Clubs > Whitehall Warriors > The Beginning

The Beginning

Dave “Bomber” Beaumont, who had been a stalwart at the Greetland All Rounders club for many seasons, took the decision to move from the All Rounders. At the time, 2005, he was already living over at Hipperholme and was set for Rugby League retirement until his wife Eileen’s son, Richard, suggested forming a new team.

Dave explained:
“There wasn’t an Amateur Rugby League Club in Hipperholme so with it being a new catchment area it wasn’t a bad idea. Richard had loads of mates in their early 20’s who lived locally – some of which we had taken to play at Greetland -so he asked around.”

The response Richard had was positive and with Dave’s player contacts in the game, they had a nucleus of players to form a team. Players joined the team from a number of other clubs including veteran Billy Collier who had played for over twenty years at Todmorden before a single season at both Calder Valley and Greetland All Rounders.

Dave continued:
“I had a very good mate who had played many years at Greeetland with me and was now a very successful businessman – John Crossley. He agreed to be our chief sponsor and said he would buy our 1st kit – amongst other things.”

The new team now needed a pitch for their home matches. Hipperholme & Lightcliffe High School, which had over the years been the home ground of a number of local Rugby League teams, was suggested as a possible ground. After a consultation with the school’s sports centre manager, Richard Darkes, a pitch was earmarked for the new team. As Richard Darkes himself was an ex-Rugby League professional and he was asked to be coach and he enthusiastically agreed.

At the same period, the Whitehall Pub at Hipperholme traffic lights (now The Hop Monkey) were looking to run a sports team from the pub. Running the pub were Paul and Margaret Womersley who were very welcoming to the idea of a Rugby League team coming in. Margaret’s son, Chris Powell, an ex- Siddal player, had been training with the embryonic new team. So, the team’s home base was established.

The team name naturally followed and after several meetings at the pub the name was agreed and the Whitehall Warriors were formally born.
The Warriors were to join the Pennine League Division 6 but as the player group were nowhere near newcomers to Rugby League it was agreed they would enter Division 5 for the 2005-06 season.

The club sorted out the off-field roles and players started to train twice a week in preparation for their first season. Craig “Smiley” Riley was appointed as team captain for the up coming campaign.
The pre-season home friendly with Hoyland Vikings from Division 3 was a real stiff challenge , The final result was a creditable 20 – 20 draw.

The opening Pennine League Division 5 match was at home to York Groves. It was halfback, Paul Kemp, who sent Andrew Sadler racing in for Whitehall’s first ever league try. The final score 26-21 to the Warriors.

For the Warriors this was to be an exciting season and they ended up finishing second in Division 5 to Wetherby Bulldogs.

A real acheivement for the Warriors was to reach the final of the Halifax Supplementary Cup at the first attempt to end the 2005-06 season on a high. The Warriors did not win the trophy as they came up against a very good Elland “A” team. It did, however, put the Warrior on the map!

The first ever end of season Presentation Dinner was held at Brighouse Sports Club had ex Barla Chairman Maurice Oldroyd as chief guest. For the record, Andrew Sadler won the Cyril Crossley Memorial Trophy (in memory of John Crossley’s father) for the most improved player, David Spivey won Player’s Player and Andrew Green won the Player of the Year award.