Wainstalls
Wainstalls were a new club formed in 1993, growing out of the Cat i’th’ Well pub workshops entrants, though the wheels had been set in motion at the nearby Crossroads hostelry until its landlord moved on. Instrumental was Sandra Beaumont having been spurred on by a group of lads wanting to play friendlies.
They progressed beyond that to the Pennine League where, despite having to play their home fixtures at the exposed Roils Head, one of the last teams to suffer that fate, they persevered for longer than many others.
Players joined Wainstalls from several clubs including Calder Valley and Ovenden, with former Ovenden player Tony Williams becoming coach. They won the Division 4 Championship and Handicap Cup in 1994-95, their second season.
Darren Dewhirst, Mick Dewhirst, Richard Moody, Marcus Dawson, Andrew Greenaway, Dave Samples, Dave Cuff, Derick Danks, Scott Walker, Nigel Dean, Tony Atkins, Glen Patrice, Junior Lawrence, Tony Williams, Ian Walker, Mark Charnock, Lee Brook.
They steadily progressed over the following seasons, reaching the semi-final of the Halifax Cup in 1996-7. That season they finished 4th in Division 3 winning 11out of 18 games. Other ex-Ovenden players followed Tony to Wainstalls. Amongst them was Junior Lawrence who scored 38 tries in the first season and crossing the whitewash 83 times in total for the club.
Wainstalls decided to run an “A” team for the 1995-96 season as they regularly had over 40 players at their mid-week training sessions. The “A “team went well in their first season and they finished 5th in Pennine Alliance Division 3 winning 10 of their 21 games.
Training was sensibly moved away from Roils Head to a floodlit astro-turf pitch at Luddendenfoot, then to a car park in Halifax town centre, while use was also made of the former Wainstalls cricket field. They continued until 1998, those players wishing to continue playing mainly joining Illingworth.
Committeeman, Graham Walker, has fond memories of his time at Wainstalls having himself played Rugby League in his early years at Park Amateurs U14’s and turning out in the Halifax Workshop Competition in 1970 at Thrum Hall. Graham remembers the terrible weather conditions up at Roils Head with visiting team being uncertain as to the sense in playing.
“Always a good victory on days like that!”
Graham commented.
Playing up at the heights of Roils Head brought constant challenges. One game in November 1994, when Stainland Stags were the visitors, had the kick off delayed by 30 minutes as the referee waited for the fog to clear! Once it did, the game took place in driving rain. For the record, Wainstalls won the game by 32 points to nil.
Graham also stressed the camaraderie on the club away days with visits to clubs such as Prospect Warriors (Sheffield) and Dalton being highlights of the season.
As with all clubs and teams, Wainstalls had days when players could not make the game. Graham recounted the strangest ever excuse for a player not being available as he received a call to be told “Me worms have escaped!” from a player who ran a worm farm.
When Roils Head became unavailable as Calderdale council announced their intention to sell the land for housing, Wainstalls were forced to move home ground and moved to playing on Saville Park in Halifax. They still went back to the Crossroads pub at Wainstalls after each home game. This change of venue, some 5 miles from Wainstalls, led to player number reducing and it became an inconvenience for everyone to travel the 5 miles back for the post-match food and drink. The decision was taken at the end of the season 1997-98 to fold the club. With the demise of Wainstalls many players moved on to play at Illingworth.