Heckmondwike (Rugby League)
Encyclopedia
Heckmondwike was a professional rugby league club.
The club was based in Heckmondwike
(population approx. 12,000), a small town
in the metropolitan borough
of Kirklees
, which is located geographically at the centre of West Yorkshire
, England
.
The club played (semi) professional Rugby League for a total of 4 seasons and spent each of the seasons in the Yorkshire Senior Competition. They first became members of the Northern Rugby Football Union (now Rugby Football League
in 1896-97
and stayed for three seasons until 1898-99
. After a two year break, they returned to the Northern Rugby Football Union (now Rugby Football League
in 1901-02
for a further single season
At the end of season 1901-02
the club left the league.
Only limited County League information is available for the last season 1901-02
.
Heckmondwike FC was formed as a Rugby Club some time before 1895. They converted from the rugby union code to the rugby league code
in the summer of 1896, in time for the 1896-97
season.
During the early years the club had three prominent players who gained international caps: Richard "Dicky" Lockwood
, Donald Jowett
, and John William "Willie" or "J. W." Sutcliffe
.
in its second season 1896-97
and played in the Yorkshire Senior Competition
, which was effectively Division 2 (East).
At the end of this first season, 1896-97
, Heckmondwike finished in bottom place out of the 16 clubs..
In the second season, 1897-98
the club did very little better, finishing 15th out of 16 clubs.
They slipped back to bottom position out of 16 in the third season, 1898-99
Heckmondwike dropped out of the League for the next two seasons. It is assumed that they played in the lower divisions as an amateur club.
Heckmondwike returned for the start of the 1901-02
and finished in 11th place out of 14 clubs
Only limited County League information is available for this season.
At the end of the 1901-02
season, the County Leagues elected 18 teams to join the new Division 2 (7 from Lancashire and 10 from Yorkshire and new member South Shields
) with the existing second competition scrapped. This meant that teams were excluded from the senior competitions leaving them with several options:-
a) Join the new Lancashire League or the Lancashire Combination (reserve grade)
b) Join a new Yorkshire Senior League
c) reverting to amateur status within the Northern Union
d) revert back to rugby union
e) turn to Association Football, which many clubs did
f) fold
Heckmondwike were one of the 4 Yorkshire (the others being Goole
, Liversedge and Sowerby Bridge
) and 2 Lancashire clubs (Altrincham
and Radcliffe
) not elected to the new Division 2, but it is unknown as to which route the club followed.
Heckmondwike dropped out of the league after the end of season 1901-02
.
However, based on the limited available information and taking into account the poor playing record, it is feasible to assume that the club folded (or as described in Cherry and White "disappeared”).
RL = Single Division; Pl = Games Played: W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lose; PF = Points For; PA = Points Against; Diff = Points Difference (+ or -); Pts = League Points
% Pts = A percentage system was used to determine league positions due to clubs playing varying number of fixtures and against different opponents
League points: for win = 2; for draw = 1; for loss = 0.
The club was based in Heckmondwike
Heckmondwike
Heckmondwike is a small town in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, which is located geographically at the centre of West Yorkshire, England, south west of Leeds. Close to Cleckheaton and Liversedge, it is part of Cleckheckmondsedge, a name invented by J.B. Priestley to represent a West Riding...
(population approx. 12,000), a small town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in the metropolitan borough
Metropolitan borough
A metropolitan borough is a type of local government district in England, and is a subdivision of a metropolitan county. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, metropolitan boroughs are defined in English law as metropolitan districts, however all of them have been granted or regranted...
of Kirklees
Kirklees
The Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees is a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 401,000 and includes the settlements of Batley, Birstall, Cleckheaton, Denby Dale, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, Kirkburton, Marsden, Meltham, Mirfield and Slaithwaite...
, which is located geographically at the centre of West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The club played (semi) professional Rugby League for a total of 4 seasons and spent each of the seasons in the Yorkshire Senior Competition. They first became members of the Northern Rugby Football Union (now Rugby Football League
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
in 1896-97
1896-97 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the second ever season of rugby league football. Following the success of the Northern Union's first season, several more clubs from the established Rugby Football Union joined the rebel competition...
and stayed for three seasons until 1898-99
1898-99 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1897–98 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the fourth season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The Lancashire Senior Competition was won by Broughton Rangers and the Yorkshire Senior Competition by Batley.-Lancashire Senior Competition:...
. After a two year break, they returned to the Northern Rugby Football Union (now Rugby Football League
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
in 1901-02
1901-02 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1901–02 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the seventh season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The top seven sides from both the Lancashire and the Yorkshire Senior 1900-01 competitions of the NRFU, resigned and merged into a new league in 1901-02, that was won by Broughton Rangers...
for a further single season
At the end of season 1901-02
1901-02 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1901–02 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the seventh season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The top seven sides from both the Lancashire and the Yorkshire Senior 1900-01 competitions of the NRFU, resigned and merged into a new league in 1901-02, that was won by Broughton Rangers...
the club left the league.
Only limited County League information is available for the last season 1901-02
1901-02 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1901–02 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the seventh season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The top seven sides from both the Lancashire and the Yorkshire Senior 1900-01 competitions of the NRFU, resigned and merged into a new league in 1901-02, that was won by Broughton Rangers...
.
Early Days
Very little is known about the Heckmondwike club.Heckmondwike FC was formed as a Rugby Club some time before 1895. They converted from the rugby union code to the rugby league code
Richard Lockwood (rugby)
Richard "Dicky" Evison Lockwood was a rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1880s and '90s who at representative level played for England from 1887 to 1894, and was captain in January and February 1894, and at club level for Dewsbury , Heckmondwike /, and Wakefield Trinity...
in the summer of 1896, in time for the 1896-97
1896-97 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the second ever season of rugby league football. Following the success of the Northern Union's first season, several more clubs from the established Rugby Football Union joined the rebel competition...
season.
During the early years the club had three prominent players who gained international caps: Richard "Dicky" Lockwood
Richard Lockwood (rugby)
Richard "Dicky" Evison Lockwood was a rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1880s and '90s who at representative level played for England from 1887 to 1894, and was captain in January and February 1894, and at club level for Dewsbury , Heckmondwike /, and Wakefield Trinity...
, Donald Jowett
Donald Jowett
Donald "Don" Jowett was a rugby union footballer of the 1880s and '90s who at representative level played for England, and at club level for Heckmondwike, playing in the Forwards, e.g. Front row, Lock, or Back row...
, and John William "Willie" or "J. W." Sutcliffe
John Willie Sutcliffe
John William "J.W." Sutcliffe , commonly known as John Willie Sutcliffe, was an English football and rugby union player. J.W...
.
Northern Union
They joined the ranks of the (semi) professionals when they became members of the Northern Union1896-97 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the second ever season of rugby league football. Following the success of the Northern Union's first season, several more clubs from the established Rugby Football Union joined the rebel competition...
in its second season 1896-97
1896-97 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the second ever season of rugby league football. Following the success of the Northern Union's first season, several more clubs from the established Rugby Football Union joined the rebel competition...
and played in the Yorkshire Senior Competition
Rugby league county leagues
The Yorkshire League and the Lancashire League formed two sections of the Rugby Football League Championship for much of its history. Initially, the 22 clubs that broke away in 1895 played in one combined league, however the following season saw the addition of many clubs, and the League was split...
, which was effectively Division 2 (East).
At the end of this first season, 1896-97
1896-97 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the second ever season of rugby league football. Following the success of the Northern Union's first season, several more clubs from the established Rugby Football Union joined the rebel competition...
, Heckmondwike finished in bottom place out of the 16 clubs..
In the second season, 1897-98
1897-98 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1897–98 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the third season of rugby league football.-Summary:The leading try scorer this season was Hoskins of Salford, who crossed the line 30 times. The leading goal scorer was Goldthorpe of Hunslet who was successful 66 times...
the club did very little better, finishing 15th out of 16 clubs.
They slipped back to bottom position out of 16 in the third season, 1898-99
1898-99 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1897–98 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the fourth season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The Lancashire Senior Competition was won by Broughton Rangers and the Yorkshire Senior Competition by Batley.-Lancashire Senior Competition:...
Heckmondwike dropped out of the League for the next two seasons. It is assumed that they played in the lower divisions as an amateur club.
Heckmondwike returned for the start of the 1901-02
1901-02 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1901–02 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the seventh season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The top seven sides from both the Lancashire and the Yorkshire Senior 1900-01 competitions of the NRFU, resigned and merged into a new league in 1901-02, that was won by Broughton Rangers...
and finished in 11th place out of 14 clubs
Only limited County League information is available for this season.
At the end of the 1901-02
1901-02 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1901–02 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the seventh season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The top seven sides from both the Lancashire and the Yorkshire Senior 1900-01 competitions of the NRFU, resigned and merged into a new league in 1901-02, that was won by Broughton Rangers...
season, the County Leagues elected 18 teams to join the new Division 2 (7 from Lancashire and 10 from Yorkshire and new member South Shields
South Shields (Rugby League)
South Shields was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in South Shields South Shields was a (semi) professional rugby league club.The club was based in South Shields South Shields was a (semi) professional rugby league club.The club was based in South Shields (known locally as just...
) with the existing second competition scrapped. This meant that teams were excluded from the senior competitions leaving them with several options:-
a) Join the new Lancashire League or the Lancashire Combination (reserve grade)
b) Join a new Yorkshire Senior League
c) reverting to amateur status within the Northern Union
d) revert back to rugby union
e) turn to Association Football, which many clubs did
f) fold
Heckmondwike were one of the 4 Yorkshire (the others being Goole
Goole (Rugby League)
Goole was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Goole, a small town and port in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England...
, Liversedge and Sowerby Bridge
Sowerby Bridge (Rugby League)
Sowerby Bridge was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Sowerby Bridge, a small market town that lies within the Upper Calder Valley in the district of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, northern England, and approximately 3 miles from Halifax.The club joined the Northern Union in...
) and 2 Lancashire clubs (Altrincham
Altrincham (Rugby League)
Altrincham was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Altrincham, a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England.The town was originally in the County of Cheshire....
and Radcliffe
Radcliffe (Rugby League)
Radcliffe was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Radcliffe, a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England....
) not elected to the new Division 2, but it is unknown as to which route the club followed.
Heckmondwike dropped out of the league after the end of season 1901-02
1901-02 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1901–02 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the seventh season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The top seven sides from both the Lancashire and the Yorkshire Senior 1900-01 competitions of the NRFU, resigned and merged into a new league in 1901-02, that was won by Broughton Rangers...
.
However, based on the limited available information and taking into account the poor playing record, it is feasible to assume that the club folded (or as described in Cherry and White "disappeared”).
Club League Record
The League positions for Heckmondwike for the 3 years in which they played (semi) professional Rugby League are given in the following table :-RL = Single Division; Pl = Games Played: W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lose; PF = Points For; PA = Points Against; Diff = Points Difference (+ or -); Pts = League Points
% Pts = A percentage system was used to determine league positions due to clubs playing varying number of fixtures and against different opponents
League points: for win = 2; for draw = 1; for loss = 0.
Several fixtures & results
The following are just a few of Heckmondwike fixtures during the three seasons (and other times) in which they played (semi) professional Rugby League| Season | Date | Competition | Opponent | Venue | H/A | Result | Score | Att | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1896-97 | Sat 03-10-1896 | Yorks Sen CompOC | Hull Hull FC Hull Football Club, commonly referred to as Hull or Hull FC, is a professional rugby league football club established in 1865 and based in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The club plays in the Super League competition... |
The Boulevard The Boulevard (Stadium) The Boulevard was a multi-purpose stadium in Hull, England. The venue was saved from demolition and reopened on 25 October 2007 as the home of greyhound racing in the city. It can also be used as a community stadium hosting amateur rugby league matches... |
H | Lost | 0-17 | |||
| 1896-97 | Mon 08-03-1897 | Yorks Sen CompOC | Hull Hull FC Hull Football Club, commonly referred to as Hull or Hull FC, is a professional rugby league football club established in 1865 and based in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The club plays in the Super League competition... |
Home | H | Lost | 0-5 | |||
| 1897-98 | Sat 11-12-1897 | Yorks Sen CompOC | Hull Hull FC Hull Football Club, commonly referred to as Hull or Hull FC, is a professional rugby league football club established in 1865 and based in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The club plays in the Super League competition... |
The Boulevard The Boulevard (Stadium) The Boulevard was a multi-purpose stadium in Hull, England. The venue was saved from demolition and reopened on 25 October 2007 as the home of greyhound racing in the city. It can also be used as a community stadium hosting amateur rugby league matches... |
H | Lost | 6-26 | |||
| 1897-98 | Mon 11-04-1898 | Yorks Sen CompOC | Hull Hull FC Hull Football Club, commonly referred to as Hull or Hull FC, is a professional rugby league football club established in 1865 and based in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The club plays in the Super League competition... |
Home | H | Lost | 3-5 | |||
| 1898-99 | Sat 17-09-1898 | Yorks Sen CompOC | Hull Hull FC Hull Football Club, commonly referred to as Hull or Hull FC, is a professional rugby league football club established in 1865 and based in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The club plays in the Super League competition... |
Home | H | Won | 10-0 | |||
| 1898-99 | Mon 26-12-1898 | Yorks Sen CompOC | Hull Hull FC Hull Football Club, commonly referred to as Hull or Hull FC, is a professional rugby league football club established in 1865 and based in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The club plays in the Super League competition... |
The Boulevard The Boulevard (Stadium) The Boulevard was a multi-purpose stadium in Hull, England. The venue was saved from demolition and reopened on 25 October 2007 as the home of greyhound racing in the city. It can also be used as a community stadium hosting amateur rugby league matches... |
H | Lost | 2-28 | |||
| 1900-01 | 09-03-1901 | CC R2 | Warrington Warrington Wolves Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003.... |
Wilderspool Wilderspool Stadium Wilderspool Stadium is a rugby league stadium located in Warrington, England. The ground was Warrington RLFC's old ground before moving to the Halliwell Jones Stadium. It holds just over 9,000, after substantial decreases for crowd safety... |
H | Lost | 2-19 |
See also
British rugby league systemBritish rugby league system
The British rugby league system is based on four separate structures: the professional leagues administered by the Rugby Football League, the reserve leagues, the amateur leagues administered by British Amateur Rugby League Association and the Rugby League Conference.There is no system of automatic...
Rugby league county leagues
Rugby league county leagues
The Yorkshire League and the Lancashire League formed two sections of the Rugby Football League Championship for much of its history. Initially, the 22 clubs that broke away in 1895 played in one combined league, however the following season saw the addition of many clubs, and the League was split...
1896-97 Northern Rugby Football Union season
1896-97 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the second ever season of rugby league football. Following the success of the Northern Union's first season, several more clubs from the established Rugby Football Union joined the rebel competition...
1897-98 Northern Rugby Football Union season
1897-98 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1897–98 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the third season of rugby league football.-Summary:The leading try scorer this season was Hoskins of Salford, who crossed the line 30 times. The leading goal scorer was Goldthorpe of Hunslet who was successful 66 times...
1898-99 Northern Rugby Football Union season
1898-99 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1897–98 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the fourth season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The Lancashire Senior Competition was won by Broughton Rangers and the Yorkshire Senior Competition by Batley.-Lancashire Senior Competition:...
1901-02 Northern Rugby Football Union season
1901-02 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1901–02 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the seventh season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The top seven sides from both the Lancashire and the Yorkshire Senior 1900-01 competitions of the NRFU, resigned and merged into a new league in 1901-02, that was won by Broughton Rangers...
Donald Jowett
Donald Jowett
Donald "Don" Jowett was a rugby union footballer of the 1880s and '90s who at representative level played for England, and at club level for Heckmondwike, playing in the Forwards, e.g. Front row, Lock, or Back row...
Richard Lockwood
Richard Lockwood (rugby)
Richard "Dicky" Evison Lockwood was a rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1880s and '90s who at representative level played for England from 1887 to 1894, and was captain in January and February 1894, and at club level for Dewsbury , Heckmondwike /, and Wakefield Trinity...
Heckmondwike converted to the rugby league code
Richard Lockwood (rugby)
Richard "Dicky" Evison Lockwood was a rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1880s and '90s who at representative level played for England from 1887 to 1894, and was captain in January and February 1894, and at club level for Dewsbury , Heckmondwike /, and Wakefield Trinity...
John Willie Sutcliffe
John Willie Sutcliffe
John William "J.W." Sutcliffe , commonly known as John Willie Sutcliffe, was an English football and rugby union player. J.W...
List of defunct rugby league clubs