Simon Owen has recently been selected for the BARLA (British Amateur Rugby League Association) Over 35’s tour to Dubai, which will take place in November. This tour is the culmination of a fantastic amateur career that has seen Simon play Amateur Rugby for three clubs over 25 years.

Simon started his career as green 18 year old, playing in the pack for West Bowling 2nd team, who continued to learn the game of Rugby League and in 1993 at the age of 21, the West Bowling 1st team coach, Dean Carroll gave him his chance to shine with the 1st team, but this time at full back, it was a switch of position that proved to be a great success, not only for Simon, but also for Bowling.

The results started to go West Bowling’s way, culminating in them reaching the Pennine League Cup Final, unfortunately losing out to Littleborough.

In the 1995-96 season when ex-Bradford Northern A team hooker Glenn Barraclough took over the reigns as Head Coach, West Bowling started to reap the benefits with numerous successes, both in the League and in various Cup Competitions. They won the Pennine Premier Division and the Bradford Cup, where Simon was named Man of the Match.

In 1997, Simon caught the eye of the Yorkshire selectors and was given his first representative honour, playing against Lancashire and Cumbria.

Playing in a successful West Bowling, was a delight for Simon, the team entered the National Conference and they climbed the divisional ladders to push for honours in the Premier Division, entering the National Conference also gave the Bowling side the opportunity to play in the early rounds of the Challenge Cup, indeed in early 2000’s, the team played a ‘home’ fixture, at Odsal Stadium, the home of the Bradford Bulls against Keighley Cougars, but one of Simon’s finest hours was when he gained the man of the match accolade against Batley Bulldogs at Mount Pleasant.

Simon had a special personal reason to celebrate 2005; the year saw the birth of his son, Harry. Who has since grown and is now looking to follow his dad in the game of Rugby League. 2005 also saw Simon leave the Bowling outfit and play for his home village team Wyke, a decision that not only rewarded Simon, but also saw the ‘Black and Whites’ gain three back to back titles in the Pennine League, winning Division 4, 3 and finally 2.
Under the stewardship of Graham Wood and Jason Hirst, Simon now in his mid-30’s, chose to play in the pack, this gave him a new lease of life and week after week he gained the recognition of the opposition, who awarded him with the Man of the Match award on several occasions, thus providing him with the Player of the Year Award on each of the promotion seasons.

In the 2006-07 season Wyke were rewarded with not only promotion from the Pennine League Division 3 but also a trip to ‘The Ram Stadium’ Dewsbury, as they reached the Final of the ‘Andy Bennett’ Pennine Cup. Despite leading in the 1st half to West Bowling, Wyke lost narrowly, but this was not going to be a cloud over what had been a great season.

Unfortunately after the 2007-08 season, Jason Hirst chose to leave the club and Simon threw his hat into the ring, to take the club forward as player / coach, this did not prove to be the best decision and half way through a difficult season, Simon chose to cease coaching the team and he moved back to West Bowling. In a strange twist of feat, on the penultimate game of the season, Wyke played against West Bowling and with victory they managed to stay in the 1st division.

The following season Simon moved on to Birkenshaw, to renew his ties with Jason Hirst, who had also moved to coach the East Bradford outfit, but after one season, he chose to come back and play for Wyke Rugby Club.

In the Simon’s 1st season back, he won the 2010 – 11 season Player of the Year, for his no-nonsense ‘Cumberland’ tackling style and his never ending driving, with it be in the teams own half, trying to get away from the ‘sticks’ or in the opposition half, looking to make a dent in the defensive line to create a try.

In the summer of 2011, Harry, Simons flamed haired son, chose to represent Wyke Rugby Clubs newly formed Emerging 8’s team and Simon followed suit, assisting John Rayner as coach and teaching the children the basics of Rugby League, except the ‘Cumberland throw’. Harry and Simon remained with this team for two seasons, until Harry chose to play for a team of his own age group and he has now gone on to play for Simon’s 1st ever team, West Bowling, and play for them at under 7’s level.

At the end of the 2012 – 13 season, Simon spoke on several occasions about that particular season being the final occasion when he would play Rugby League. Thankfully after one very short conversation with the Wyke Chairman, Jason Whomack, Simon intimated that if he managed to complete a full preseason, then he thought he would be able to hit the 2013 – 14 season running. This was a conversation that nobody would forget and indeed, Simon was true to his word, and thankfully, he is playing another season.

Thankfully, thanks to this conversation, Simon has been able to add another accolade to his career, after being selected to represent Yorkshire in the Over 35’s category, the BARLA management team, have also selected Simon to represent Great Britain in their Over 35’s team, that is touring Dubai at the end of November this year. One of the stipulations of selection is that the player must still be playing competitive Rugby League for an Amateur Club.

This will be the 4th occasion that the BARLA Great Britain Over 35’s team have entered the Dubai International Tournament, they team are entered into a satellite competition that play in the same stadium that the United Arab Emirates Rugby League team play. Although the tournament is a Rugby Union limited player’s event, the Rugby League outfit have represented themselves well, reaching the Semi-Final twice and the Quarter-Final last year, losing to the eventual winners.

BARLA Team Manager, Martyn Ward, himself an ex professional player and coach in the 80’s and early 90’s having signed from Rugby Union, says “ the concept is a good one, the opportunity to travel and play assists in keeping players, playing. We like to think we carry out an ambassadorial role for our version of the game and look forward to our November participation in the Dubai Tournament whilst making some firm friends and contacts among our Union colleagues who have always welcomed us with open arms”

Playing for Wyke open age on a Saturday, representing Yorkshire, against the dark sided teams of Lancashire and Cumbria and then playing for Great Britain at the age of 42 is a big ask of Simon’s, small frame, but he has achieved a tremendous accolade for an Amateur player and he is a terrific role model for any aspiring Rugby League Player.

Despite the trip being heavily subsidised, Simon has had to dig deep into his own pocket to fund the £750 trip, and thanks to the generosity of several individuals, Simon is well on the way to raising all the money.

Simon would like to thank the following individuals or companies.

Maurice Willan – The Gold Shop, on Wakefield Rd, Maurice donated Simon a Gold Watch, this was raffled off over three weeks,
The winning ticket was a ‘white’ ticket No. 954, thank you to everybody who purchased a ticket

Bob Willan, for all his help in this and last season

Paul and Sherran Mitchell of the Low Moor Club – the home of Wyke Rugby Club

David Stack – a local Wyke businessman

Birkenshaw A.R.F.L.C.

Wyke A.R.L.F.C.

If anybody or any businesses feel that they are able to assist Simon in raising this money then please feel free to speak to
Jason Whomack on 07774 429351

BARLA NEWS