Stainland Stags Social

Evie Godfrey

tow people wearing white Stainland Staf R.L.FC t-shirts, they are smiling, the person on the left has their arm over the person on the right-who is also wearing glasses.

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Stainland Stags Social

Whilst the on-field fortunes of the Stags have ebbed and flowed, one constant has been a thriving social seen with the whole club getting together.

In the early days, the lads at the club also did several charity fund raising runs from Blackpool where each runner did 2 miles before resting. In effect, a relay was set up. When they reached West Vale all the runners ran up to the Stainland Mechanics Hall for a pie and pea supper.

In the late 1980’s, the Stainland Stags joined the Elland Pool League to keep the lads together over the summer months. Their start was not auspicious! They lost their first match up at the Brown Cow by 8-1. But in true Stags fashion, the lads stuck together and won Stainland Stags first sporting silverware ( even though it was not for Rugby League!) when they won the Elland Pool League. Ironically, the trophy was presented by ex-Halifax Rugby League coach, Ross Strudwick.

A new way of raising money for charity was devised for Christmas in 1988 when the club and more specifically secretary, Daphne Sutcliffe, arranged a Charity Rugby League game to raise funds for the Halifax Evening Courier appeal. A ladies team, coached by Halifax star, Brendan Hill, faced the Stainland Stags but with the added interest of the lads playing in wellington boots filled with dried peas! The lasses won by 32-6 and the event raised £500.

tow people wearing white Stainland Staf R.L.FC t-shirts, they are smiling, the person on the left has their arm over the person on the right-who is also wearing glasses. The Stainland Stags Wembley Challenge Cup Final weekends were legendary. Of course, there were T shirts and of course there was the Final and of course there was some drinking – lots of trips to Wembley did all that – but only Stainland Stags played a game of Rugby League at 2 o’clock in the morning on Park Lane, London with a cushion as the ball!

During their time at their Duke of York headquarters, there was even a Medieval Fancy Dress!

There was also some fun to be had in the matter of fund raising for the club. There was a “Predict the Score” started by Trevor Murgatroyd. This raised a significant amount of money for the club and had some big roll overs especially on Halifax games.

Stags continued their charity fund raising in 2001 after one of their stalwarts, Bryan Murgatroyd, who had been with the club since its inception, was diagnosed with Huntingdon’s Disease. Club Chairman, Kev Barker, explained “Bryan has been with the club since it was formed 20 years ago and we thought it would be nice to do something to help him” A full benefit day was organised for a match day including bucket collection, bbq, auction and evening race night.

The social scene at the club just kept coming with 2016 Christmas Jumper Pub Search and the 2024 East Egg Hunt being two good examples.

And no story of Stainland Stags would be complete without mention of Russ Holroyd’s legendary  Christmas “Port and Cheese” nights. Just a fiver for the lads, free for the lasses, and drink and eat as much as you want. An average of 25 bottles of port were consumed on these nights!