27 replies to this topic

[Northern Sol]

I had some time to kill in London so popped into a library and started reading a book on Leeds United by some Jewish bloke. He made out that the Leeds Parish church side were supposed to be an example of muscular Christianity (I know this is true), were well supported by the local Jewish community (ditto) but unfortunately acquired the nickname "the sheens" as a result. He made out that the shutting down of the side had to do with this.

Anyone know how true this is?

[buford t justice]

I had some time to kill in London so popped into a library and started reading a book on Leeds United by some Jewish bloke. He made out that the Leeds Parish church side were supposed to
be an example of muscular Christianity (I know this is true), were well supported by the local Jewish community (ditto) but unfortunately acquired the nickname "the sheens" as a result. He made out that the shutting down of the side had to do with this.

Anyone know how true this is?

Im more interested to understand why going to the library was the activity of choice to kill time in London.

Being a humble northerner i was always led to believe it was a vibrant bustling metropolis packed with things to see and do.

[Lobbygobbler]

I had some time to kill in London so popped into a library and started reading a book on Leeds United by some Jewish bloke. He made out that the Leeds Parish church side were supposed to be an example of muscular Christianity (I know this is true), were well supported by the local Jewish community (ditto) but unfortunately acquired the nickname "the sheens" as a result. He made out that the shutting down of the side had to do with this.

Anyone know how true this is?

Wasnt it closed in some way by a Scottish RU guy?

[Victoria Dawson]

It is true. The author will have gotten it from Rugby's Great Split (1998 )by Professor Tony Collins. He has a footnote that reads thus:

'The high level of Jewish support for the Leeds Parish Church side had been noted in the early 1890s, so much so that The Yorkshireman uniformily referred to the club's supporters by the anti-Semitic epithet "sheenies". See The Yorkshireman 29 September 1894'.

Edited by Victoria Dawson, 09 August 2012 - 07:10 PM.

[Victoria Dawson]

Wasnt it closed in some way by a Scottish RU guy?

Sidney Gedge, a Scottish RU international, was a member of the committee that shut it down.

[Northern Sol]

Im more interested to understand why going to the library was the activity of choice to kill time in London.

Being a humble northerner i was always led to believe it was a vibrant bustling metropolis packed with things to see and do.

LIved in London twice and visited there many times, was hanging around near Victoria coach station waiting for my bus.

[Lobbygobbler]

Sidney Gedge, a Scottish RU international, was a member of the committee that shut it down.

That would indicate it was shut because of dislike of the Northern Union.

[Blind side johnny]

That would indicate it was shut because of dislike of the Northern Union.

I think it was because of the unsavoury reputation developed by its thuggish supporters that the Parish Church didn't want to be associated with.

[Richard de la Riviere]

There's a really interesting chapter on Leeds Parish Church in '1895 and all that' which was published by Scratching Shed a couple of years ago. Great book!

[fieldofclothofgold]

I had some time to kill in London so popped into a library and started reading a book on Leeds United by some Jewish bloke. He made out that the Leeds Parish church side were supposed to be an example of muscular Christianity (I know this is true), were well supported by the local Jewish community (ditto) but unfortunately acquired the nickname "the sheens" as a result. He made out that the shutting down of the side had to do with this.

Anyone know how true this is?

They were called "t lads ower t bridge" and the Jewish community from the nearby Leylands became their a big part of their core support.their record attendance was over 20,000.They were founded as a church team as were other pre great split clubs were"muscular christianity".After the split the church elders didnt like the rough fans of the club and disbanded the club.Most of their top players went on to join the then poorest team among the leeds clubs, Leeds st johns at Headingley.The Jewish insults still go on to this day when Leeds play at certain places.

[southstand loiner]

They were called "t lads ower t bridge" and the Jewish community from the nearby Leylands became their a big part of their core support.their record attendance was over 20,000.They were founded as a church team as were other pre great split clubs were"muscular christianity".After the split the church elders didnt like the rough fans of the club and disbanded the club.Most of their top players went on to join the then poorest team among the leeds clubs, Leeds st johns at Headingley.The Jewish insults still go on to this day when Leeds play at certain places.

so true about the insults but who really cares what people say about us . lets face it bradford get plenty of stick over the high asian population in bradford . there will always be those with closed minds .

the parish church pitch was just behind where the royal armouries is these days and by all accounts the battles between the jews coming over from north street and the leylands to watch the team and the irish from the east bank were fearsome with some of the priests spewing out venom to work up the catholics who had made the east bank there home.
im told some of my relatives from back then were supporters of the parish church team and changed to supporting leeds when the church team disbanded and since then its been leeds supporters in an unbroken chain to the present day

[Lobbygobbler]

Any photos of the Leeds Parish Church team/stadium?

[keighley]

I think the club was closed down by the church because they got a rabid RU Vicar and he seized the opportunity to damage the Northern Union by closing them down.

I think Broughton Rangers from Manchester also had a substantial Jewish support base.

If the Irish catholics were fighting the Jews whilst supporting a Church of England sponsored team that must have alienated the Vicar against them even more than the fact that they had joined the Northern Union.

[fieldofclothofgold]

Its a pity those moving pictures of early NU games that were discovered did not seem to include their old ground.they had a grandstand hold 200 I think I read,also they were offered another site somewhere on York road,but they just ceased to be and their players went on to improve a very weak Leeds st johns club

[fieldofclothofgold]

I think there are pictures of the Leeds Parish church team on youtube.Someone posted some old stills and moving pics either on here or on the othere forum

[Trojan]

They were called "t lads ower t bridge" and the Jewish community from the nearby Leylands became their a big part of their core support.their record attendance was over 20,000.They were founded as a church team as were other pre great split clubs were"muscular christianity".After the split the church elders didnt like the rough fans of the club and disbanded the club.Most of their top players went on to join the then poorest team among the leeds clubs, Leeds st johns at Headingley.The Jewish insults still go on to this day when Leeds play at certain places.

Come to think of it I believe Tottenham Hotspurs were originally a church side - and they even today are London's Jewish side. I must admit I always thought the Rhino's origins lay in the Leeds Parish Church side. I wonder if they used the Palace as a clubhouse.

[fieldofclothofgold]

There ground was on Clarence road,Southstand loiner said it was at the back of where the RA is now.Just imagine how things could have turned out,at that Time Leeds St Johns at Headingley were struggling so much that they were contemplating converting to association football.It was the influx of the Parish church players that changed their fortunes.The major rl club in the city could have been the modern day Leeds parish church rlfc,and all this was before Leeds city took over Elland road from holbeck NU club

[Lobbygobbler]

There ground was on Clarence road,Southstand loiner said it was at the back of where the RA is now.Just imagine how things could have turned out,at that Time Leeds St Johns at Headingley were struggling so much that they were contemplating converting to association football.It was the influx of the Parish church players that changed their fortunes.The major rl club in the city could have been the modern day Leeds parish church rlfc,and all this was before Leeds city took over Elland road from holbeck NU club

So Leeds had five pro NU rugby clubs then (Leeds, Leeds PC, Hunslet, Holbeck and Bramley). Must have been awesome - complete rugby in the city

Edited by Lobbygobbler, 15 August 2012 - 10:03 PM.

[The Parksider]

I had some time to kill in London so popped into a library and started reading a book on Leeds United by some Jewish bloke. He made out that the Leeds Parish church side were supposed to be an example of muscular Christianity (I know this is true), were well supported by the local Jewish community (ditto) but unfortunately acquired the nickname "the sheens" as a result. He made out that the shutting down of the side had to do with this.

Anyone know how true this is?

Some wonderful replies for you here Solly.

All I can add is the main reason for closure was that the lease was up on the ground and it was wanted for industrial purposes.

The club had to suspend operations for a year in order to find and develop alternative facilities but all that meant was the best players were signed up by Leeds and Hunslet and the fans drifted off to Hunslet - an easy walk away, as set out by others for you.

Left the club dead in the water.........

Code X111 (Trevor Delaney's wonderful magazine - anyone heard from Trevor BTW??) has a full article on the club and a team photo.....

The legacy of Rugby in inner east Leeds of course passed on to amateurs Savile green who beat Bramley in the cup, and of course to East Leeds today, In short the area remained a very strong Rugby Area.

I was surprised by the Jewish connection, the "bank" area being Irish, but of course the "Leylands" of inner north Leeds was heavily Jewish and again only a 10 minute walk from The Clarence Road Ground. The 20,000 crowd was for a cup quarter final with Runcorn and I think that it may be a dubious estimate (no pun intended) but they did count their crowds in the thousands.

Edited by The Parksider, 15 August 2012 - 11:19 PM.

[EdinburghExile]

So Leeds had five pro NU rugby clubs then (Leeds, Leeds PC, Hunslet, Holbeck and Bramley). Must have been awesome - complete rugby in the city

I think it was 1902 where Leeds were the worst of the five.