Dave Hadfield RIP

[Jughead]

Aged 70, confirmed by The RFL. 

[Harry Stottle]

I did enjoy his work, RIP Dave.

[Ant]

Often a lone voice in the broadsheets, and a decent writer to boot. Always looked for his writing on cup finals after the game.

[Futtocks]

That's a shame. I have a few of his books, and enjoyed his journalism too.

[Gerrumonside ref]

RIP Dave Hadfield

[Hopping Mad]

Sad news, which has prompted me to reach over and pluck from a bookshelf my copy of XIII Winters, which Dave edited. Plenty to amuse in the opening chapter, A Tangerine Machine, in which Dave describes the fun (mostly!) he had covering Blackpool Borough's 1978-79 season. 

[Moove]

Sad news. Excellent writer and seemed a thoroughly decent chap the couple of times I had the pleasure of talking to him. RIP

[Number 16]

I had the very real pleasure of chatting to him on a number of occasions. Great bloke. Entertaining journalist and author and a true supporter of the sport at every level. 

He will be missed. RIP.

Graeme

[unapologetic pedant]

When he was the Independent`s RL correspondent in the 90s, Dave still found time to provide match reports of Bolton Mets games for the local free paper. That`s serious commitment. Fine writer, fine bloke.

[Dave T]

That's sad news, always liked reading his stuff, seemed a good guy.

RIP Dave 

[Irish Saint]

Always enjoyed his writings including those that were non rugby league. Rest In Peace

[dkw]

Sad news, always loved reading his stuff, came across as a genuinely nice guy too.

[Just Browny]

This is very sad news, RIP Dave. 

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

Very sad, and not that old although I believe he hadn't been well for a while. Our older Australian members might remember him as the writer of George Dunkerley's Old Dart back in the 1980s in the now defunct Rugby League Week.

[Exiled Townie]

RIP  Dave Hadfield, if his name was on the article, it was always an enjoyable read.

[daz39]

A proper RL journalist, they don't make em like Dave anymore - RIP!

[The Hallucinating Goose]

Very sad news, was just sorting my bookshelves yesterday and had a flick through a couple of his books that I haven't read for a little while, always enjoyed his stuff. RIP. 

[The Daddy]

 

[EastLondonMike]

Sad News. The first RL book I ever purchased was one of Dave's books. Of which I now have many. RIP Dave.

[Hemel Rugby League]

A great RL journalist. He guested for Hemel when we played in the Venice Sevens in 1983.

R.I.P Dave

[marklaspalmas]

A great writer on RL

A sad loss, rest in peace 

[Tides Of History]

Hadfield was one of the true greats of RL journalism wasn't he.

Can highly recommend the book he edited X111 winters - which was rugby league’s attempt to tap into the post Fever Pitch boom in sports writing. His player profiles before cup finals - available through (The Independent archive if you are a student) are gold. 

His book on the history of Australian players in the UK - Playing Away - is another classic.

[Big Picture]

Very sad news, he was a great journalist and booster of the game.

[Davo5]

A big loss to the sport,a top journalist & author RIP Dave.

[Leyther_Matt]

Sad news, a true ambassador for the game

Leigh played Widnes midweek in 2006ish having been postponed at the weekend and was a comparatively early kick off compared to these days as I think it was 7.15/7.30. We got the train from Warrington and were a little bit panicky as I think it was only due to arrive after 7pm. We hurriedly got off the train and were walking double pace to make sure we didn't miss kick off. As we hurriedly walked towards the ground, we thought for a moment we actually thought the game had been called off again as Mr Hadfield was walking towards us away from the ground with probably only 10-15 minutes to kick off. He then crossed the road, calm as you like, and wandered straight in to the Horse & Jockey for what we always imagined was the swiftest pint ever supped! Always raised a smile when thinking of that story.