Clubs > Brighouse Rangers > Brighouse Rangers “A”
Brighouse Rangers “A”
The club decided to form an “A” team and joined the Pennine League Division 6 for the 1984-85 season. In an up but mainly down season they finished in 10th place winning just 3 of their 20 League games. The following season their record was also disappointing as the won only 2 of their 20 games finishing bottom of Division 6.
The “A” team had a much better season in 1986-87 competing in Division 7 finishing 6th with 6 league victories. Division 7 remained the “A” team’s home for only one season as they were promoted to Division 6 for 1990-91 season when they held their own winning 5 of 20 games.
With the creation of Pennine Alliance Leagues for teams below a club’s first team in 1990-91, Brighouse Rangers “A” joined Division 2 but were relegated in bottom place winning just 2 of their 22 games. The Alliance Division 3 turned out to be a happier hunting ground for the “A” team as they finished 8th (7/18) in a division home to four other Halifax “A” teams.
They again were the yo-yo team spending time in Divisions 2 and 3 throughout the rest of the 1990’s.
The “A” made their debut in the Halifax Supplementary Cup Final in 1995 which was refereed by former Ovenden stalwart, Bob English. The squad for the Final included Damien Clayton, Paul Walsh, Paul Greenwood, Chris McClean and Kiwi Arnie Hema. It was a good game but in the end Brighouse were not able to lift the trophy against an experienced Siddal “A” including Carl Hirst, Pat Moore and Craig Morley.
The record do not show an “A” team for the 1997-98 season although they were back in 1999-99 and 1999-2000.
As the century changed the “A” team continued and was important part of the club as it supported the first team.
The “A” once again made the Halifax Supplementary Cup Final in 2004, The team for the second time finished up as runners up. This time to Elland “A” who fielded a strong squad including Reece Mansell, Adam Olroyd and Syd Manning.
Indeed, the “A” is shown in records until 2010.
In 2019, the “A” was revived in the form of a Development team. Rangers fielded 2 Open Age teams on the same day since 2014 when they played Greetland. The “A” team was revived after the Covid break, and in 2021 featured in the Yorkshire Mens League Division 5 West where they finished a creditable 3rd (8/15) finishing that season with an excellent win over Todmorden by 38-0 at a very soggy Brighouse ground.
With another YML reorganisation, the “A” team was in YML Division 7b for the 2022 season whish proved a difficult season as they won only 3 of their 13 games finishing in 7th position.
The following year, 2023, was little better although the “A” team did win one more game and at least they finished the season unlike two other teams.
One heartening story from June 2023 was the appearance of father and son combination, Josh and Matt Beck, turned out together for the Brighouse Rangers Bears for the first time.
Brighouse Bears (above) featured in the Pennine League Division 3 for the 2024-25 winter season. They play some great Rugby League throughout the cold months and came out on top in their game away at Boothtown, winning by 30-16. It was a good season for the Brighouse Bears as they beat Featherstone Lions away by 30-40 and defeated Methley Warriors 100-0 at home.