Hi Tony,



In that era I was a staunch loyal Fax fan (before switching to the Bulls in the 90s) and I remember it well.



1st round - Fax won at Bramley 12-5

2nd round - Fax beat Hunslet (or was it "New" Hunslet?) 23-12 at Thrummers

Semi - Fax beat Dewsbury 5-3 in a nail biter at Thrummers



My (now) beloved Bradford (Northern!) lost against Wakey 30-5 at Odsal in the 2nd round. You can see why I didn't bother with them in those days!

Glory hunters not welcome here, stick to our own forum please.

is that the final that mick blacker made a miraculous recovery from an appendix op to play

Hobbo, you cheeky monkey! Maybe it's about time you returned to the fold, the bullies have won nak all for ages and the Fax are serving up some entertaining good honest rugby league. And we're winning trophies!

I think that might have been the CC semi the following season against Hull KR, in which Mick was flattened and Roger Millward stopped the game to get a physio on the pitch.

Correct. Mick had had his appendix removed or something similar & was out on the pitch winding the Fax choir up waving his arms around & singing songs while the players were having a walkabout pre-match.

He later told us the tale while coaching us at Greetland that they'd stopped at the pub at hellfire crossroads for beans on toast ( yeah, i remember Bamford on about beans beans beans ) on the way to Headingley that a couple of the lads couldn't stomach theirs ( probably backs ) so Mick assisted them to clear their plates. I deduced one or two things from my time in Mick Blackers company which would resonate with this story just a couple of hours prior to the big match.

1: He was tight fisted & saw an opportunity for a free meal.

2: He was a greedy get !!!!



Love the guy, loved him as a player, coach & friend & was one of my inspirations while playing amateur RL. Great to have around, and playing for him & Gwyn Merrifield for Greetland AllRounders in the conference was my happiest times in a long time playing up there. Much respect.

Actually Grif, I'd challenge that statement because Fartown was just as decent as Headingley in that era, in fact the Leeds v Bradford premiership final was held there in the very same season. The only Yorkshire venue for several years 'cos Station Rd was also a regular venue at that time & with the cricket sunday matches affecting the availibilty of Headingley at the back end of the RL winter season.

In fact, looking at the history of the Regal/Players No.6 trophy finals & venues between 1971/72 season when we beat Wakey at Odsal & the return of that competition's return to Huddersfield at it's new stadium at McAlpine in 1994/95 only Odsal & Fartown other than Headingley were rugby league venues. Boothferry park & Elland Road were also used to host the final. As opposed to Lancashire rugby league grounds for this comp Central park, Wilderspool, The Willows, Knowsley Road & Station Road along with the old footy ground at Bolton by comparison. Nobody can convince me that Station rd, Wilderspool, Knowsley rd & the Willows were better than the old Fartown ground.

And finally, looking at the BBC floodlit trophy ( god bless it

) finals were also held at Naughton park & Hilton park in it's short history along with both the former grounds in Hull & Wheldon road. And I distinctly remember getting soaked watching the GB dad's army beat the jumped up Aussies at Odsal in '78 i think it was, Christ we've been treat like crap as spectators over the years watching rugby league........

Fair comment, though the first part of my post is fact and the second merely opinion.

I would not go that far, the old Fartown ground was showing its age and lack of any investment, the terracing was decaying and full of weeds in many parts but it was I agree a decent stadium in that era. I remember going there to see a Challenge Cup semi final between Saints and Keighley which Saints just won from memory, we went as a neutral (we used to pick a semi every year to go to), I do recall there was not many people there the game was not doing well at that time crowds were very poor.

9800 at that game. 13000 at the other.

I would expect sponsors to prefer the finer wining & dining of Headingley as opposed to pie & peas at Tattersfield or elsewhere to be honest.....

At the time, there was nowhere like Headingley.