Clubs > Calder Valley > Entry to the Pennine League
Entry to the Pennine League
Calder Valley entered their competitive journey in the Pennine League Division 7 in September 1987. The Division included a variety of teams including Park Amateurs ”B,” Barley Mow and Keighley Celtic.
Calder Valley team, coach and committee from first ever game.
The team was looking competitive with ex-Elland players Paul Shaw, Billy White, Tommy Gleeson, Tony Bannister and Gary Lund leading the way. Paul Glover, son of committeeman and ex-Hebden Bridge player, Trevor, formed a solid half back partnership with Shaun Charnley who has played junior Rugby League at Siddal. Paul Field had joined from Yorkshire League side, Oulton, and he also joined Barry Gravenor as assistant coach. At the back, was another ex-Elland player, Dave Stead, who called the shots from fullback. With flyer, Gary Richardson on the wing and brother, Ian, adding go forward and defensive metal to the team, Calder Valley set off at a pace.
They won the Pennine Division 7 title at their first attempt. They battled their way through the season with 23 wins and a draw from 26 games. Interestingly, Calder Valley was the only team not to have points deducted! The season saw the starts of a fierce rivalry with Bradford side, Barley Mow (later South Bradford) who were the only team to defeat the Valley.
The season was however not yet over for the Calder Valley club. As a new club, they were able to compete in the Halifax & District Supplementary Cup which was open not only to teams below a club’s first team but also to new teams. Calder Valley was going to play on the hallowed Thrum Hall turf, the ground at which most players went to support every Sunday to watch the successful Halifax professional team. Despite the loss of key forwards, Paul Shaw and Tony Bannister in the last league game of the season against Barley Mow, the club were determined to enjoy the day and surprise their opponents, Park Amateurs “A.”.
The club put on a coach for the team, they were treated to breakfast at the Stump Cross, courtesy of owner and Rugby League enthusiast, Trevor Callaghan, and they had a morning game of pitch and putt at Shibden Park. The coach took the team up to Thrum Hall and the team, in their club jumpers and ties, arrived in style at the famous old ground.
Calder Valley players: Tommy Gleeson, Chris Stead, Ian Rhodes, Paul Field, Mel Million. In the background are Calder Valley non-playing players Paul Shaw, Alan Crossley, Billy White and supporters Roger Jackson, Trevor Glover, John Charley,
Sadly, for the Valley, the game finished with a win for Park Amateurs “A.” Calder Valley scored their tries and kept themselves in the game but Park’s experience won the day. Both teams enjoyed the after-game socialising. The Calder Valley players and supporters finished their evening up at the Park Amateurs bar on Raglan Street!
The club introduced its end-of-season Presentation Evening which for the first season was at Ing Wood in West Vale. Halifax RLFC were on the crest of their wave and Calder Valley had Australian legend, Graham Eadie as the chief guest. The very first winners of the Calder Valley awards were.
Player of the Year: Dave Stead
Player of the Year Runner-up: Paul Field
Players’ Player of the Year: Shaun Charnley
Most Improved Player: Gary Richardson
Calder Valley Presentation Evening was well attended with not only players but wives and girlfriends also there. The sense of fun and madness in the social side of the club was there at that night at Ing Wood. A number of players held an impromptu “slug eating contest”! Guest of Honour, Graham Eadie was amazed, declaring:
“I have never seen anything like that.”
Calder Valley’s second season in 1988-89 saw them playing in the Pennine League Division 6 and continuing their good form. The team made great strides. Notable results included their first win against arch-rivals Barley Mow. The season was another successful one and after a close run in they finished Division 2 runner’s up and gained promotion for the second season in a row. Once again, Dave Stead was Player of the Year with Shaun Charnley taking the Runners up award.
His half back partner, Paul Glover, won the coveted Players’ Player of the Year award and Andrew Able was the Most improved
Player.
Now in Division 5 for the 1989-90 season, their climbed up the Pennine League divisions continued as the team continued to improve.
Shaun Charley at stand-off was now the linchpin of the Calder Valley performance both in attack and defence. His organisational skills in attack kept the team going forward and his tireless, textbook tackling frustrated even the best defences.
Paul Shaw had retired from playing but continued at the club as coach having taken over from Paul Field. The season went well with Calder Valley finishing a promotion winning 3rd place with 17 wins from 22 games. Paul explained his proudest moment came in this season.
“I coached the side that beat Elland in the Halifax up at their ground when we were a 5th division team and they were riding high in the Premier Division. And I must add that it was a marvellous piece of coaching………!!”
Fellow founder, Billy White, who played in that game, concurred that the game with Elland was also his favourite moment at Calder Valley.
One player to start his Rugby League career at Calder Valley was Adam Greenwood. Adam was a footballer and had not played Rugby League before. He started with a game on the wing and quickly established himself as a rangy, running and tackling second row forward. Adam was signed by Bradford Northern. He was joint winner of the Players’ Player of the Year with scrum half, Paul Glover.