The Reformed Club

Evie Godfrey

black and white photo of a team wearing their stripey kits, standing in front of a building

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The Reformed Club

It was almost a decade before St. Mary’s was reformed for the 1963-64 season joining the Halifax and District Rugby League. The club ran an open age team and in 1965-66 turned out an U17 team once again.

One well-known President of the St Mary’s club was Gerry Martin, a former wartime marine, who ran the Millers Inn public house where the club ran from for a period.

The team can be seen outside the pub with and without their supporters or maybe the committee. The photograph on the left shows the team outside the Millers Inn (aka Miller Arms)  public House with Tony Holroyd holding the ball. Back left is Peter Collins  who Joe Dunne describes as “really a darts player.”

The pub is now a private house.

St. Mary’s were in the Halifax and Huddersfield Joint Rugby League and played in Division 2.

However, it was reported that St Mary’s struggled for players and limped along throughout the 1960’s as they moved from public house to public house as their headquarters. There was also the idea that given the club’s name players needed to be Catholic which discouraged some from joining the club.

old colour photograph of the 1968 St Marys team, two rows of players wearing green and yellow kits with white shorts

The team photograph of St Marys was taken in May 1968. The coach in this season was Ray Illingworth. On the picture are:

Back (L to R): Mick Martin, Alan Crabtree, Rick Naylor, Martin Smith, Derek Longbottom, Alan Holdsworth, Chris Broadbent, Peter Sutcliffe, Joe Brennan,

Front: (L to R) Jeff Lord, Barry Bottomley, Nev Hoyle, Mick Gallagher, John Doyle, Richard Meridith, Tony Jessop.

St Marys did feature at Thrum Hall in Finals against Illingworth and against Greetland All Rounders. The photograph below is at the end of the game with Illingworth showing just a couple of St Marys player in the frame. Barry Bottomley is the player who had suffered broken arm during the game.

old black and white photo of players walking off the pitch

The other appearance at Thrum Hall was against Greetland All Rounders, a game in which former senior referee Jim Smith played for the All Rounders. Greetland went the whole season without losing a game! The final was a close encounter but Greetland triumphed.

old sepia team photo of team in two rows, wearing their kits, standing on the pitch

Sepia Team Photo: Back (L to R) Alan Crabtree, Martin Smith, Rick Naylor, Alan Holdsworth, Billy Bottomley, Mick Martin, Chris Broadbent, Sutcliffe
Front (L to R) unknown, Jeff Lord, Mick Gallagher, Nev Hoyle, T Holroyd, John Doyle, Tony Jessop