Clubs > King Cross Park > The 1970’s
The 1970’s
The 1970’s continued the struggles of the late 1960’s.
The club had some characters. A well-known boxer did make a name for himself at the club. Richard Dunn, the European, British and Commonwealth champion who fought Mohamed Ali, was an accomplished loose forward at the club who attracted scouts from many professional clubs. Former Greetland player and senior referee, Jim Smith, recalled Richard Dunn playing up at Greetland.
“Donald “Punchy” Sunderland, our hooker, absolutely clattered him with a fair tackle and that was the end of Richard Dunn for the afternoon!”
Team Photo: St Marys in their green and white hooped shirts on Saville Park in early 1970’s with Richard Dunn back right stood next to coach, Ray Illingworth. Trevor Brewer is second from left at the back.
The club entered the Pennine League in when it started the year after BARLA was formed. They were placed in Division 2 finishing a creditable 4th place and in 1975-76 season they finished in 10th position having won just 5 of their 22 games.
In 1976, the club decided a name change was required. From player name suggestions they chose Park Amateurs, as they were playing their home games at Wellesley Park, the former home of the Duke of Wellington’s regiment. The “Barracks” remained their home for many seasons and one which they shared with Mixenden for several seasons.
This started a golden era for Park Amateurs and for the next 20 years they were one of the top two or three clubs in Halifax. Many remember the whole transition to Park Amateurs and the struggles of the early 1970’s as well as playing against some of the now forgotten clubs such as Hebden Bridge.
The mid-1970’s saw Park Amateurs started to build their reputation playing good Rugby League on what seemed always to be a tight, although unusually flat, pitch at the Barracks. Park finished around mid-table in the Pennine Division 2 for the remainder of the decade: in 1976-77 they were 8th, winning 9 of their 22 games, in 1977-78 they finished 6th (7/18} and in 1978-79 gain finished in 6th with seven wins out of 18.
His was the season Park Amateurs reached their first final, the Pennine Cup Final. Having beaten Mixenden 18-13 in the semi-final Park came up against Ovenden in the final. The dream finish was not to be. They lost the final 15 points to 2 although Dave Parkinson won the Man of the Match award.
For good measure and to finish the decade on a high, Park also reached the Halifax Cup Final at Thrum Hall and this time they did get the job done winning the Halifax Cup with a victory over Siddal.
Park Amateurs took this good run of form into the next season. They finished the decade on a high as the 1979-80 season saw them finished 3rd in Pennine Division 1 just behind promoted Ovenden.