob English and Kevin Mount. Bob English was an unwilling player as he felt he was not 100% fit but was told to go out at loose forward and reproduce his semi-final performance – he scored two tries in the semi! The Ovenden club treated the final as a real occasion and bought a new playing strip especially for the final.
“The new kit was a bad idea. The flock on the shirts made it very difficult to catch the ball. We would have been better playing in our old kit!” Bob English explained. “I had my worst ever game. I had a try assist when I gave Ken Sharkey the ball under the posts but I didn’t play well. In the last half hour, I dummied, got through a gap and passed the ball to a supporting player 20 yards behind me!” As always, Geoff Crowther was a leader and sparked and encouraged the team.”
After all their efforts in the competition, Ovenden finished as runners up.
Reaching the BARLA National Cup final, gave Ovenden entry to the following season’s John Player No.6 Trophy.
In an twist of fate, Ovenden were drawn against local professional side, Halifax. The local derby was eagerly awaited by all in the town. Indeed, Dave Parker secured a £250 sponsorship for Ovenden from Leslie Hartness, MD of his employers, Warner Swasey Asquith and on 24th October 1976, Ovenden walked out at Thrum Hall in front of 3,647 spectators.
Ovenden lost the game 24-4. The game was officiated by senior referee, Stan Wall, who refereed professional Rugby League for many years and later became kit man at St Helens.
Bob English recalls little of the game.
“I was tackled so hard as I dummied I was taken out. The last thing I remember is seeing my feet level with the Websters sign on the stand roof!”
The decade was the last for Ovenden in the old changing rooms. These changing facilities in the old outhouse of Forest Cottage were well known. They were cleaned for many years by club stalwart, Ted Glanfield. But the legendary concrete bath would soon be a thing of the past.