After very little time to get a new club off the ground, Geoff Gunney and his colleagues saw the New Hunslet team take the field for the first time in a league match at Keighley in 1973. Kenny Sykes and Mick Williams scored tries and David Teasdale two goals but it was not enough to prevent a 10-19 loss.
In February 1980 Hunslet had been informed they would be losing their home of the last seven seasons as their Landlords, Leeds Greyhounds Association Ltd., had sold out to the Ladbroke Group who intended selling the ground for housing. They stated they would continue at a new ground. The search for a new venue took in a proposal to move lock, stock and barrel to Selhurst Park, the home of Crystal Palace AFC. This came about after the admission to the league of Fulham RLFC playing out of Craven Park. Hunslet later said they were looking at Leeds United’s Elland Road Stadium and Crystal Palace were to continue their application for membership but as a stand-alone new club. Hunslet finally settled on Mount Pleasant, Batley. The Rugby League ratified the decision for one season only. The rent would be £300 a game and today in 1980 was the first “home” game – against Doncaster.in the Yorkshire Cup. The omens were good as they opened their account with a 22-4 victory, It was proposed to play the “A” team games at Buslingthorpe Vale but this was turned down as the ground was not deemed up to Yorkshire Senior Competition standards. The “A” Team would become “nomads” for a season.
The programme for this first game told us that Doncaster had former Hunslet players John Buckton, Keith Edwards, Graham Ellis and Stuart Matthews playing for them this season. Geoff Wright was Supporter’s Club First Team Player of The Year the previous season, Graham King got the second team award and John Hirst the Colts with Glen Dawson runner-up. There was also something called “Motorola Sponsored Awards” which for the life of me I can’t remember – perhaps somebody can enlighten us as to how the top three of Tony Dean, Geoff Wright and Tony Handforth qualified for their awards?
Geoff Wright
On debut were three notable players. Probably the most well known was winger Peter Muscroft who had signed from Pontefract RU. His debut at Bramley saw him touch down twice on the way to 14 for the season, a new tries in a season record for the re-formed club. He would become New Hunslet’s first player to get international recognition when he played for the Under 24s. He played 116 games and scored 51 tries – a good return on the tight Greyhound Stadium pitch. In 1981 he transferred to Hull Kingston Rovers and later Featherstone Rovers and Wakefield Trinity.
Peter Muscroft
The first game at Mount Pleasant saw the debut of Mark Burgess. He had signed from Hunslet Colts and was with Hunslet until 1984 when he transferred to Rochdale Hornets after a loan spell with Oldham. He played 86 games for Hunslet. Mark’s four sons would go on to have careers as the very top of the game in later years.
Mark Burgess
A try scorer in the 2014 Grand Final, winger James Duckworth made his bow today in August that year against York City Knights. He had transferred in from London Broncos and in 2016 played for Featherstone Rovers before returning in 2017. He played 43 games and scored 17 tries for Hunslet.
James Duckworth
In 1939 Welsh half back Oliver Morris transferred to Leeds and was registered today. His fee was £1,000 with a further £500 payable if war had not broken out in two months’ time. Unfortunately war broke out in September so the additional fee wasn’t paid. Sadly, Oliver did not survive the war, losing his life in Italy in 1944.
Oliver Morris
Signing on today in 1962 was Cliff Lambert from Featherstone Rovers. He only played six games for the Parksiders but one of those was the Yorkshire Cup Final where he gained a winner’s medal.
Cliff Lambert
The 1957/58 season opened today and the programme for the first match at home to Doncaster reported that Mrs Benson’s cottage had been demolished and work was proceeding on the new Spion Cop but would require many thousands of tons to be tipped. Ground capacity would be over 30,000 when complete. No new signings were reported and chairman H E Rawson was congratulated on being the recent Tour Manager. Jack Evans returned to the club as “A” Team coach. Ex-player and “A” team coach Laurie Gant was in charge of Doncaster.
The programme for the opening game of 1975/76 season (home to Bramley) commented on the hot dry summer we’d had and the unsuitability of that weather for Summer Rugby. A new drainage system had been installed to try and improve ground conditions through the winter. Attendances of 2,500 would be needed but this was only achieved on a small number of occasions. Arnie Long and Bak Diabira were new incoming players, Mick Williams was returning after an arm injury. Hunslet Intermediates provided Martin Foster and centre Paul Sutton. Martin had played for the junior GB side last season. Pete Rycroft and Phil Horrocks were absent from the club, playing on amateur permits, and Geoff Nicholls because of work commitments.
