The root of all evil

[Hoddie 2,777]

When Halifax Town AFC became a thing, supporters of Halifax NUFC (later RLFC) who were attending the club's 1911 AGM immediately demanded that their board make no accommodation for the upstart new club. This was on the back of one of the greatest betrayals in rugby league history, that of Manningham FC, the Northern Union's first champions, walking away from the game to become Bradford City FC. Then, to every West Riding rugby supporter's horror, BPA turned away from rugby to embrace soccer as well, though this further act of betrayal did at least see the founding of Bradford Northern (now Bradford Bulls).

How did all this manifest itself in terms of trying to hold back the football club? In the first instance, Halifax NUFC refused to agree scheduling accommodations with the football club, something that happened in other centres of rugby and football. Handily, a correspondent to the Halifax Evening Courier provided the following comparison for 1913/14:

In Huddersfield, the NUFC and AFC clubs managed to rearrange games so as to have only 2 dates on which both clubs were at home.
In Oldham, the clubs ended up with just 3.
In York, only 5.
In Rochdale, 6.

In Halifax that season, there were 8 dates on which supporters had to choose one match or the other, almost half of all home games. Some of the football clubs listed above had many more home games than Halifax Town did, due to being involved in different leagues. Almost all of Halifax NUFC's biggest games - against Wigan, etc. - clashed with Town games, which would have adversely affected both clubs. Supporters often wrote to the Courier asking the clubs to consider the local sportsmen who were willing to support both, but the rugby club's policy didn't change. Halifax Town's directors went to great lengths to signal their willingness to work with their Thrum Hall neighbours.

It's obviously not possible to say exactly how much Halifax NUFC's tawdry behaviour cost in terms of the development of the football club, but it will have had some bearing for sure. It has to be said, when Huddersfield Town AFC was founded in 1908, the district of Huddersfield, though geographically larger than the Halifax district, had a similar population, but their football club flourished. Not competing for supporters allowed them to have higher gates, higher income and thus a stronger case to join the Football League. In contrast, Halifax Town only entered the League in 1921, and even then as a 'hanger on' because they weren't considered strong enough to be admitted without a vote. Halifax Town faced re-election in their first season of League football, and it was only due to the good relations built up over the years with clubs across Yorkshire and Lancashire that saved the club from being replaced.

All this of course does not explain the current tepid relations between the clubs, but it does serve to show that there is a historical context to the ill will between the two, knowledge of which will have been passed down by the supporters even if the club's respective boards of directors were at any point in time keen to work together, such as they were in 1997.

[born to moan 1,530]

Very interesting that Hoddie, so the egg chasers are historically nasty bar stewards. That explains things.

[Angus 931]

Didn’t know the historical details, but at least the squatters remain true to their ethos

[Riders of Rohan 1,609]

The rugby club have always seen the “soccer” club as a commercial rival.

Perhaps the massive success of Huddersfield Town, winning the First Division Championship 3 times in the 1920’s had two further effects:

1. It made the rugby club in Halifax fear Halifax Town could achieve the same and they felt justified in their opposition.

2. Halifax, Elland and Brighouse people chose to support Huddersfield due to their successes and this would set future generations down that path.

[Hoddie 2,777]

Many in Brighouse and Elland would have been anti-Halifax NUFC because they had competing clubs back in those days, rugby and cricket respectively. I'm not exactly sure when Brighouse rugby club declined, just as many other local clubs like Salterhebble did, but they were very well supported in the early 1900s. The cricket club at Thrum Hall was part of the same company as the rugby club and were making pretty serious annual losses trying to maintain their status, and Elland, King Cross and others were seen as competing clubs, so presumably locals would have been loathe to switch allegiance.

[Nick 1,910]

Always frustrated me the lack of co-operation between the clubs .. always felt that the clubs should not just co-exist but try and work together in many areas 

now however I just want them to “go away” but not in such a polite way 

[Steve Lanzarote 4,259]

1 hour ago, Riders of Rohan said:

The rugby club have always seen the “soccer” club as a commercial rival.

Perhaps the massive success of Huddersfield Town, winning the First Division Championship 3 times in the 1920’s had two further effects:

1. It made the rugby club in Halifax fear Halifax Town could achieve the same and they felt justified in their opposition.

2. Halifax, Elland and Brighouse people chose to support Huddersfield due to their successes and this would set future generations down that path.

Huddersfield also canvassed other league clubs to vote against our re-election on several season in order to pinch our fan base.

[Hoddie 2,777]

13 minutes ago, Steve Lanzarote said:

Huddersfield also canvassed other league clubs to vote against our re-election on several season in order to pinch our fan base.

Is that true or possibly just a local urban myth? It has to be said that Bradford City did much more to help the fledgling Halifax Town club, but Huddersfield also played their part as well. I guess it's possible that the relationship soured over the years but a lot of players have moved between the two clubs and fixtures between the two were pretty regular until the 90s.

[Steve Lanzarote 4,259]

4 minutes ago, Hoddie said:

Is that true or possibly just a local urban myth? It has to be said that Bradford City did much more to help the fledgling Halifax Town club, but Huddersfield also played their part as well. I guess it's possible that the relationship soured over the years but a lot of players have moved between the two clubs and fixtures between the two were pretty regular until the 90s.

True Hoddie I was present at a meeting when we were having to apply for re- election. I had been told they would vote against us but to actively canvass other clubs I was shall we say staggered.  

[townmad 866]

I was told this by Tony Thwaites, he said John Crowther would go round  canvassing clubs for their votes when we were applying for re-election and Huddersfield would tell him straight that they would not be voting for us. Fortunately John Crowther was well liked among chairmen of other clubs but if Huddersfield had their way they would have had us out.

[Che Bentos 1,466]

2 hours ago, townmad said:

I was told this by Tony Thwaites, he said John Crowther would go round  canvassing clubs for their votes when we were applying for re-election and Huddersfield would tell him straight that they would not be voting for us. Fortunately John Crowther was well liked among chairmen of other clubs but if Huddersfield had their way they would have had us out.

As it happened, his efforts just delayed the inevitable.  

[Nick 1,910]

Forgotten how many time we applied for re election in those years 

Edited October 16 by Nick

[Nick 1,910]

V 

Edited October 16 by Nick

[kit 446]

On 10/16/2020 at 6:52 PM, townmad said:

I was told this by Tony Thwaites, he said John Crowther would go round  canvassing clubs for their votes when we were applying for re-election and Huddersfield would tell him straight that they would not be voting for us. Fortunately John Crowther was well liked among chairmen of other clubs but if Huddersfield had their way they would have had us out.

John told me the two Clubs who consistently voted against us were Huddersfield and Liverpool (I've posted this before). While the reason for Hudders opposition is obvious, he could never understand Liverpool, particularly as they always told him they would vote for us!

[kit 446]

"During the 1895 close season arrangements were made (by Halifax AFC, Town's predecessors) to occupy the Pheasant Ground at Pellon, but subsequently overtures were made by the Rugby Club, which resulted in an amalgamation, with the promise that the games should be played at Thrum Hall.....

....For two more years the club remained at Thrum Hall, but eventually opposition on the part of the Rugby members caused the Association section to be dropped"

This is from the "Official History of the Club" handbook, and shows there were issues as early as 1897.

[Flea 6,445]

There has always seemed to be a bit of an inferiority complex with rugby fans when it comes to football. This isn't just a Fax/Town thing, however something that seems to transcend across both codes of Rugby to all of football in general. I've never got the attraction to rugby at all, it is, certainly more so with league, a very skill less sport. 

The "Oi Oi, Rugby lads banta" style seems to be a huge effort of bravado and willy waving that their sport is actually worth paying attention to. 

[shaymenRup 1,085]

The squatting swamp donkeys have never changed. Rugby League in the UK is dying and Halifax RLFC deserve their fate. What goes around comes around.

[Forever a Shayman 900]

Rugby League is a sport with an inferiority complex it has never will get away from its Northern roots watching the Australian Rugby League the NRL it’s a far superior game to Super league in this country and history says so it’s 50 years since this country was better.

[kit 446]

23 hours ago, Flea said:

There has always seemed to be a bit of an inferiority complex with rugby fans when it comes to football. This isn't just a Fax/Town thing, however something that seems to transcend across both codes of Rugby to all of football in general. I've never got the attraction to rugby at all, it is, certainly more so with league, a very skill less sport. 

The "Oi Oi, Rugby lads banta" style seems to be a huge effort of bravado and willy waving that their sport is actually worth paying attention to. 

It's a conundrum. If Rugby League's any good, why is it only watched round the M62? If it's rubbish, why doesn't it die out altogether?

[Hoddie 2,777]

20 minutes ago, kit said:

It's a conundrum. If Rugby League's any good, why is it only watched round the M62? If it's rubbish, why doesn't it die out altogether?

It's been suffering a slow, lingering death for 140 years now