My story 14. Against all odds Rovers win the Cup. Terry Hudson, Charlie Stone (RIP) Keith Bridges. All Lads from Featherstone.
7th May 1983. The Queen presents Malcolm Dixon with the Cup
Friday 27th September 2025 Featherstone West Yorkshire.
I visited the Rovers stadium today, with
a lovely Featherstone lass (let’s call her Jojo) from Athens who has a truly amazing story,
mine is nothing compared with her tales of life in Greece who ,five ft nothing
at best, last week, flew from Athens to Heathrow, She left Athens early morning, landed at 9am, train to Paddington, crap
circle line to Kings Cross, train delayed so missed direct train to Wakefield
and 'crap connection' meant she finally arrived at Featherstone station early
evening with a half mile walk to base camp. Yesterday Jojo marched up Station
Lane, turned right at Post Office Road and asked to see whoever was charge of the
superstore as she would like to buy a shirt for the oldest living Featherstone
Rovers Legend, none other than Cliff (Slam); Heritage number 63, 1949 to 1962,
appearances 376, tries 82, goals 3, Lambert.
She undertook suitable recognisance, met Dave Farrar, son of
another true Rovers Legend, Vince (RIP) Farrar and conveyed a selection of
photos to me in Brid. 'First team home shirt' my response.
This morning, she repeated the exercise and called me from
the shop as the Rovers would be over the moon to give Slam, free of charge -
which means a lot to Yorkshire folk- this season’s jersey. I rejigged my day jumped in my trusty old
Saab and loved every minute, reliving childhood memories and moments in life
that would shape the future.
Persuading Jojo to share her story is for later.
January 1983. 70 Jermyn Street London W1.
I shared an office with my boss and another trainee (I was 30 in year two of my RICS professional exams), I worked for Donaldsons Chartered
Surveyors manging shopping centres throughout the UK. I attended evening
classes with wife and new daughter at home in Islington. My journey home took
me past the Ritz, along Picadilly to Green Park Station. I would take the
Victoria Line to Euston, make sure back of the train, and a short cut through
-not advertised - to the Northern Line to Angel Islington. It was like playing
Monopoly but for real. I also realised the professions largely comprised of public-school
idiots and clients liked common sense.
Where was I? Oh yes Feathersone Rovers, against all odds.
It was a Saturday and walking from a family lunch in Belsize
Park as we passed a TV shop there they were, not only my beloved Rovers were on
the telly, but they were beating St Helens away in the cup. A mysterious twist
of my ankle meant I needed to rest for a whole ten minutes.
What happened over the following weeks confounded everyone involved in the game of Rugby League. There is a link to the final at the end.
Never under-estimate Lads from Featherstone is my mantra and
my 95-year-old dad is living proof of winning against all odds.
My favourite memory was the 1983 Cup final against, Champions Hull., money and the rest. Two things everyone missed:
1. They were playing against Lads from Featherstone and.
2. We had two of our lads in enemy camp. Keith Bridges and
Charlie Stone. They might have been British Lions and the rest but their DNA
was from Post Office Road, the Rovers Stadium.
Daily Telegraph, The Times and the rest of the media weresaying
'waste of time a white wash' Oh dear they forgot what lads from Featherstone
do.. We win against all odds.
Here are some of the lads that left a lasting impression and helped shape my life:
Terry Hudson -Tex (i used to give him matches at Gordon
Street Secondary Modern - he was 'cock' of the school-to stop him beating me
up. he had a tattoo on his leg, really scary).
Tex 'took out' their star player, Kevin Harkin, early on and spent ten
minutes in the bin. All part of the plan.
Then, Keith Bridges 'slips' misses a vital tackle to bring us level. Keith was at Normanton Grammar School. he was my ideal of what a good payer should be; cool, calm, collected and stood no nonsense. I looked up to him a lot.
The finale, Charlie Stone
(RIP)...
I was my second-year teacher training at Loughborough and
back home for the weekend to play for a pub side, Station Hotel Featherstone.
I’d got drunk in there Xmas before and the landlord, an old Rovers pro (played
with my dad) though if he combine the best Union 7’s talent - apparently, I was
quick, and the rising stars from Pontefract RFU, Charlie Stone being the one I
made mates with. Apparently, some large bets had been placed on the, never won
a game, struggle to get a team most weeks, Station Hotel beating Lock Lane
(champions and holders) to win the national amateur 7’s being played at Rovers
Ground. Charlie and I had such fun and
got free beer for life after thrashing Lock Lane in the final.
Lads from Featherstone win the cup, as they do!
The BBC commentator says, 'one of the greatest upsets in
Rugby League history. He missed one
thing:
They were lads from Featherstone!
Below is a wonderful example of mindfulness, right at the
beginning. Tex and David Topliss (two
captains) walking onto the pitch. Look at Topliss and then look at Tex. There
was only ever going to be one winner, and they hadn't even kicked off. Tex knew exactly what his first job was, and
it landed him in the sin-bin.
Click below to send shivers down your spine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQnIyQLbyvE&t=637s
And what’s best of all, I was there in the stadium. Om lads.
The point I am really making is:
Never under-estimate, lads from Featherstone.
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