The “A” Team

The “A” team has been an important part of the Illingworth club and the continued success of the first team.

The decision was made to form an “A” team for the 1973-74 season and had a good season finishing in 8^th place in the Halifax and District League Division 2.

In 1974, the “A” team played in the new Pennine League featuring in Division 3. This was a successful season and ended in a creditable 4^th place winning 18 of their 27 games.

The following seasons, the “A” team struggled along winning only between fewer than six games in each their next three seasons and finishing bottom of their division for two of those seasons. Relegations resulted in the team ending the 1970’s in Pennine League Division 6.

The 1980’s began with the “A” team fielding a mixture of experienced players and youngsters. In Division 6, they generally finishing in the top half of the league.

The 1981-82 season was notable as the “A” team won through to their first final in the Halifax League Supplementary Cup which was specifically for new teams and for teams below a club’s first team. This was a great achievement for the team although they finished runners up to a very experienced Park Amateurs “A”.

Away from the playing arena, Fred Pierce was award the Pennine League Clubman of the Year for Division 6 at the Pennine Presentation night.

Two seasons later, Illingworth “A” were again at Thrum Hall for the Supplementary Cup Final and once again came runners up, this time to Ovenden “A”.

Having been relegated to Division 7 at the end of the 1985-86 season, the team regrouped and had a very successful season in 1986-87 finishing in 3^rd place winning 18 of their 21 games.

As the 1990’s opened the “A” team was playing in Pennine League Division 5 finishing in 4^th position. The Pennine League introduced Alliance League for teams below clubs’ first teams for the next season and Illingworth “A” were placed in Alliance Division 1. They finished in 6^th place.

The success continued with the “A” team battling through to the Halifax Supplementary Cup Final including a superb victory over Greetland “A” in the semis. Ovenden “A” were again their opponents for the final in May 1990 at Thrum Hall.

The next season concluded with Illingworth “A” as 1991-2 Pennine League Shipley Trophy winners beating West Bowling “A” by 18-10 at Fartown despite being underdogs before the game.

Illingworth “A” team’s success on the field continued in 1993. They set a new club record for points scored in a Division 1 home game against the division’s bottom team, BBA “A” from Bradford. A 34-point haul from Charlie Kershaw led the way to a magnificent 106-1 victory ably assisted by five tries from Martin Heath and by a hat-trick from winger, Tim Hardcastle.

This successful streak continued into the next couple of seasons as the “A” team continued to play well in the Alliance Division 1.

Illingworth “A”, including the experienced Tim Hardcastle, the young Jason Anderson and leader Gary Quill blended together in yet another visit to the Supplementary Cup Final in 1994 and this time, they won a final versus Ovenden “A” securing the “A” team’s first ever trophy.

The team continued playing well in the Alliance Division 1 finishing mid table in 1994-95 although they crashed out of the Supplementary Cup with a 40-10 home defeat by Greetland All Rounders “A”.

Their good form in the Pennine League continued and they held their own in the Alliance Division 1. 1996-97 was a particularly good season as they finished in 3^rd place. And the “A” team also won through to the 1997 Supplementary Cup final v Siddal “A” at Thrum Hall.

By 2013 the “A” team was still in operation and were very successful in the 2012-13 season when they reached the Pennine League Shipley Trophy final and ran out winners.

The “A” was disbanded in 2006 but by the 2013-14 season, it was back in action and clinched the Pennine League Division Seven title.

For the record, the Illingworth A team had significant success in the Halifax Supplementry Cup final. They were runners up – 82, 84, 86 90 and Cup Winners in 1994.