History
Sharlston is an old mining village situated between the rugby strongholds of Wakefield, Castleford and Featherstone, West Yorkshire. Rugby has been played on the same piece of land for well over 100 years. The ground was famously (or infamously) known for miles around as “Back o’t Wallâ€Â. Sharlston were founded around 1881, where results have been found, although no exact formation date can be found. They first started winning trophies back in 1895 when they were crowned Wakefield and District Champions.
Looking through the record books many famous Rugby League stars started on their trip to stardom from the village. Jonty Parkin was one of the all-time greats being captain of Great Britain in a thrilling Ashes victory in Australia in 1924. The famous Fox brothers, Peter, Don and Neil all hail from the village of Sharlston and learned their tricks at the ‘Back o’t Wall’. Herbert Goodfellow, one of the best scrum halves of his time also learned his football here. The village also boasts producing three Lance Todd trophy winners in Neil Fox (Wakefield v Huddersfield 1962), Carl Dooler (Featherstone v Barrow 1967) and Don Fox (Wakefield v Leeds 1968).
Sharlston have been a force within the amateur circles for many years and have especially turned head since the turn of the millennium. The 2001-02 season saw the appointment of Gordy Long and Dean Blankley who took Rovers to the Semi final of the Yorkshire cup missing out to Calderdale force Elland 17-6 at Headingley. The following season brought a new coaching partnership with Long being joined by Martyn Wood who was part of the 1998 Wigan beating challenge cup side of Sheffield Eagles. The team continued to do well in the Yorkshire Premier league and Wakefield cup competitions but the best was yet to come when in 2003 season Sharlston hit the headlines with their emphatic 30-28 challenge cup victory over Professional opposition Dewsbury Rams in the third round. The season continued in fine style getting to the semi final of the Yorkshire cup before adding the Yorkshire Premier Division, Yorkshire Senior cup and Wakefield City Plasterers Trophy to their list of honours.
Another successful season this time Jon Agar and Gordy Long at the helm gave Rovers another bulging trophy cabinet winning the Premier league once again and scooping all Wakefield District Cups. The team were rewarded for the their efforts of the season gaining passage to the Champion of Champions final at Blackpool where they were narrowly defeated by NWC champions Halton Simms Cross 12-13. The Long and Agar partnership continued into the 2005 season where the team had transferred to the Pennine League seeking more competition than available in the Yorkshire league. Christmas brought the Yorkshire Cup to Sharlston having beaten fellow Pennine team Queensbury 21-18 at Dewsbury Rams Stadium. In the same season Sharlston lifted the Pennine Presidents cup but fell at the final hurdle when competing for the league championship when Drighlington nipped the accolade with a winner takes all game at Drighlington. The following season ended the same but this time Rovers had the home advantage but lost out 10-12.
This season Sharlston are coached by Andy Fisher who has had professional experience at Dewsbury Rams and coached National Conference League side Eastmoor Dragons into the Premier league. Andy has assembled a strong team who remain unbeaten in their Pennine league campaign with their only loss to the hands of Queens in the Yorkshire Cup final.
In 2002/03 the club was boosted by the birth of an A team who have, since conception have been coached by John Brewerton. The ‘A’ team competed for their first 4 season in Yorkshire League Division 3 where they gained promotional in their final season although in 2006-07 season the ‘A’ team decided to join the first team in the Pennine league and reached the semi final of the Andy Bennet Memorial Trophy and the final of the Buildbase final in their most successful season.
Looking through the record books many famous Rugby League stars started on their trip to stardom from the village. Jonty Parkin was one of the all-time greats being captain of Great Britain in a thrilling Ashes victory in Australia in 1924. The famous Fox brothers, Peter, Don and Neil all hail from the village of Sharlston and learned their tricks at the ‘Back o’t Wall’. Herbert Goodfellow, one of the best scrum halves of his time also learned his football here. The village also boasts producing three Lance Todd trophy winners in Neil Fox (Wakefield v Huddersfield 1962), Carl Dooler (Featherstone v Barrow 1967) and Don Fox (Wakefield v Leeds 1968).
Sharlston have been a force within the amateur circles for many years and have especially turned head since the turn of the millennium. The 2001-02 season saw the appointment of Gordy Long and Dean Blankley who took Rovers to the Semi final of the Yorkshire cup missing out to Calderdale force Elland 17-6 at Headingley. The following season brought a new coaching partnership with Long being joined by Martyn Wood who was part of the 1998 Wigan beating challenge cup side of Sheffield Eagles. The team continued to do well in the Yorkshire Premier league and Wakefield cup competitions but the best was yet to come when in 2003 season Sharlston hit the headlines with their emphatic 30-28 challenge cup victory over Professional opposition Dewsbury Rams in the third round. The season continued in fine style getting to the semi final of the Yorkshire cup before adding the Yorkshire Premier Division, Yorkshire Senior cup and Wakefield City Plasterers Trophy to their list of honours.
Another successful season this time Jon Agar and Gordy Long at the helm gave Rovers another bulging trophy cabinet winning the Premier league once again and scooping all Wakefield District Cups. The team were rewarded for the their efforts of the season gaining passage to the Champion of Champions final at Blackpool where they were narrowly defeated by NWC champions Halton Simms Cross 12-13. The Long and Agar partnership continued into the 2005 season where the team had transferred to the Pennine League seeking more competition than available in the Yorkshire league. Christmas brought the Yorkshire Cup to Sharlston having beaten fellow Pennine team Queensbury 21-18 at Dewsbury Rams Stadium. In the same season Sharlston lifted the Pennine Presidents cup but fell at the final hurdle when competing for the league championship when Drighlington nipped the accolade with a winner takes all game at Drighlington. The following season ended the same but this time Rovers had the home advantage but lost out 10-12.
This season Sharlston are coached by Andy Fisher who has had professional experience at Dewsbury Rams and coached National Conference League side Eastmoor Dragons into the Premier league. Andy has assembled a strong team who remain unbeaten in their Pennine league campaign with their only loss to the hands of Queens in the Yorkshire Cup final.
In 2002/03 the club was boosted by the birth of an A team who have, since conception have been coached by John Brewerton. The ‘A’ team competed for their first 4 season in Yorkshire League Division 3 where they gained promotional in their final season although in 2006-07 season the ‘A’ team decided to join the first team in the Pennine league and reached the semi final of the Andy Bennet Memorial Trophy and the final of the Buildbase final in their most successful season.
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