In 1989, today’s papers reported that the 11,000 crowd at the York v Leeds game held a two minutes silence for the former York and Hunslet player, Sam Windmill. Radio Leeds had announced his passing on their Sunday lunchtime rugby round-up.
His family heard the news and their phone calls to Sam’s pub, The Babes In The Wood were answered by a cheerful Sam, who had not heard the news that he was dead.
It’s not reported how this came about, but Sam joked that, even though he’d passed away, he still had to work Sunday night!
A number of members of the 2024 promotion run made his their debuts today in 2022 at home to Keighley Cougars. Cam Berry, Ethan O’Hanlon, Jack Render and Jordan Syme all played in the decider at Swinton.
A couple of top class hookers signed on the 30th January in years gone by. In 1961 Bernard Prior was signed from Leeds for a £3,500 fee. Bernard had played for Yorkshire and in a Tour Trial while at Headingley and got his sole Great Britain cap in 1966 against France.
He made 147 first team appearances for the Parksiders, scoring 9 tries. He played in 2 Yorkshire Cup finals and the 1965 Challenge Cup final for Hunslet.
Sam Smith signed on in 1954. Signed from Hull Kingston Rovers for £1,500 cash plus George Ellener. He played in the 1959 Championship and 1962 Yorkshire Cup finals. and made 283 appearances for Hunslet, scoring 3 tries.
He was Great Britain hooker in the 1954 World Cup and also represented England and Yorkshire. He was in the Tour Trial in 1958 but was not selected. He also played for a Rugby League XIII.
He transferred to Doncaster at the end of his Hunslet career.
In 1946, there were two Tour Trials, Hunslet having Sid Rookes and Frank Watson in the Whites team against the Colours in the first. Neither was selected for the second trial, nor the tour.
For the match with Salford today in 1915, Salford had to play their Combination League side due to the 1st XIII being suspended after a pay dispute. Hunslet, as perhaps expected, ran out winners 32-2.
