The New Century

Illingworth started the new century in Pennine Division Premier Division.

This was a good period for the club. In the 2001-002 season, they had two good cup runs reaching the finals of both the Halifax Cup and the Pennine League President’s Cup. Sadly, the team was unable to take their best performances to the finals and end the season as runners up in both competitions.

Illingworth were doing well under the guidance of popular coach, Dave Roberts who had taken over from brother, Lea. A series of good team performances during the 2003-04 season’s run-in saw Illingworth maintain their place in the Pennine Premier Division. Indeed, it was reported at the time that Illingworth were the form team over the last two months of the season. The Illingworth team was full of seasoned players and included Andrew Laheney, Paul Ackroyd, Mark Toolin and veteran Andy Greenway.

The 2004 Halifax Championship Trophy Final was to see Illingworth go up against their close rivals Ovenden at Ovenden Park. Although a great battle, Illingworth were again to be the bridesmaid as Ovenden lifted the trophy.

The following season was another landmark for the Illingworth club with qualification for the Rugby League Challenge Club in 2005. After a preliminary round victory over at Crosfields (Warrington) Illingworth had two more hurdles in the first and second round before the opportunity of playing a professional team. Fortune favoured Illingworth as they were drawn at home at Masons Green for both rounds. The first-round proper was a tricky tie against Leeds team, Stanningley, and Illingworth were able to secure victory by 20-18. The second-round tie against a powerful Eccles & Salford Juniors side was just as close: this time Illingworth came out on top by 28-26.

Having come through these two home games, Illingworth were drawn away in the third round. Their professional opponents were to be Rochdale Hornets and the game played at Rochdale’s Spotland ground. The brutal reality of the chasm between the Pennine League and the professional game was laid bare on a day as the home side were victorious 120-4. The one game highlight was the solitary Illingworth try scored by Dean Williams. The team details are in the Rugby League Project.

To put the loss in context, Halifax posted 76 points against Castleford Lock Lane and several other professional teams scored in excess of 50 points in the Challenge Cup on the same day.

The season finished with yet another visit to the Halifax Cup Final which brought the 2004-05 season to a successful closure with captain Andy Laheney lifting the famous trophy.

There then followed a few fallow seasons which saw the team’s on field fortunes dip somewhat. There were highlights for individuals as a number of players went on to make a mark in the professional game. In 2012 the Williams brother’s Daley and Darren, were both on the Batley books, while Joe Wardle established himself as a Super League player at Huddersfield.

In 2012/13 under the coaching of Johny Taylor and Andy Greenway. the recent trend was reversed with an emphatic Pennine League Division Two Championship winning season and the team winning the Pennine League’s Andrew Bennett Memorial Trophy.

Progress continued the following season with a double title winning season for club as the first team grabbed Championship Division One honours following a last match 6-4 victory over title rivals Brighouse Rangers. The team also reached the Halifax Cup Final for the first time in eight years, going down to a four-point defeat to Rangers. A fine season was capped with a 24-12 victory over Halifax Irish in the Halifax Championship Final.

In 2015, Halifax Cup Winners in a close fought contest with Brighouse Rangers.

The Pennine League was home to Illingworth in the late 2010’s and into the 2019-20 winter season.

Illingworth joined the Yorkshire Mens League in Division 5 West in the 2021 season making the transition to summer Rugby League. They finished in an excellent 2^nd place after winning ten of their 12 games. The regionalised Division also included a reformed Todmorden as well as Brighouse Rangers “A” and King Cross Park Academy.

Firmly entrenched in the summer season, their good form continued into the next season finishing in 6^th position in a reorganised Division 2.

The Yorkshire Mens League seems to reorganise each year as in 2023 Illingworth were playing in Division 3 finishing in 4^th place. Moving up to Division 2 again for 2024 Illingworth finished in 5^th position.