Davo5 Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 Just been announced on the Wigan FB page that former Player David Stephenson has passed away at the young age of 63,really good player for club & country.RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrek Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 RIP Dave, legend of the game and all round nice guy. Enjoyed his work and was lucky enough to share a training pitch with him a few times many moons ago in deepest darkest Bolton where he fancied himself as a stand-off! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo5 Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 2 minutes ago, Davo5 said: Just been announced on the Wigan FB page that former Player David Stephenson has also passed away at the young age of 63,really good player for club & country.RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exiled Wiganer Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 2 sad losses. Dave H was a true leaguie. My favourite memory of David Stephenson was at a game in York. The autumn light was fading as he lined up a conversion from the touch line. A spectator climbed over the fence, and held his lighter above the ball as David ran in to kick it. After it went over, they shook hands and David trotted back for the kick off. God rest their souls. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cw25 Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 Sad news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waynebennettswinger Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 Sad news. An excellent RL journalist. For anyone who hasn’t read his books, get searching now, Xiii Worlds paired my love of travel and RL and is one the best books written about our wonderful sport. RIP Dave Hadfield 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yosser Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 Very sad loss. You could always rely on him to defend RL and he didn't pull any punches in his criticism of RU at a time when other journalists wanted to sweep things under the carpet. RIP Dave 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angelic Cynic Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 A wonderful journalist of the old school is how I will remember David Hadfield. I do hope someone similar writes his obituary. One piece I do recall is this,about the late,great,Roy Powell,who I recall watching at the same time as the now departed David Stephenson. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-roy-powell-1044307.html 2 No reserves,but resilience,persistence and determination are omnipotent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jughead Posted March 15 Author Share Posted March 15 The “new school” of RL journalists are, largely, lightyears behind Hadfield and his works will be a huge loss. My Grandad would say that Hadfield knew about the important things in life, rugby, good beer and good pubs. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFlash Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 I think he's a terrible loss to the game. What incredibly sad news. Back when people read newspapers, he seemed to be the only "pure" Rugby League journalist in the national press. An absolute beacon out there often being a lone voice defending the sport across all the broadsheets. He played the game as well if I remember correctly. For a Manchester team... Tameside perhaps? RIP Dave. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DI Keith Fowler Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 I think because he's not been visible for a few years due to ill health it's easy to forget how big a figure he was for the game in the media. He was a man who held his own in any company and is a terrible loss. Thoughts with his family at this sad time. 1 I was born to run a club like this. Number 1, I do not spook easily, and those who think I do, are wasting their time, with their surprise attacks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pie tries Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 7 hours ago, Leyther_Matt said: 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. Fabulous - I’m sure he’d smile at that story ! Lovely man - great writer snd a true ‘league’ man. RIP 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Padge Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 Great journalist and writer, often seen in The Anvil in Wigan having a pre-match pint before covering a Wigan game. Top bloke as well as top journo, R.I.P. Dave and condolences to family and friends. 1 Visit my photography site www.padge.smugmug.com Radio 5 Live: Saturday 14 April 2007 Dave Whelan "In Wigan rugby will always be king" This country's wealth was created by men in overalls, it was destroyed by men in suits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bamfordsbeans Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 RIP Dave. Great loss to the game. As well as his RL books he wrote one about travelling round England on a pensioners bus pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigan Riversider Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 A genuine gentleman whom I was privileged to know personally. Tragic loss. RIP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweaty craiq Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 A huge loss to RL but an even greater loss to family and close friends. A true Gent. RIP Dave, my thoughts and prayers with those left behind at this sad time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATLANTISMAN Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 Dave On 15/03/2022 at 18:07, Davo5 said: Just been announced on the Wigan FB page that former Player David Stephenson has passed away at the young age of 63,really good player for club & country.RIP What a great guy and wonderful RL journalist RIP Dave. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Futtocks Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 (edited) A nice tribute: https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2022/news/giant-of-rugby-league-journalism-dies-aged-70/ Edited March 28 by Futtocks 3 1 "We are easily breakable, by illness or falling, or a million other ways of leaving this earthly life. We are just so much mashed potato." Don Estelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Futtocks Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 And another: https://inews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/dave-hadfield-giant-rugby-league-journalism-tributes-1520398 1 "We are easily breakable, by illness or falling, or a million other ways of leaving this earthly life. We are just so much mashed potato." Don Estelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anita Bath Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 7 hours ago, Futtocks said: A nice trinute: https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2022/news/giant-of-rugby-league-journalism-dies-aged-70/ “they dont make RL journos like him any more” says it all really Loved his columns in Open Rugby/rugby league world. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun mc Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 A great writer - his Open Rugby/RL World pieces were generally the highlight of the mag His taste in sport was as good as his taste in beer Thanks to those who put the tribute links up - I'll have a read RIP 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robins up north Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 (edited) Sad news after the editorial it was always Dave's page I turned to. His books were excellent reads Edited March 21 by robins up north Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Padge Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 33 minutes ago, robins up north said: Sad news after the editorial it was always Dave's page I turned to. His books were excellent reads They still are, you don't have to stop reading them because he has passed. Visit my photography site www.padge.smugmug.com Radio 5 Live: Saturday 14 April 2007 Dave Whelan "In Wigan rugby will always be king" This country's wealth was created by men in overalls, it was destroyed by men in suits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJW Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 Ran into him many times over the years and happy memories of drinks in several bars in Carcassonne. Last saw him to talk to at launch of Lost In Spain in Marlow and he looked unwell but his mind was as sharp and witty as ever. RIP Dave, hate the thought won't see you at the Ibis on Gambetta ever again. My wife complains I selfishly stop her fulfilling her true ambition - she really wants to be a rich widow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIGGY Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 RIP Dave Lovely guy, Shared a press box with him many times and always had a story to tell when i saw him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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