4 replies to this topic

[Bulluk]

This is a bit of an odd one. I've been to visit my gran this evening and she started telling me a tale about how her grandad (her dad's dad) had "started Hunslet rugby. " I have to be honest, she's knocking on and some of her tales are a little tall and so I wondered if anyone recognised the name in relation to your club. 

She went on to say that her dad (George William Barlow) was was a physio (although he wasn't qualified) and told me how Ginger Burnell would bring his wheelchair bound brother to the edge of the dug out before each game to get a good view. 

I was hoping that someone on here would recognise some of these names and be able to fill in some gaps or give me similar stories that she might remember and enjoy. 

Thanks in advance

[Lapu Lapu Hun]

Ginger Burnell was the Hunslet scrum half in the 1950s, his brother Walter Burnell also played at that time but he was a forward not a back.  

[Moose]

Ginger Burnell was the Hunslet scrum half in the 1950s, his brother Walter Burnell also played at that time but he was a forward not a back.

Not only a great RL player but Alf (Ginger) Burnell is also an artist of some repute and also played his part in WW2.

http://www.thetelegr...sequel/?ref=arc

[Hawkwindbag]

Maybe your gran still does talk sense at least some of the time, Bulluk! There was a Barlow (a forward) in Hunslet's team in the their very first game in October 1883. Seems he played a few more times that season and the start of the 1884/85 season (I remember it well  )

 

So Mr Barlow in that sense did "start Hunslet rugby", in that he was there at kick-off! But my understanding was always that the "prime movers" in forming the club and getting the team together back in those dim and distant days were two other players in that inaugural game, Willam Gilston and Matthew Carr. Can't discount the possibility Barlow might have played a part in that process though. Maybe Frisky or Gabby can elaborate further ??

[gabby]

I have found a news cutting dated 27th March 1944 which tells of the death of two sporting veterans. One was a cricketer who assisted Holbeck and the other was F W Barlow. It goes on to say ''Mr Barlow specialised in rugby football. he played for the Holbeck St Johns team in their first match, when their ground was at the back of the Cemetery Tavern [This may be incorrect and in confusion with Hunslet] and latter with the Hunslet Rugby Club, assisting Holbeck for seven years and Hunslet for nine. SAn all round sportsman, Mr Barlow played cricket with the Hunslet Tradesman when the team was formed. Mr Barlow, who was 83, made his final appearance in sport when he swam and dived in the Rounday Park swimming pool last year at 82 years of age.'' It also says he lived at Belle Isle Circus and was a Hunslet football pioneer. He actually played in the first game at Woodhouse Hill.
Why I say there may be some confusion is because I have never seen any record of a rugby team behind the Cemetery Tavern before Hunslet. That doesn't mean it didn't happen though but there was a soccer team there prior to Hunslet. I can only find that he played in 3 games for Hunslet 1st team, but records are inconclusive and he probably HELPED form the Hunslet club as it was not a one man job. Billy Gilston was one of the most prominent founders. Hope all this helps and is not too boring.