At the end of 1914/15 competitive rugby was suspended for the duration of the war. However, the game would still continue but on purely amateur terms and be non-competitive (i.e friendlies). The price of admission would be set by the home club (minimum 3d). Kick off times and durations of play to be mutually agreed. No mid-week games except on holidays. Travelling expenses and tea money only (2/6) to be paid to players and officials. There would be a one shilling fine for late kick-offs. ANZAC soldiers wounded at Gallipoli were convalescing in Yorkshire and when there were sufficient players available a match was arranged between them and a combined Hull FC Hull KR tea, Entertainer George Formby kicked off. Former Hunslet player Billy Batten played and also in the Hull Batley game which followed immediately after. Today was Hunslet’s first war-time game, at Hull Kingston Rovers. Arthur Smalley kicked Hunslet’s only points in a 2-33 defeat before 4,000 spectators.

In 1964 scrum-half Jeff Stevenson was coming to the end of his career. Ronnie Watts and Ray Abbey were potential replacements but after a Yorkshire Cup defeat at Leeds today, the directors got together and decided to sign Alan Marchant who was on Halifax’s transfer list at £3,000. Officials were to set off to see Alan at his home in Castleford, however when they leaving Headingley they bumped into him as he’d come to watch the match. After a quick chat, Alan agreed to sign for Hunslet. This must be the quickest transfer on record.  

Alan Marchant

The programme for today’s 1983 Yorkshire Cup tie at home to York tells us that the posts being used at Elland Road were the tallest in Rugby league and possibly the UK at 51 feet. They were designed with knuckle joints so they could be dismantled quickly and be replaced with the football goals. They were manufactured by Ace Engineering who, being aware of Hunslet’s financial situation, did the work for free. There were also some extracts from an interview done in New Zealand with last season’s Kiwis John Ackland and Glen Townsend. They remembered not being able to understand Paul Daley when they arrived but finished up talking like him. Training was monotonous, consisting of endless laps of the pitch. The only variation was to go around the other way. John Wolford was known as Johnny Blindside due to his position in defence. He averaged about 12 tackles a match but his handling was superb and they were substituted against Huddersfield because they were so cold in the snow.

Among the debuts today were Tommy “Boxer” Young in 1897. He had signed from Workington, played in the Championship and Challenge Cup finals as the 1890s  came to as close. He played 94 times in four seasons. In 1909 it was forward William Fowler. He was also from Cumberland but signed on from North Durham RU. He played for Cumberland five times whilst at Hunslet and also played in the 1914 Tour Trial. He had played for Durham in Rugby Union. He played 187 games and an additional 68 during WW1 before transferring Huddersfield. In 1943 winger Freddie Wlliamson had signed from Morley RU. His debut today was at Featherstone Rovers in a 12-10 win. He went on to play for 13 seasons, turning out 344 times and scoring 147 tries.

Freddie Williamson

Cup ties today were, in1964s Yorkshire Cup, an away match with Leeds who scored five tries to nil in a 25-8 win. In 1979 it was at the other city rivals Bramley in a BBC Floodlit Trophy Preliminary  round match. It was an easy 21-5 win for Hunslet. 1983s Yorkshire Cup match at home to York was a different story as York won 21-11. It was the end of season 2022 today. An average performance form Hunslet as they finished 7th with 8 wins and a draw from 20 fixtures. Joe Sanderson was top goal scorer with 31 and tries were shared between Jordan Paga and Jack Render with ten each.