Clubs > King Cross Park > The New Century
The New Century
Park Amateurs started the new century in good form with the first team well established in the Pennine Premier Division. They had good juniors coming through although Eric Roberts together with Lea and Dave had moved on to Illingworth.
The results from the league were up and down but Park , coached again by Lee Greenwood, ended the 2000-01 season in mid table having won 8 of their 18 games.
Moving forward the club, with former Ovenden player Guy Greenwood, were playing well in the Premier division but were coming up short on the scoreboard at the beginning of the season. By November, a victory at the Barracks against Birkenshaw put Park back on track in the league. Steve Greenwood, John Gilligan and Ian Crawshaw were outstanding on that occasion. Park hosted Illingworth in the Halifax Cup and came up against former star player, Dave Roberts. The result was never really in doubt as Illingworth deserved their win. Park survived in the Premier division which was a success after an up and down season.
Park continued to play their Rugby League in the Pennine Premier Division for the 2002-03 season, this time under the coaching of Michael Hellowell. They beat bottom of the table Underbank in a poor game in Huddersfield and struggled to find a good vein of form. Coming up against local rivals, Illingworth, it was again their former star, Dave Roberts, who ran the show and in the end won the game with a conversion.
Park were not devoid of stars. There go to players were Simon and Gavin Lumb, Ian Crawshaw and Steve Greenwood, all of whom put in some great performances week in week out and were well supported by Chris Marsh, Michael Hellowell and Dan Steele.
There was no better luck in the BARLA National Cup when a rampant Oulton side arrived at the Barracks and trounced Park 32-0. As the early months of 2003 went by, Ovenden were the next victors over Park by 30-16 and then a revival. Victories over Underbank and shock win at Ovenden by 14-0 in terrible conditions. The close games continued – a 16-16 at Illingworth.
A moment in history was to take place on 12th April 2003. This would be the date of Park Amateurs last ever game at the Barracks. Park Amateurs had played at the ground for nearly three decades and were having to leave as the site was to become Halifax High School and building work was about to start. It was decided to end with a double header: both the first team and the “A” team would play and appropriately they would both play arch-rivals, Elland.
As reports of the game show, there was to be no fairy tale ending for Park Amateurs at the Barracks. Firstly, the council removed the posts the day before the game! Fortunately, Siddal were able to lend Park a set of posts at short notice. Secondly, there were no great victories for Park as first team lost by 34-8 and the “A” lost by 24-14.
The loss of the Barracks meant Park Amateurs needed to look for a new home ground. In August of 2003, Park confirmed that that they would be playing their home games at Old Crossleyan’s Kensington pitch and that they would use the Crossleyan’s changing facility and bar, keeping their pitch on Saville Park for when they have two home games. Park secretary, Graham Hellowell, told the Halifax Courier at the time, Park hoped to strengthen ties with King Cross Junior Rugby League club who are also based at Crossleyans. The move to Kensington was initially seen as a temporary move as Calderdale Council had not told the club if there would be a pitch for them at the new school site. The move also meant leaving the Horse and Jockey public house at Highroyd Well.
As if it were planned, Park’s first game at their new ground at Kensington, was again against fierce rivals Elland. Elland were in no mood to allow Park a dream start at their new ground and wrapped up the two league points with a 30-2 victory.
Park struggle for a few games but had a good home win against Emley in October 2003. Chris Marsh and Lee Gudor led the way. Both these players and teammate Ian Crawshaw were in the Halifax Inter Town team which defeated Wakefield. Park continued to struggle and even lost 2-0 at home to Queensbury.
The team continued to struggle into 2004 starting the year holding up the Premier Division. It was not until the end of January that Park on a game and that courtesy of veteran John Dunne who scored three tries! February saw Park win another game, this time in the BARLA National Cup against Wigan Bulldogs. The match was notable as Will Midgley and Thomas Shaw, from King Cross Juniors played in the first team for the first time.
The record books do not show the endeavour of the Park players, young and old, throughout a difficult season, but they do show that Park Amateurs were relegated to Division 1 for the 2004-05 season.
The new season brought in new coaches as Andy Law took over as Senior coach with Paul Wadsworth as his assistant. Their first game in charge was a success with a home victory over Thornhill (Dewsbury) by 24-18 and later in the season Park would complete the double 28-4. As the new year dawned and the season was halfway through Park were in a midtable position which they held to the end of the season. The same picture evolved for the next season as well and Park continued to play well, though losing games they should have won.