LONG-STANDING League Express reader Graham Morris has wasted no time in getting touch following the request, in a recent Talking Grassroots column, for more information regarding the Valentine after whom the recently-relaunched Valentine Cup was originally named.
Morris, who has long been active in Rugby League circles in the cities of Manchester and Salford at both professional and amateur levels, said: “I was delighted to read about the Valentine Cup rebirth.
“It was uplifting to learn that Jack Youd and the Valentine Cup steering committee are attempting to revitalise amateur Rugby League in the Manchester area through the reintroduction of this magnificent trophy, with the Valentine Cup the central focus of the rallying call.
“Anything that stimulates growth in an area that many years ago boasted a dozen or so clubs has my approval.
“My personal interest in the Valentine Cup lies with the question raised in your feature: “Who was Valentine?”
You concluded with: “I’m sure League Express readers will be only too keen to help.”
“I actually went through a similar process in 2009 at the request of the Salford club (wearing my rugby historian hat) when the competition began a temporary revival.
“At the time I produced a feature for the match programme and a Rugby League magazine, posing the same question.”
Morris revealed: “The trophy was first introduced in 1903 as the Manchester and District Rugby League Championship Cup and is inscribed as such.
“Further inscriptions list its committee members including ‘J. Valentine’ as vice-chairman. Joseph (Joe) Valentine became secretary in 1904, continuing as a major influence until the Second World War intervened in 1939, by which time he was labelled honorary secretary and organiser.
“A popular thought was that the trophy honoured Swinton’s legendary Jim Valentine, who played for the Lions from 1883 until 1901, his life ending prematurely in 1904 when struck by lightning.
“In my opinion, a trophy bearing his name would be fully merited. By all accounts he was a truly outstanding threequarter, appearing four times for England at rugby union and making an incredible 64 appearances for Lancashire across both codes.
“When I researched the history of the Manchester and District League, the first Valentine Cup reference I came across was on May 26, 1951, the Salford City Reporter informing readers that Seedley Rangers had reached the final (subsequently won by Langworthy), defeating Irlam & Cadishead 20-12.
“It was introduced as an end-of-season knockout contest, supplementing the Manchester and District League, which continued operating until 1955-56, when decreasing numbers brought about its demise.
“After that happened, I suspect its trophy was repurposed as the Valentine Cup. As Joe Valentine died on February 17, 1956 at the age of 82, it would make sense to honour him in this way.”
Morris concluded: “My leaning is towards the trophy being named after Joe, but it is an educated guess.
“Unfortunately I was unable to track down any surviving minutes from that time and my appeal in the local press for relatives to come forward attracted several responses, but drew a blank. Hopefully, the answer is out there somewhere.”
