Articles - Articles 1
Bradford Dudley Hill ARLFC – 30 Celebration night
Saturday 19th December 2009
Andy Harland addressed the members who were present, saying, it was great to see you all here tonight, enjoy yourselves and catch up with some of the guys who you may not have seen for a few years, great to see you all here , but as always we have few apologies which I will just read out;
Thanks for the e-mail - a real reminder of the past. Mind you I still can't walk past a leaning post without thinking about our stunning win over Elland! Unfortunately (although not surprisingly) I won't be able to make the 30th Anniversary party. Please pass on my warmest regards to all - particularly fellow members of the 1984 team. If OK with you, I will see if my dad can attend on my behalf. We will be coming over to England for a short visit in February - I'll try my best to drop by the club house for a pint and a chat then! Cheers to you all, Bob Jowett now living in Canada
Message from Mick Hawksworth, staff Christmas party, would have loved to be there, have a great night
Message from Danny Lockwood, another one who is at a Christmas party at his wife’s business, have a great night best wishes to all
Andy Bradley, have fun, love to be there but unavailable sorry, have a drink for me!!!!!
Apologies from John Exley, Ray Priestley, Rodger Burnham who were unable to get to the club on the night.
The Formal part of the night was introduced by Andy Harland
Introduction of memories sheets by Andy Harland who called for a 1 minute silence for the guys who are no longer are here, supper to be served around 8.45pm with a few memories read out throughout the night, DVDs of the Regal Trophy game vs Dewsbury in 1992 and the Hull Challenge cup game in 1985 will be shown, I apologise we will not be having any sound, we also will be showing the 1984 BARLA cup final if we have time.
We had some great coaches and players around this time including the great Maurice Bamford who helped us in the aftermath of dealing with the Neil Hunt tragedy and who we all owe a great debt of Gratitude, Maurice went on to Coach Great Britain, Leeds and Wigan, not bad for somebody sacked at Dudley Hill, Still not sure if he gets his Yorkshire puddings on Sundays!!! And his clock still hangs behind the bar to this day “TACKLING TIME”
Another top coach was a bloke called Ken Audsley; he was also one of the building blocks for future success. What a set of characters we had then, big Stan Seaman, Dave Flaherty, Ronald Michael Dobson, Geoff Greenwood, the “Panther” our own Dicky, Monty Denton, tough tackling Dave Hogg, Barry Taylor and Darrell Hanslip
Reminder that we will start at 8.45pm supper will be served, enjoy!!!!
Importance of the evening was to share with each other the great stories of coaches and characters the club has had over the last 30 years, these include the great Albert Fearnley, the certainly fearsome Tony Fisher and probably the most successful decade the club has ever had, was the 1984, 85, 86 sides, they set the bar they won the lot with, local regional and National titles, we had great Internationals players like Mark Todd, Ray Priestley and Kev Whiteley and fantastic players like Albert Hannah, Bob Jowett, Barry Holden, Andy Meakin, Adrian Collett, a young Gary Brentley, and an even younger Phil Helliwell, many of whom gave great service to the club, others who chose to peruse a professional career with great success, we had Graham Hallas who went on to be our first Great Britain Professional tourist in 1992 and in the late 90s Henry Sharp and Mick Keebles, all of whom received quality coaching from the likes of Garth Budge, Mick Doyle (coach of the 84 team) and Peter Roe, who clinched the NCL title in the start of the new decade in 1990 before decimating the team, by taking most of the team and coaching staff with him when he took the job at Halifax.
•Raise your glasses to the last 30 Years of the life of all our past and current junior players, open age players male and female and coaches, managers and supporters
Kelvin’s Locketts team rose from the ashes of the decimated side we lost in 1990, we were to make the National cup final at the end of 1992 to go down agonisingly to a dubious try, great players in this team included the long standing John Exley, (did he really play in the Pennine Cup final 1979 and played last summer in Australia for the touring Masters GB team) we had Stuart Tighe, sadly to lose his leg in a tragic accident, Richard Tiffany and Craig Hillam.
Their was also the great team that played and beat professional teams York and Keighley in the RL Challenge Cup, we had some really special players, but all was built on the hard core of the juniors we have developed at our club.
Announcement of the toast to the players/members, who dug the well that we all have drunk from for the last thirty years, we honoured the names of Frank Hodgson, Vinnie Heslop, Bernard Dotchin, Clifford Turnpenny, Rodger Burnham, Ronnie Dobson, Andy Harland, Fred Berry and Mark Tordoff in 2008. Ladies and Gentlemen the “The men who dug the Well” thank you
The legacy continued with a short excursion into the summer era, success in this laid the foundations of our side today, quality junior coaching from our own Kelvin Lockett, who I think has coached almost every player we have had at some time over the last 30 years, what an effort for our Chairman, our team now includes a very healthy sprinkling of former juniors like the three Dickinson brothers, the sublime Lewis Evans, Antony Huby and another try scoring freak Neil Wall, not forgetting the rich talents of former juniors, Craig Kcopzac, David Halley and Neil Cherryholme, mention of coaches in the 0's include Chris Robinson who came back and performed a great job as coach, Jason Hoyland who did a difficult job in 2008/09 but got us back on track.
As for the next decade most of it is in the hands for Kelvin, Jason Lee, Steve Pryce and Kevin Whiteley, and the terrific young junior players following in the footsteps of the giants of our clubs history, they need our support, guidance and encouragement to continue to drive the club forward, but they can not do it by them selves, its need everybody to row in the same direction, strong leadership and a steady ship to continue this great memorial to a fantastic young player who is no longer with us – Please raise your glasses to NEIL HUNT and BRADFORD DUDLEY HILL. Enjoy the rest of your night.
A presentation of a framed picture of Neil Hunt was presented to the club from Terry and Audrey Hunt; this will be put on show for all to see in a prominent area for all to see.
In attendance were:
Chief Guests - Terry & Audrey Hunt
Ian (1984 Player) and Shirley Dickinson
Andy (1984 Player) and Andrea Harland
Barry Holden (1984 Player)
Mark Todd (1984 Player)
Andy Meakin (1984 Player)
David Hall (1984 Player)
Sean Sarsfield (1984 Player)
Adrian Collett (1984 Player)
Ian (1984 Physio) and Andrea McPherson
Rachel Hodgson (Wife of Chairman Frank of 1984 final team)
Barry Heslop (Committeeman of 1984 team)
Jason Hoyland
Kelvin and Julie Lockett
Andy and Pam Dawes
Jason Lee
Jane and Jose
Tony Vickers
Scott and Kelly
Dave and Heather Jones
Lewis Evans
Ryan Dickinson
Antony Huby
Darren and Keith Mumby
Liam Brentley
Gary Brentley
Kevin Whiteley
Paul Cotter
Mickey Glenn
Martin Brooks
Dave Fairburn
Dave and Denise Holstead
Andrew Carroll
Eric and Linda Tyman
Craig Tyman
Evening was brought to a close with a call for a further reunion to take place in 2010, watch this space
Players present were requested to fill in some sheets to commemorate some memories of the past 30 years below these memories have been captured below, enjoy!!!
“Being in labour with Neil, totally alone all day, while everybody was having a great time at the club on the opening day September 1st 1979” Andrea Harland
“When all my boys were chosen to play first team for the same club their dad played for, and getting pissed with big Stan Seaman and Dave Flaherty and all the wonderful friends I have made over the years” Shirley Dickinson
“I have so many happy memories but it was for me playing at the Boulevard in 1985 against the Starr spangled Hull FC the year after they had played in the 1984 Wembley best ever final against Wigan, Hull had 12 International players playing that day including all time great such as Lee Crooks and Gary Schoefield, it was also Gary Brentley's last game, before he signed for Bradford Northern, and he had a blinder, but it was the occasion that got me and the atmosphere at the Boulevard and the terrific performance and the support we had from all our friends and family on a freezing wet and snowy night in February” Andy Harland
“Winning the National cup in 1984, breeding the next line of Dickinson’s for the Hill, as for the 1990s does not remember anything, he was drunk for 10 years, as for the 2000s beating Keighley in the Challenge Cup was a great effort”. Ian Dickinson
“Started at the club in 1990 at U12s, winning Championship at Post Office Road Featherstone at U17s, then getting a shot at first team and getting promotion in 2007” Andrew Kilmartin
“Winning the NCL and playing for Yorkshire, making some great mates for Life” Kevin Whiteley
“Playing first team for the first time, beating Siddal in the U17s Championship with the mighty Kelvin Lockett in charge of us, hearing Chris Robinson moan, moan, moan” Darren Mumby
“Training with my son (Darren) at Dudley Hill and finally playing 1 game together” the legend that is Keith Mumby, former Bradford Northern, Yorkshire and Great Britain all time great.
“1976, Maurice Bamford becoming coach, moving from the De Lacy to the Neil Hunt Memorial Ground, winning in the 1980s the National cup, Yorkshire cup and playing professional clubs Hull and Keighley and giving a good account of ourselves, in the 1990s enjoying the moment bringing the kids on in the Pennine League and finally in the 2000s watching and supporting the next generation of Dudley Hill stars” Andy Meakin
“Building our clubhouse, Monty Denton’s dummy pass, the Slalom Lager (meet the legends) night, the company of Frank Hodgson, Cliff Turnpenny, Vinny Heslop, Fred Hardcastle and Albert Hartley, my first team debut in the 1990s and finally playing first team still at the age of 37” Andrew Dawes
"in 1980s Bacos’ baby chin and Robo's ginger pubes, fast forward to 1990s and the National Cup final we lost, despite being dropped, but highlights were Beating Keighley Cougars, and coaching first team and destroying West Bowling in 2008” Jason Hoyland
“Running around field with my milk crate, Bob Jowett’s amazing try in the National Cup semi final in 1984, Beating Keighley in the Challenge Cup” Greg Peacock
“Just playing rugby with the lads” Adrian Collett
“Leaving West Bowling juniors to move to Dudley Hill, first team winning the National Cup, my son deciding rugby league was his game and BDH was his club, but without doubt beating Keighley and BDH getting back in NCL” Dave Fairburn
“Moving to the Neil Hunt Memorial Ground, I joined the club in 1978, the final at Blackpool in 1984, winning the NCL for the first time, beating Keighley in the Challenge cup, after they refused to play us at our home ground even though we came out first, this was by favourite moment as I was also team manager” Martin Brook
“Getting changed at the De Lacy, Andy Harland persuading me to play for Dudley Hill in 1973, being trained by Maurice Bamford and Garth Budge, and no doubt, beating Keighley in the RL Challenge Cup and winning the National League division 3 title in 2006/07” Eric Tyman
“Coming to the club with my brother Stuart McPherson, and being conned into taking on the Physio job, best job ever, being re-christened Wally!!! The National Cup in Blackpool, nursing Gary Priestley who was concussed in the final and could not remember a thing!!, playing Hull FC at the Boulevard as the first amateur teams back in the RL Challenge Cup in 1985, Having a great time, carrying on as Physio and getting the second best job ever coaching the first Thunderbirds teams” Ian McPherson (WALLY)
Saturday 19th December 2009
Andy Harland addressed the members who were present, saying, it was great to see you all here tonight, enjoy yourselves and catch up with some of the guys who you may not have seen for a few years, great to see you all here , but as always we have few apologies which I will just read out;
Thanks for the e-mail - a real reminder of the past. Mind you I still can't walk past a leaning post without thinking about our stunning win over Elland! Unfortunately (although not surprisingly) I won't be able to make the 30th Anniversary party. Please pass on my warmest regards to all - particularly fellow members of the 1984 team. If OK with you, I will see if my dad can attend on my behalf. We will be coming over to England for a short visit in February - I'll try my best to drop by the club house for a pint and a chat then! Cheers to you all, Bob Jowett now living in Canada
Message from Mick Hawksworth, staff Christmas party, would have loved to be there, have a great night
Message from Danny Lockwood, another one who is at a Christmas party at his wife’s business, have a great night best wishes to all
Andy Bradley, have fun, love to be there but unavailable sorry, have a drink for me!!!!!
Apologies from John Exley, Ray Priestley, Rodger Burnham who were unable to get to the club on the night.
The Formal part of the night was introduced by Andy Harland
Introduction of memories sheets by Andy Harland who called for a 1 minute silence for the guys who are no longer are here, supper to be served around 8.45pm with a few memories read out throughout the night, DVDs of the Regal Trophy game vs Dewsbury in 1992 and the Hull Challenge cup game in 1985 will be shown, I apologise we will not be having any sound, we also will be showing the 1984 BARLA cup final if we have time.
We had some great coaches and players around this time including the great Maurice Bamford who helped us in the aftermath of dealing with the Neil Hunt tragedy and who we all owe a great debt of Gratitude, Maurice went on to Coach Great Britain, Leeds and Wigan, not bad for somebody sacked at Dudley Hill, Still not sure if he gets his Yorkshire puddings on Sundays!!! And his clock still hangs behind the bar to this day “TACKLING TIME”
Another top coach was a bloke called Ken Audsley; he was also one of the building blocks for future success. What a set of characters we had then, big Stan Seaman, Dave Flaherty, Ronald Michael Dobson, Geoff Greenwood, the “Panther” our own Dicky, Monty Denton, tough tackling Dave Hogg, Barry Taylor and Darrell Hanslip
Reminder that we will start at 8.45pm supper will be served, enjoy!!!!
Importance of the evening was to share with each other the great stories of coaches and characters the club has had over the last 30 years, these include the great Albert Fearnley, the certainly fearsome Tony Fisher and probably the most successful decade the club has ever had, was the 1984, 85, 86 sides, they set the bar they won the lot with, local regional and National titles, we had great Internationals players like Mark Todd, Ray Priestley and Kev Whiteley and fantastic players like Albert Hannah, Bob Jowett, Barry Holden, Andy Meakin, Adrian Collett, a young Gary Brentley, and an even younger Phil Helliwell, many of whom gave great service to the club, others who chose to peruse a professional career with great success, we had Graham Hallas who went on to be our first Great Britain Professional tourist in 1992 and in the late 90s Henry Sharp and Mick Keebles, all of whom received quality coaching from the likes of Garth Budge, Mick Doyle (coach of the 84 team) and Peter Roe, who clinched the NCL title in the start of the new decade in 1990 before decimating the team, by taking most of the team and coaching staff with him when he took the job at Halifax.
•Raise your glasses to the last 30 Years of the life of all our past and current junior players, open age players male and female and coaches, managers and supporters
Kelvin’s Locketts team rose from the ashes of the decimated side we lost in 1990, we were to make the National cup final at the end of 1992 to go down agonisingly to a dubious try, great players in this team included the long standing John Exley, (did he really play in the Pennine Cup final 1979 and played last summer in Australia for the touring Masters GB team) we had Stuart Tighe, sadly to lose his leg in a tragic accident, Richard Tiffany and Craig Hillam.
Their was also the great team that played and beat professional teams York and Keighley in the RL Challenge Cup, we had some really special players, but all was built on the hard core of the juniors we have developed at our club.
Announcement of the toast to the players/members, who dug the well that we all have drunk from for the last thirty years, we honoured the names of Frank Hodgson, Vinnie Heslop, Bernard Dotchin, Clifford Turnpenny, Rodger Burnham, Ronnie Dobson, Andy Harland, Fred Berry and Mark Tordoff in 2008. Ladies and Gentlemen the “The men who dug the Well” thank you
The legacy continued with a short excursion into the summer era, success in this laid the foundations of our side today, quality junior coaching from our own Kelvin Lockett, who I think has coached almost every player we have had at some time over the last 30 years, what an effort for our Chairman, our team now includes a very healthy sprinkling of former juniors like the three Dickinson brothers, the sublime Lewis Evans, Antony Huby and another try scoring freak Neil Wall, not forgetting the rich talents of former juniors, Craig Kcopzac, David Halley and Neil Cherryholme, mention of coaches in the 0's include Chris Robinson who came back and performed a great job as coach, Jason Hoyland who did a difficult job in 2008/09 but got us back on track.
As for the next decade most of it is in the hands for Kelvin, Jason Lee, Steve Pryce and Kevin Whiteley, and the terrific young junior players following in the footsteps of the giants of our clubs history, they need our support, guidance and encouragement to continue to drive the club forward, but they can not do it by them selves, its need everybody to row in the same direction, strong leadership and a steady ship to continue this great memorial to a fantastic young player who is no longer with us – Please raise your glasses to NEIL HUNT and BRADFORD DUDLEY HILL. Enjoy the rest of your night.
A presentation of a framed picture of Neil Hunt was presented to the club from Terry and Audrey Hunt; this will be put on show for all to see in a prominent area for all to see.
In attendance were:
Chief Guests - Terry & Audrey Hunt
Ian (1984 Player) and Shirley Dickinson
Andy (1984 Player) and Andrea Harland
Barry Holden (1984 Player)
Mark Todd (1984 Player)
Andy Meakin (1984 Player)
David Hall (1984 Player)
Sean Sarsfield (1984 Player)
Adrian Collett (1984 Player)
Ian (1984 Physio) and Andrea McPherson
Rachel Hodgson (Wife of Chairman Frank of 1984 final team)
Barry Heslop (Committeeman of 1984 team)
Jason Hoyland
Kelvin and Julie Lockett
Andy and Pam Dawes
Jason Lee
Jane and Jose
Tony Vickers
Scott and Kelly
Dave and Heather Jones
Lewis Evans
Ryan Dickinson
Antony Huby
Darren and Keith Mumby
Liam Brentley
Gary Brentley
Kevin Whiteley
Paul Cotter
Mickey Glenn
Martin Brooks
Dave Fairburn
Dave and Denise Holstead
Andrew Carroll
Eric and Linda Tyman
Craig Tyman
Evening was brought to a close with a call for a further reunion to take place in 2010, watch this space
Players present were requested to fill in some sheets to commemorate some memories of the past 30 years below these memories have been captured below, enjoy!!!
“Being in labour with Neil, totally alone all day, while everybody was having a great time at the club on the opening day September 1st 1979” Andrea Harland
“When all my boys were chosen to play first team for the same club their dad played for, and getting pissed with big Stan Seaman and Dave Flaherty and all the wonderful friends I have made over the years” Shirley Dickinson
“I have so many happy memories but it was for me playing at the Boulevard in 1985 against the Starr spangled Hull FC the year after they had played in the 1984 Wembley best ever final against Wigan, Hull had 12 International players playing that day including all time great such as Lee Crooks and Gary Schoefield, it was also Gary Brentley's last game, before he signed for Bradford Northern, and he had a blinder, but it was the occasion that got me and the atmosphere at the Boulevard and the terrific performance and the support we had from all our friends and family on a freezing wet and snowy night in February” Andy Harland
“Winning the National cup in 1984, breeding the next line of Dickinson’s for the Hill, as for the 1990s does not remember anything, he was drunk for 10 years, as for the 2000s beating Keighley in the Challenge Cup was a great effort”. Ian Dickinson
“Started at the club in 1990 at U12s, winning Championship at Post Office Road Featherstone at U17s, then getting a shot at first team and getting promotion in 2007” Andrew Kilmartin
“Winning the NCL and playing for Yorkshire, making some great mates for Life” Kevin Whiteley
“Playing first team for the first time, beating Siddal in the U17s Championship with the mighty Kelvin Lockett in charge of us, hearing Chris Robinson moan, moan, moan” Darren Mumby
“Training with my son (Darren) at Dudley Hill and finally playing 1 game together” the legend that is Keith Mumby, former Bradford Northern, Yorkshire and Great Britain all time great.
“1976, Maurice Bamford becoming coach, moving from the De Lacy to the Neil Hunt Memorial Ground, winning in the 1980s the National cup, Yorkshire cup and playing professional clubs Hull and Keighley and giving a good account of ourselves, in the 1990s enjoying the moment bringing the kids on in the Pennine League and finally in the 2000s watching and supporting the next generation of Dudley Hill stars” Andy Meakin
“Building our clubhouse, Monty Denton’s dummy pass, the Slalom Lager (meet the legends) night, the company of Frank Hodgson, Cliff Turnpenny, Vinny Heslop, Fred Hardcastle and Albert Hartley, my first team debut in the 1990s and finally playing first team still at the age of 37” Andrew Dawes
"in 1980s Bacos’ baby chin and Robo's ginger pubes, fast forward to 1990s and the National Cup final we lost, despite being dropped, but highlights were Beating Keighley Cougars, and coaching first team and destroying West Bowling in 2008” Jason Hoyland
“Running around field with my milk crate, Bob Jowett’s amazing try in the National Cup semi final in 1984, Beating Keighley in the Challenge Cup” Greg Peacock
“Just playing rugby with the lads” Adrian Collett
“Leaving West Bowling juniors to move to Dudley Hill, first team winning the National Cup, my son deciding rugby league was his game and BDH was his club, but without doubt beating Keighley and BDH getting back in NCL” Dave Fairburn
“Moving to the Neil Hunt Memorial Ground, I joined the club in 1978, the final at Blackpool in 1984, winning the NCL for the first time, beating Keighley in the Challenge cup, after they refused to play us at our home ground even though we came out first, this was by favourite moment as I was also team manager” Martin Brook
“Getting changed at the De Lacy, Andy Harland persuading me to play for Dudley Hill in 1973, being trained by Maurice Bamford and Garth Budge, and no doubt, beating Keighley in the RL Challenge Cup and winning the National League division 3 title in 2006/07” Eric Tyman
“Coming to the club with my brother Stuart McPherson, and being conned into taking on the Physio job, best job ever, being re-christened Wally!!! The National Cup in Blackpool, nursing Gary Priestley who was concussed in the final and could not remember a thing!!, playing Hull FC at the Boulevard as the first amateur teams back in the RL Challenge Cup in 1985, Having a great time, carrying on as Physio and getting the second best job ever coaching the first Thunderbirds teams” Ian McPherson (WALLY)
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