The 1960’s
By 1960 there were only four open-age teams operating in Halifax – Siddal, Ovenden, Greetland and Hebden Bridge. Siddal, along with Ovenden from Halifax, also joined the Huddersfield League. It is reported that such additional matches were not always popular as players were reluctant to travel greater distances, Playing in two separate League structures also created problems with fixture clashes.
As the decade opened, Siddal were struggling for players, Despite having 26 players registered at the start of the season, in 1961 Siddal asked at a league meeting for any club with spare men should direct them their way to avoid them having to go under. Indeed, the year before, the 1960 Halifax Cup was put into disarray when Siddal withdrew from their semi final fixture as they could not raise a team. With only four teams in the competition, the final was replaced by an U19’s game.
Siddal continued to be based at local public houses which did not give the club a true home. Their changing facilities were now “a tin shed down in t’ nine oil” .
Local builder, Dennis Bradley, a former Siddal and Halifax player and then club Chairman became the driving force behand a plan for the Siddal club to have its own changing facilities and club house.
Siddal Rugby League Club Committee 1962-3
Back Row: H.J. Connor, A. Steele, I. Scott, D. Muff, G. Willet, G. Umpleby
Front: S.J. Shannon, C. West (Hon. Sec), H. Richards (President), D. Bradley (Chair) S.G. Swale (treasurer), R. Hodgson
In 1962 , Dennis bought the club three former cottages, 78, 80 and 82 Backhold Lane with a view to converting them into a clubhouse with dressing rooms and a licensed bar. This was to become the club’s home for the next 50 years.
Now with a base, there was a need for players and Siddal was constantly looking for players throughout the 1960’s they continued to have U17 or U18 or U19 or a combination in most years. Youngsters like John Martin, Mal Burks, Brian Probets and Paul Williams were soon to have the open age team on the forward track. In the 1962-3 season the new Huddersfield and Halifax Joint League was in operation which gave teams more games in a single organised structure.
In 1965, a young 16-year-old was to join a new Under 17’s side at Siddal. This was to be the start of Eddie Golding-Smith’s more than 60 years association with the club. Eddie remembers.
“Dennis Bradley got the team together. 9 of us went to Exley school and 11 of us lived in Siddal. We got a new strip from the RFL because we were a new team!”
“We played Boothtown in the final at Thrum Hall on New Year’s Day 1966 and beat them 9-7”
Eddie also explained that he went up to Swales Moor to play Boothtown U17, and although there was water and wood no one had any matches nor a lighter to light the fire to heat the water! Cold water, that day.
Eddie progressed up to the Under 19’s side.
“Dennis Bradley ran a free bus from Siddal stopping to pick up players to take us to the U19 Cup Final up at Greetland. They got changed in the Sportsman.”
Eddie also tells of one game he didn’t play.
“We were playing Ovenden and our coach Gerald Humpelby dropped me. Geoff Crowther from Ovenden says “come over to Ove”, I didn’t.”
In the 1966-67 season, the Siddal open age side, won though to the Halifax Championship Final although they were runners up to Ovenden .
With the open age continuing to thrive and the juniors also doing well the club was able to assemble everyone for a photograph in 1968 with all the trophies won that season. This included the Halifax Championship Trophy.
Siddal were to reach the Halifax Championship Trophy again in 1969 but they came up against strong Illingworth side and finished as runners up.
Siddal’s impact on the Rugby League scene in Halifax continued In 1969 when they reached the Halifax Cup Final at Thrum Hall lifting the old trophy for the first time in 16 years.
The decade had been one of change and progress for the Siddal club. They now had their own home base at Backhold Lane. In the 1966-67 season, five Siddal players signed for the Halifax professional club: Mal Burks, Pete White, John Martin, Brian Probets and Fred Whitehouse. Eddie Golding-Smith recalls the first team of that era.
“the open age team was a team full of comedians but never won owt.”