Clubs > Hebden Bridge > The 1960’s

The 1960’s

Hebden Bridge continued into the 1960’s still as force in the district. They continued to play in the both the Halifax and Huddersfield Joint Rugby League and the Oldham Rugby League.

The team made Halifax Championship Final 1961-62 finishing runners up to Ovenden as they had five years earlier. However, Championship success did not elude them for much longer as they were finally winners in the 1962-63 season when they overcame Greetland All Rounders in the final on the 20th May 1963.

Hebden Bridge were riding high and enjoying a very successful period. The success continued in the following two seasons when they won the Halifax Cup in back-to-back years 1963-64 and 1964-65. Captain for the team in the finals was Eric Glover.

The open age team were generally well-placed in the Halifax and Huddersfield Joint League although local rivals Ovenden continued to be the team the Bridge lads always wanted to beat.

One player who recalls those days is Barry Farrar who had made his Rugby League debut at the age of 16 playing for Asquith’s U18 in the 1950’s before moving to play for Hebden Bridge. He remembers playing alongside Trevor Glover as club captain on the team and his brother Eric Glover. The changing facilities in Mytholmroyd were spartan but homely. Barry explained that.

“the changing rooms were downstairs in the terraced house and there was a large concrete bath. There was a bar upstairs!”

Mick Stafford was an U19’s player who enjoyed his time at Hebden Bridge playing in their purple and gold kit. He remembers committee member Joe Shaw who owned Nutclough House public house and whose son Pete played for the U19’s. Joe had a minibus van and took the team to away games. Mick recalls an away trip to Flockton (Huddersfield). As they came to the Flockton village, they had no idea where the ground was,
“So (teammate) Gordon “Bunny” Lord, just opened the back door as we were driving along “and shouted to ask a very surprised man walking “Where’s the Rugby League ground?”

Hebden Bridge players also were selected for the Halifax Amateurs Select side which played Halifax RLFC at Thrum Hall in the mid-sixties. Mick remembers one player in that game vividly , Pete Sutcliffe from Todmorden ,who was Mick described as “very fast.”