33 replies to this topic

[STEVE P]

I thought it was time we had another thread for the 'Nostalgia Junkies', as GFDU calls us.

With all the concern about who can and who will play in the Half Back positions next year I wondered which pairing that I have seen play for Dewsbury I would choose if they could be rejuvenated and dropped into the current squad. A few options which come to mind are
Davies and Newall, both really clever footballers through and through.
Agar (senior) and Bates, exciting times.
Vasey and Keyworth, who promised so much at one time. I know what happened to Chris Vasey, but not where Mark Keyworth went.
Delaney and Shuttleworth, a pairing who, were they still young men, could still make a big impact in today's game.
Maloney and Sheridan, either of whom could turn a game with one flash of brilliance.

I don't reckon to have listed all the options, but think that clones of any of these pairings would do very well indeed.I think I would go for Agar and Bates, because of the period of the club's history that they represent.

Have a go at choosing a pair. You can't mix and match, they have to have played together at half back for the club.

[The Crab]

I best remember the era with Vasey and Keyworth and also Delaney and Shuttleworth.
Can,t remember what combination we had in the halves when we last played in Division 1,but they would have been okay considering we won at Odsal and Thrum Hall that year.
Shuttie was good player.

[grumpyoldram]

I thought it was time we had another thread for the 'Nostalgia Junkies', as GFDU calls us.

With all the concern about who can and who will play in the Half Back positions next year I wondered which pairing that I have seen play for Dewsbury I would choose if they could be rejuvenated and dropped into the current squad. A few options which come to mind are
Davies and Newall, both really clever footballers through and through.
Agar (senior) and Bates, exciting times.
Vasey and Keyworth, who promised so much at one time. I know what happened to Chris Vasey, but not where Mark Keyworth went.
Delaney and Shuttleworth, a pairing who, were they still young men, could still make a big impact in today's game.
Maloney and Sheridan, either of whom could turn a game with one flash of brilliance.

I don't reckon to have listed all the options, but think that clones of any of these pairings would do very well indeed.I think I would go for Agar and Bates, because of the period of the club's history that they represent.

Have a go at choosing a pair. You can't mix and match, they have to have played together at half back for the club.

Heaton and Agar jun. would do right now

Any offers for the worst - I seem to remember in the late sixties a scrum half called Doel and centre Max Fletcher providing some comedy relief at half back in a one off match.

[Blind side johnny]

Heaton and Agar jun. would do right now

Any offers for the worst - I seem to remember in the late sixties a scrum half called Doel and centre Max Fletcher providing some comedy relief at half back in a one off match.

Dicky Doel was 100% entertainment - usually for the other side. Who can remember him clattering Nigel Stephenson with a head-high tackle and what were the circumstances?



Keyworth and Vasey were the outstanding pairing in terms of potential but we never really saw the best of them in Dewsbury colours; they left too soon. AFIR Mark Keyworth went to try his hand in Australia and picked up an injury after which he was never as good again. Agar and Bates had a very useful pack behind which to perform, which always helps doesn't it?

[Eddie_Rombo]

Paul Delaney and Mark Conway

Richard Agar and Barry Eaton

[Blind side johnny]

I best remember the era with Vasey and Keyworth and also Delaney and Shuttleworth.
Can,t remember what combination we had in the halves when we last played in Division 1,but they would have been okay considering we won at Odsal and Thrum Hall that year.
Shuttie was good player.

That was Keyworth & Vasey. The latter left for Leeds at the end of that season and MK headed off to Oz part way through, with paul Shuttleworth adopting the mantle at scrum half.

[grumpyoldram]

Dicky Doel was 100% entertainment - usually for the other side. Who can remember him clattering Nigel Stephenson with a head-high tackle and what were the circumstances?



Keyworth and Vasey were the outstanding pairing in terms of potential but we never really saw the best of them in Dewsbury colours; they left too soon. AFIR Mark Keyworth went to try his hand in Australia and picked up an injury after which he was never as good again. Agar and Bates had a very useful pack behind which to perform, which always helps doesn't it?

I was there - We were playing Donny at home (during the days when they played at tatters field, had an average gate of about 400, but still managed to stay afloat because of a thriving social side). They turned up a player short, and we lent them Dicky who proceeded to play a blinder, nearly decapitating young un in the process (or am I dreaming all this). Might have been arround the time the documentary 'sunday bloody sunday came out - or not Incidentally, there was a 'travellers' camp next to tatters field - I used to buy pegs and lucky heather from the fun loving rascalls just to make sure my hubcaps didn't unluckily disappear

[The Crab]

That was Keyworth & Vasey. The latter left for Leeds at the end of that season and MK headed off to Oz part way through, with paul Shuttleworth adopting the mantle at scrum half.

Thanks BSJ.
My memory is getting worse,didn,t we have a NZ/Aus player who played half back durting that year?

[YOUNG UN]

Thanks BSJ.
My memory is getting worse,didn,t we have a NZ/Aus player who played half back durting that year?

Dave Sefuiva I think his name was. Lively little bloke. Little being the word but could hold his own and very wick.

[Blind side johnny]

Dave Sefuiva I think his name was. Lively little bloke. Little being the word but could hold his own and very wick.

Only played 9 games though. Not like Dewsbury to sign an injury-prone player was it?

[Blind side johnny]

I was there - We were playing Donny at home (during the days when they played at tatters field, had an average gate of about 400, but still managed to stay afloat because of a thriving social side). They turned up a player short, and we lent them Dicky who proceeded to play a blinder, nearly decapitating young un in the process (or am I dreaming all this).

Well remembered GOR, although in my mind (not guaranteed 100% accurate by any means) we were playing Blackpool. Does anyone else remember this? (I know Crown Flatter was there because I was sitting next to him.)

[Crown Flatter]

Well remembered GOR, although in my mind (not guaranteed 100% accurate by any means) we were playing Blackpool. Does anyone else remember this? (I know Crown Flatter was there because I was sitting next to him.)

I think it's more likely to have been Blackpool rather than Donny turning up a man short. Good man our Dicky, more in the reserves than first team I seem to recall.

Another pairing would be Garth Budge and Alan Bates (and Alvin Newall I think).

The best pair was probably Agar & Bates. Under achievers probably were Vasey & Keyworth (they could have been really good).

[grumpyoldram]

I think it's more likely to have been Blackpool rather than Donny turning up a man short. Good man our Dicky, more in the reserves than first team I seem to recall.

Another pairing would be Garth Budge and Alan Bates (and Alvin Newall I think).

The best pair was probably Agar & Bates. Under achievers probably were Vasey & Keyworth (they could have been really good).

Could have been blackpool I spose - the memory ain't what it was. Speaking of Alvin Newall, I'm sure when I first started watching on a regular basis in 1966, his halfback partner was a bloke called Hayman - think he was an Aussie. Anybody remember him ?
Now I haven't taken my tablets yet, but I have a feeling that a pairing of Southernwood and Spaven might be the best we've had since Maloney and Sheridan.

[STEVE P]

I think it's more likely to have been Blackpool rather than Donny turning up a man short. Good man our Dicky, more in the reserves than first team I seem to recall.

Another pairing would be Garth Budge and Alan Bates (and Alvin Newall I think).

The best pair was probably Agar & Bates. Under achievers probably were Vasey & Keyworth (they could have been really good).

I remember Garth Budge. He was an Aussie who came to us from Bradford, possibly in the deal that took Pete Mullins in the other direction.
I remember one day arguing with a Northern fan at Crown Flatt who said that Budge was too cumbersome and slow and they were glad to be shut of him. I defended Budge by saying that although he wasn't the sharpest stand off he was a sound player and probably the best defensive half back in the league (I'd probably read something like that in the Pink Un one Saturday).
The Bradford Stand Off then proceeded to run rings around Budgie for the rest of the game. Did I get some stick. Talk about humble pie, it's a good job I was too young to know what humility was.

[STEVE P]

Could have been blackpool I spose - the memory ain't what it was. Speaking of Alvin Newall, I'm sure when I first started watching on a regular basis in 1966, his halfback partner was a bloke called Hayman - think he was an Aussie. Anybody remember him ?
Now I haven't taken my tablets yet, but I have a feeling that a pairing of Southernwood and Spaven might be the best we've had since Maloney and Sheridan.

After Gwyn Davies left and/or whilst he was banned for bopping a referee, Newall had a few partners, one of whom was indeed called Hayman, but I can't remember much else about him. Garth Budge was another and we signed a bald bloke from Rochdale, whose name began with a G I think. He never made any impact. None of them was as effective with Newall as Davies had been, but the best of them was probably Alan Edwards, who I still reckon was under rated as a player.

[Crown Flatter]

Don't recall Hayman or someone whose name began with G, but I do remember Garth Budge breaking his nose at Halifax as he hit the fence behind the sticks at Thrum Hall. It gave him a very distinctive appearance. I have mentioned before that he came over to Bradford with full back Errol Stock.

Alan Edwards, whilst a local, came to us from Salford I think and I do recall the quality of his play.

In the past we always seemed to develop a good full back, hooker and, dare I say it, good half backs (as mentioned above).

[STEVE P]

Don't recall Hayman or someone whose name began with G, but I do remember Garth Budge breaking his nose at Halifax as he hit the fence behind the sticks at Thrum Hall. It gave him a very distinctive appearance. I have mentioned before that he came over to Bradford with full back Errol Stock.

Alan Edwards, whilst a local, came to us from Salford I think and I do recall the quality of his play.

In the past we always seemed to develop a good full back, hooker and, dare I say it, good half backs (as mentioned above).

I remembered. His name was Garforth.

See the old grey matter still works. Just takes a while longer to stoke it up.

[grumpyoldram]

I remembered. His name was Garforth.

See the old grey matter still works. Just takes a while longer to stoke it up.

Put your thinking cap on again then Steve - I went to Junior school with a lad called Butterfield (Ian ?) who played scrum half for Dewsbury in the early seventies for a while - if you remember him, who would have been the stand off at that time - pretty sure it was pre-Agar. Also we had a Kiwi stand off called Vincent in the Eighties - who would have been scrum-half ?

[Heckler]

Also we had a Kiwi stand off called Vincent in the Eighties - who would have been scrum-half ?

That would be Andy Vincent who I believe we signed from Bramley or went to Bramley after his spell with us. The only scrum half that springs to mind around that time would be Willie Johnson though I seem think he usually paired up with Chris Wilkinson. Failing that Paul Shuttleworth may have been around that era as well.

[legin]

I remember an Adrian Plummer and was it Patterson or Pattinson in the 70's ?
Alan Hayman was a Shaw Cross player who came to Dewsbury via Hull , Alan Edwards also Shaw Cross wasnt he signed when Mick Sullivan was player / coach , broken jaw in semi v Saint in 1966 ? went to full back in 67 then on to Batley .
Another stand off was Brian Firth fireman bit injury prone but great player , Ken Bosworth and Geoff Popplewell were first pair I remember , although looking at first programme I got Harry Royal was scrum half . I remember Ian Butterfield didnt he join same time as Dave Briggs Joe Whittington etc mid to late 60's ?