Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century. To many people they are known as Fev or The Colliers, highlighting the close link between the club and the local mining community. The idea that if they were short of a player or two before match time they would trawl the local collieries to make up the numbers is purely a myth. In fact, the club and the town have a reputation for producing a conveyor belt of talented junior players with many of them playing at various Super League clubs. Featherstone is a small former coalmining town with a population of around 16,000 and for many years "Fev" have graced the top levels of the game in a manner that belies their small-town background. Their local rivals are Castleford, Wakefield Trinity and Leeds Rhinos. They have recently won the 2011 Co-operative Championship Grand Final against Sheffield Eagles as well as finishing top of the league table
The club have won the Rugby League Challenge Cup three times, in 1967, 1973 and 1983, and been Champions once, in 1977.
History
Early years
Featherstone Trinity RUFC were formed in 1889. Featherstone Trinity played their first game on the New Inn fields against Castleford Mill Lane Rovers. The following season in 1890, Featherstone had 19 games without defeat. [1] They dropped the Trinity to become simply Featherstone RUFC in 1894. Featherstone voted to join the Northern Union in 1898 and became the town's first rugby league team. They folded in 1902.
A new club, Featherstone Rovers, was formed in the Railway Hotel in 1902, reformed in 1906 and joined the Northern Union in 1907. The club was originally made up of local miners and between 1912 and 1913 played at the Featherstone Main Colliery Welfare Ground. In 1913 Featherstone Rovers merged with Purston White Horse.
Featherstone became a semi-professional club on 14 June 1921, beating Bradford Northern in their first game as a senior club. Their first game at Post Office Road attracted 4,000 fans.
Rovers reached the Championship final after just seven seasons, losing 11–0 to Swinton and were beaten by Leeds in the following season's Yorkshire Cup decider.
Rovers' first major silverware was won in 1939/40, when they lifted the Yorkshire Cup.
Post-war
Rovers' first visit to Wembley Stadium was in the 1952 Challenge Cup Final, the first to be televised. They were defeated 18–10 by Workington Town in front of a crowd of 72,093.
In 1959, the club's record attendance was set at 17,531 for a third round Challenge Cup match against St Helens. This was more than the population of the village of Featherstone.
Rovers' first ever Challenge Cup Final success came in 1967 when despite their lowly league position they defeated Bradford Northern, Wakefield Trinity, Castleford and Leeds to get to Wembley Stadium. Barrow provided the opposition in the final where a crowd of 77,000 paid a then record £54,435 to watch the game. Rovers won the match 17–12. Only Widnes in 1937 had accomplished the feat from a lower position in the league table.
Rovers repeated the feat seven years later, when Bradford Northern were beaten 33–14. Cyril Kellett's 8-goals for Featherstone Rovers against Bradford Northern in the 1973 Challenge Cup Final is still a record that has only been matched by Iestyn Harris for Leeds against London Broncos 1999 Challenge Cup Final.
In 1966/67, Featherstone Rovers reached the final of the Yorkshire Cup but were beaten 25–12 by Hull Kingston Rovers. Rovers featured in a 1969 BBC documentary 'The Game that Got Away' which profiled the state of rugby league in 1969 and the on and off-field fortunes of Rovers.
Rovers were crowned Division One champions in 1976/77 and won the Second Division title three years later. They again reached the Yorkshire Cup final in 1977/78 and were beaten 17–7 by Castleford.
Allan Agar joined Featherstone as captain-coach in December 1982.
Featherstone Rovers won the Challenge Cup as underdogs on 7 May 1983 beating Hull 14–12 in front of an 84,969 Wembley crowd. Steve Quinn secured their victory with a late penalty goal.
During the miners' strike of 1984–1985, the club allowed pass holders in for that season free with the understanding they would pay for their passes when the strike had ended.
Featherstone sold Post Office Road to the local council in February 1988.
Rovers won the Second Division title when they were relegated for the 1992–93 season.
Summer era
In 1996, the first tier of British rugby league clubs played the inaugural Super League season and changed from a winter to a summer season.[2] When a Rupert Murdoch-funded Super League competition was proposed, part of the deal was that some traditional clubs would merge. Featherstone Rovers were asked to merge with local rivals Castleford and Wakefield Trinity to form a new club, Calder, which would compete in the Super League. Trinity's shareholders voted 2:1 in favour of a merger but Featherstone's members voted against by a large margin and this was resisted.[3]
Rovers finished 11th in the 16-team First Division but were effectively relegated to make way for London Broncos and Paris Saint-Germain. Featherstone went within a whisker of gaining Super League status in 1998, when they were beaten 24–22 by neighbours Wakefield in the promotion-deciding inaugural First Division grand final. [4]
Peter Roe was in charge of Featherstone from 1999 to October 2001, before leaving to take charge of Wakefield Trinity. He was replaced by his assistant Ian Fairhurst.
In November 2002, Featherstone went into administration, owing the Inland Revenue £97,000 and with total debts of £403,000.[5]
In September 2003, Andy Kelly's contract was not renewed following their failure to reach the National League One play-offs for the first time in six years.[6]
In 2005, David Hobbs was appointed coach of Featherstone Rovers half-way through the season after Gary Price left, he failed to save Rovers from relegation to National League Two.
Friends of Featherstone Revolution – 2006 onwards
In late 2006, the "Friends Of Featherstone" were formed, their main aim being to provide money for contracts for players to ensure that Rovers gained promotion to National League One. The money raised enabled Rovers to sign players such as Paul Handforth, Chris Ross, Tom Haughey, Jamie Field and Loz Wildbore.
National League Two Grand Final Winners
In 2007, Rovers won promotion back to National League One (The Second level on the pyramid) from National League Two after a two year absence with a 24–6 win over Oldham at Headingley.[7]
Licensing
As of the start of the 2009 season clubs wishing to participate in the Super League competition have to gain a licence granted by the Rugby Football League removing promotion to and relegation from the top tier. Featherstone did apply for the first round of licences though with the popular view this would not be successful and could be used as a learning experience for future bids. In July 2008 The RFL made its decision selection all current Super League teams plus two from the National Leagues Salford City Reds and Celtic Crusaders.
In November 2010 it was announced by Rovers that they would not be applying for a super league license for the 2012 season. Although Rovers have ambitions to play in Super League, they say they are not yet in a position to apply for a licence. They accept they have to increase their support base before they are able to make a realistic application.[8]
2010 Co-Operative Championship
In the 2010 season, Rovers finised first in the league table with a 100% away record and claimed the League Leaders Shield. They reached the Championship Grand Final (taking place on 26 September 2010 at the Haliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington) by beating Halifax 46–16 in the Semi-Final. They went on to lose the final to Halifax 23–22 in extra time. [9] The close season saw the departure of club chief executive Andy Prout to be replaced by Stuart Sheard. [10]
2011 Co-Operative Championship Grand Final Winners
In 2011 Featherstone went one better than 2010 by beating Sheffield Eagles 40–4 in the Grand Final at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington as well as topping the league in the regular season.
The future
Late 2008 saw a major announcement in the history of Featherstone Rovers, a possible move away from Post Office Road. Featherstone are in a rare situation, that they own an expanse of land around the current stadium. The proposed development would include a supermarket, community sports facilities and a purpose-built 12,000 capacity stadium though this could be reduced to a 6,500 modular design. Should it be needed the capacity can be increased to the required 12,000 if the club bid successfully for 2015 or 2018. Though more recent plans on the website state that the club "see the provision of a 21st Century stadium through the enhancement (and movement!) of the existing Post Office Road pitch, development and provision of new stands and integral function and educational suites which will enable us to build on our existing and unique award winning community programmes."[11]
Club honours
Top tier of Rugby League
Second tier of Rugby League
Third tear of Rugby League
Other honours:
- Yorkshire Cup
- Winners 1939–40, 1959–60
- Runners-up 1928–29, 1963–64, 1966–67, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1989–90
- Captain Morgan Trophy
- Yorkshire League
Club records
- Most tries in a game (player)
- Most goals in a game (player)
- Mark Knapper v Keighley 17 September 1989
Current season
Current table
2011 Squad
| 2011 Feathersone Rovers season |
| First team squad |
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Coaching staff |
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Head coach
Assistant coach
- Legend:
- (c) Captain
- (vc) Vice captain
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Players earning international caps while at Featherstone Rovers
- Tommy Askin won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone 1928 Australia (3 matches), New Zealand (3 matches)
- Peter Banner won caps for Wales while at Salford, and Featherstone Rovers 1975 9-caps 2-tries 6-points
- Christopher "Chris" Bibb won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone 1990 New Zealand
- Jamie Benn won caps for Scotland while at Featherstone Rovers 2006…2007 3-caps
- Harold Box won caps for Wales while at Featherstone Rovers 1979…1981 5-caps 1-try 2-goals 7-points
- John Keith Bridges won caps for England while at Featherstone 1975 New Zealand (2 matches), Australia (2 matches), Wales, France, Australia, Papua New Guinea, 1977 Wales won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone 1974 France (2 matches), Australia
- Ikram Butt won caps for England while at Featherstone 1995 Wales
- Leo Casey won caps for Ireland while at Featherstone Rovers, and Swinton 1995…1997 5-caps
- Lee Child circa-1995 for Ireland while at Wakefield Trinity, and Featherstone Rovers 1995…1998 3-caps + 1-cap (sub)
- Terrence "Terry" Clawson (1972 Rugby League World Cup winner, 1972 Harry Sunderland Trophy while at Leeds) won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone Rovers in 1962 against France (2 matches), while at Leeds in the 1972 Rugby League World Cup against Australia, France, and Australia, while at Oldham in 1973 against Australia (3 matches), and in 1974 against France (2 matches), Australia (2 matches), and New Zealand (2 matches)
- Paul Darley won caps for Ireland while at Featherstone Rovers 2004 3-caps (sub)
- Ross Divorty won caps for Wales while at Featherstone Rovers 2009…present
- Malcolm Dixon won caps for England while at Featherstone 1970 Wales won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone 1962 France, 1964 France
- Steve Evans won caps for England while at Featherstone 1979 France, 1980 Wales, France won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone 1979 Australia, Australia (sub), New Zealand (3 matches), 1980 New Zealand, New Zealand (sub), while at Hull 1982 Australia (2 matches)
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- Vincent "Vince" Farrar won caps for England while at Featherstone Rovers 1977 France won caps for Great Britain while at Hull 1978 Australia
- Deryck Fox won caps for England while at Bradford Northern 1995 Wales, France won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone 1985 France (2 matches), New Zealand (3 matches), 1986 France (2 matches), Australia (2 matches), 1989 New Zealand (sub), 1990 Papua New Guinea (sub), 1991 Papua New Guinea (sub), 1992 France (sub), while at Bradford Northern 1992 Australia
- Donald "Don" Fox won caps for England while at Featherstone 1956 France won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone 1963 Australia
- Nathan Graham won caps for Scotland while at Bradford Bulls, Dewsbury, Featherstone Rovers, and Batley 1998…2004 7-caps + 3-caps (sub)
- Paul Handforth won caps for Ireland while at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Castleford Tigers and Featherstone Rovers 2003…2007 5-caps + 1-cap (sub)
- Jack Hirst won caps for England while at Featherstone 1923 Wales
- David Hobbs won caps for England while at Featherstone 1984 Wales won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone 1984 France (2 matches), Australia, Australia (sub), New Zealand (3 matches), Papua New Guinea, while at Oldham 1987 France (2 matches), while at Bradford 1989 New Zealand, New Zealand (sub)
- James Houston won a cap for Scotland while at Featherstone Rovers 2003 1-cap (sub)
- Gary Jordan (1967 Challenge Cup Winner) won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone in 1964 against France, and in 1967 against Australia
- Neil Lowe won caps for Scotland Featherstone Rovers, Doncaster, York, and Keighley 1999…present 3-caps + 4-caps (sub)
- Steve Molloy won caps for England while at Leeds 1992 Wales, while at Featherstone 1996 France (sub), Wales, Sheffield 1999 France (2 matches) won caps for Great Britain while at Leeds 1993 France, while at Featherstone 1994 France, 1996 Fiji (sub), New Zealand (sub)
- Arnold Morgan won caps for England while at Featherstone 1968 Wales won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone 1968 France (2 matches), 1968 France, New Zealand (World Cup 1968 2-caps, 1-try)
- Joseph "Joe" Mullaney won a cap for England while at Featherstone Rovers in 1955 against Other Nations
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- Steve Nash won caps for England while at Featherstone 1975 Wales, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, while at Salford 1978 France, Wales, 1981 Wales (2 matches) won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone 1971 France, New Zealand, 1972 France (2 matches), Australia (2 matches), France, New Zealand, 1973 Australia (2 matches), 1974 Australia (3 matches), New Zealand (3 matches), while at Salford 1977 France, New Zealand, Australia (2 matches), 1978 Australia (3 matches), 1982 Australia (World Cup 1972 4-caps, 1-try)
- Paul Newlove won caps for England while at Featherstone 1992 Wales, while at Bradford 1995 Wales, Australia (2 matches), Fiji, Wales, while at St. Helens 1996 France won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone 1989 New Zealand (sub), New Zealand (2 matches), 1991 Papua New Guinea, 1992 Papua New Guinea (sub), Australia (3 matches), New Zealand (sub), 1993 France, while at Bradford Northern New Zealand (3 matches), 1994 France, Australia, Australia (sub), while at St. Helens 1997, ASL (3 matches), 1998 New Zealand
- Bryn Powell won caps for Wales while at Salford, Featherstone Rovers, and Dewsbury 2004…2006 (5?)6-caps 4(3?)-tries 16(12?)-points
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- Peter Smith won caps for England while at Featherstone 1980 France won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone 1977 Australia (sub) (2 matches), 1982 Australia, 1983 France (sub) (2 matches), 1984 France (sub)
- Richard 'Charlie' Stone won caps for England while at Featherstone 1975 Australia
- James "Jimmy" Thompson won caps for England while at Featherstone 1970 France, 1975 Australia, Australia, 1977 Wales, while at Bradford Northern 1978 France (sub), Wales (sub) won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone 1970 Australia (2 matches), New Zealand (2 matches), Australia (2 matches), France, New Zealand, 1971 France, France (sub), 1974 Australia (3 matches), New Zealand (3 matches), 1977 France, New Zealand, Australia (2 matches), while at Bradford Northern 1978 Australia (World Cup 1970 4-caps)
- Ernest Winter won caps for England while at Featherstone 1933 Other Nations
- Arthur Wood won caps for England while at Featherstone 1951 Other Nations
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Challenge Cup Winning Players
- 1967 Challenge Cup Winners
- Brian Wrigglesworth 1967 Challenge Cup Winner
- Vaughn Thomas [12] 1967 Challenge Cup Winner
- Keith Cotton 1967 Challenge Cup Winner
- Gary Jordan 1967 Challenge Cup Winner
- Kenneth "Ken" Greatorex 1967 Challenge Cup Winner
- Michael "Mick" Smith 1967 & 1973 Challenge Cup Winner
- Carl Dooler 1967 Challenge Cup Winner, 1967 Lance Todd Trophy Winner
- Leslie "Les" Tonks [12] 1967 & 1973 Challenge Cup Winner
- Graham Harris 1967 Challenge Cup Winner
- Malcolm Dixon 1967 Challenge Cup Winner
- Arnold Morgan 1967 Challenge Cup Winner
- James "Jimmy" Thompson 1967 & 1973 Challenge Cup Winner
- Thomas "Tommy" Smales 1967 Challenge Cup Winner
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- 1973 Challenge Cup Winners
- Cyril Kellett 1973 Challenge Cup Winner
- Paul Coventry 1973 Challenge Cup Winner
- John Newlove 1973 Challenge Cup Winner (Testimonial match 1976) (Father of Paul Newlove)
- Kenneth "Ken" Kellett 1973 & 1983 Challenge Cup Winner
- Melvyn "Mel" Mason 1973 Challenge Cup Winner
- Steve Nash 1973 Challenge Cup Winner, 1973 Lance Todd Trophy Winner
- Keith Bridges 1973 Challenge Cup Winner
- Vincent "Vince" Farrar 1973 Challenge Cup Winner
- Alan Rhodes 1973 Challenge Cup Winner
- Richard 'Charlie' Stone 1973 Challenge Cup Winner
- David "Dave" Hartley 1973 Challenge Cup Winner
- Barry Hollis 1973 Challenge Cup Winner
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- 1983 Challenge Cup Winners
- Nigel Barker 1983 Challenge Cup Winner (Testimonial match 1992)
- John Marsden 1983 Challenge Cup Winner
- Stephen "Steve" Quinn 1983 Challenge Cup Winner (Testimonial match 1985)
- John Gilbert 1983 Challenge Cup Winner
- Alan Banks 1983 Challenge Cup Winner
- Terrence "Terry" Hudson 1983 Challenge Cup Winner
- Michael "Mick" Gibbins 1983 Challenge Cup Winner (Testimonial match 1982)
- Raymond "Ray" Handscombe 1983 Challenge Cup Winner
- Stephen "Steve" Hankins 1983 Challenge Cup Winner
- David Hobbs 1983 Challenge Cup Winner, 1983 Lance Todd Trophy Winner
- Timothy "Tim" Slatter 1983 Challenge Cup Winner
- Peter Smith 1983 Challenge Cup Winner (Testimonial match 1982)
- Paul Lyman 1983 Challenge Cup Winner
- Gary Siddall 1983 Challenge Cup Winner (Testimonial match 1988)
- Neil Pickerill 1983 Challenge Cup Winner
- Keith Bell 1983 Challenge Cup Winner
- Philip "Phil" Johnson 1983 Challenge Cup Winner
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Other notable players
These players have either; received a Testimonial match, were international representatives before, or after, their time at Featherstone Rovers, or are notable outside of rugby league.
Sources
References
- ^ `If you're in some boardroom in Australia it might seem a good idea. But not around here' – News. The Independent (1995-04-16). Retrieved on 2011-10-20.
- ^ Dave Hadfield (20 December 1995). "Rugby's pounds 87m deal gives Murdoch transfer veto". London: The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/rugbys-pounds-87m-deal-gives-murdoch-transfer-veto-1526582.html. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
- ^ House of Commons Hansard Debates for 26 Apr 1995. Publications.parliament.uk (1995-04-26). Retrieved on 2011-10-20.
- ^ Keighley's Super League omission a real injustice – All clubs. Yorkshire Post. Retrieved on 2011-10-20.
- ^ Rovers chief in upbeat mood BBC Sport, 15 November 2002
- ^ Kelly leaves Rovers BBC Sport, 15 November 2003
- ^ Hadfield, Dave (8 October 2007). "Featherstone 24 Oldham 6: McHugh opportunism lifts Featherstone to old heights". The Independent (London). http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/featherstone-24-oldham-6-mchugh-opportunism-lifts-featherstone-to-old-heights-396287.html.
- ^ Rovers will not apply for SL licence for 2012 – Featherstone Rovers – Pontefract Express. Pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk. Retrieved on 2011-10-20.
- ^ Rovers storm through to Grand Final – Other Sport – Pontefract Express. Pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk. Retrieved on 2011-10-20.
- ^ Sheard takes over as new Rovers CEO – Featherstone Rovers – Pontefract Express. Pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk. Retrieved on 2011-10-20.
- ^ Official Featherstone Rovers RLFC Web Site. Featherstonerovers.net. Retrieved on 2011-10-20.
- ^ a b for Rugby League. Totalrl.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-20.
- ^ Great Players – Great Games. Btinternet.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-20.
External links