CLUB HISTORY

Although the open age section was only formed in 1999 junior rugby had been played at the Hunslet club (formally Hunslet Boys Club) since the 1940's
Hunslet Parkside was formed in 1978 when a split took place at Hunslet Juniors who in turn were formed in 1973 after the demise of the Hunslet proffesional club.
Between them the clubs have produced hundreds of players for the proffessional game from the likes of Mick Shoebottom, Alfie Barron, to the modern day greats of Gary Schofield, Jason Robinson, Jamie Lowes, Wayne Heron, Graham King, Dave Creaser, Karl Pratt,Chev Walker. With many other players too many to name individually still playing in the proffessional game both in super league and the championships including Carl Ablett and Paul McShane.

The open age section of the club was formed in 1999 when the under 18's side at the Hunslet Boys club became too old for Youth rugby but decided they would like to stay togther at open age as most had played together since being nine years of age and the Hunslet Old Boys were formed.

The early years were tough and we were forced to move to play games on Pepper road and change at the Garden Gate but Kevin Bew and Alwyn Whittaker never gave up and ran the club single handed to ensure it survived.

Honours were won but more importantly a team and club spirit was built which still remains to this day.

We moved back to the Club and changed social bases to the Gardeners Arms in the early years of the millennium and have continued to prosper ever since.

In 2010 with the opening of the new bar facilities at the club we moved back full time and completed our full circle, this enabled us to improve everything we did from Training, managing and fundraising and over the coming years by careful use and care we managed to dramatically improve the condition of the pitch.

Juniors were what we now required and we were approached by Hunslet Parkside juniors in 2012 about a possible merger, long discussions took place and after months of talks the merger went ahead with the decision taken to run the younger teams from the club then moving up to Parkside as they get Older.

In September 2013 we were approached about the possibility of joining the NCL, after passing the selection process we declined the offer to give us time to make sure we were ready both on and off the pitch.

In July 2014 we applied for the 2015 season and were accepted, panic set in but after a lot of hard work by a dedicated committee and bunch of helpers we now look on at a pitch and fenced ground as good as any in the League, our training and social facilities are second to none and we have a great working relationship with all sections at the Hunslet club.

For the working of the club and with juniors coming on board it was decided that to make administration easier it would be easier to rename the club and Hunslet Club Parkside was formed.
although we will always and proudly so be known as The Old Boys

Two people must take credit for the building of the senior club they were there at the start over 25years ago and are still heavily involved now helping coach and with first aid for both the winter and A team without them we would not have what we have today.
And two people more than any must take credit for the junior side, over the last thirty years they have seen hundreds of players sign proffesional as well as lead lives away from crime due to rugby league