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History
Lindley Swifts were originally formed in 1884, disbanded in 1939 and re-formed in 1992. The club had been most successful during its period in the amateur leagues, in the years between 1884, up to the 1938-39 season; the season in which they disbanded.
Lindley Swifts played in the Leeds & Districts League against clubs like Sharlston Rovers. They played in this league because the team was open age and the
Huddersfield & Districts League at that time was an under 21 age group.
The black & white hoops became renowned in amateur rugby circles as Lindley mixed it - along with delightfully named clubs like Flimby and Fothergill, Half-Acre Trinity and Twelve Apostles - with the big boys in the Challenge Cup. Lindley lost 32-2 to the mighty St Helens in the first round of the cup in 1928-29 and took on, and almost beat, Rochdale Hornets 2 years later. 'The Hornets' won 13-2 in the first round tie, with the Swifts putting up a great
performance. Those performances, once consigned forever the annals of history,
have rightly returned to the spotlight as rugby league returns to Lindley. All those
who yearn to see the game prosper and develop will wish the Swifts well on their
return from the 'grave'. All the old timers I talked to when I am in the town all say what a great side Lindley had and their eyes sparkle when they recall the challenge cup game with Rochdale and when St Helens paid their £100 (£10,000 in today's value) to switch the venue from Lindley. The late Johnny Hancock would laugh when he said
"if you couldn't get in the Lindley Swifts side, you turned professional." However in 1939 the pitch was turned into an allotment to grow vegetables for the war effort.
Our future aims are to work together and bring a successful ARL team back to Lindley. As most people are aware, the new club is based at Birchancliffe Cricket
Club and currently plays all home games at Bay Athletic, Salendine Nook.
No club can be a success and progress without juniors and this is why we have
reformed an junior side and hope that we will develop a stronger junior set up in the club to secure our future.
Lindley Swifts played in the Leeds & Districts League against clubs like Sharlston Rovers. They played in this league because the team was open age and the
Huddersfield & Districts League at that time was an under 21 age group.
The black & white hoops became renowned in amateur rugby circles as Lindley mixed it - along with delightfully named clubs like Flimby and Fothergill, Half-Acre Trinity and Twelve Apostles - with the big boys in the Challenge Cup. Lindley lost 32-2 to the mighty St Helens in the first round of the cup in 1928-29 and took on, and almost beat, Rochdale Hornets 2 years later. 'The Hornets' won 13-2 in the first round tie, with the Swifts putting up a great
performance. Those performances, once consigned forever the annals of history,
have rightly returned to the spotlight as rugby league returns to Lindley. All those
who yearn to see the game prosper and develop will wish the Swifts well on their
return from the 'grave'. All the old timers I talked to when I am in the town all say what a great side Lindley had and their eyes sparkle when they recall the challenge cup game with Rochdale and when St Helens paid their £100 (£10,000 in today's value) to switch the venue from Lindley. The late Johnny Hancock would laugh when he said
"if you couldn't get in the Lindley Swifts side, you turned professional." However in 1939 the pitch was turned into an allotment to grow vegetables for the war effort.
Our future aims are to work together and bring a successful ARL team back to Lindley. As most people are aware, the new club is based at Birchancliffe Cricket
Club and currently plays all home games at Bay Athletic, Salendine Nook.
No club can be a success and progress without juniors and this is why we have
reformed an junior side and hope that we will develop a stronger junior set up in the club to secure our future.