Re: Which RL school : Thu Nov 03, 2011 3:19 pm  

The Clan wrote:

Ive been working at Outwood Grange for the last six months and have got to know Mr Barker very well, those who attended OGA probably remember him as he's been a PE teacher there for 33 years.

We've had a couple of conversations about how sport has changed over the last 30+ years and it is he who has told me how Rugby League was never a priority at the school, that it was always soccer until the last ten years or so.

With the opening of a new £3M sports hall to add to the already very good amenities and the promise of more new facilities in the near future the school is going to produce some very good sportsmen and women for decades to come.

Mr Barker has been there a few years he was more into soccer I was there 85-90 and he was there then, had a brain tumour I think and has recovered well. Mr Smith always took us for Rugby not sure if he's still there but we always had a team, school finals always played at Belle Vue, big thrill as a Trinity fan to play on the famous pitch. Always on a week day night end of season and we got use of the Trinity changing room

Re: Which RL school : Thu Nov 03, 2011 4:41 pm  

Dissapointing thing having attended Ossett School many years ago was how little rugby was offered there. I heard tales of Ossett School vs North Ossett School rugby game a few years before I joined had turned into a mass fight and they took rugby off the curriculum then. It was a shame as I'm sure most of the year groups could have fielded a half decent team at junior level. Only player in my year who did anything was a mate of mine who was on Halifax's books at the same time Chris Chester was on. He ended up joining the RAF I think and played for them instead of making it with any of the English Clubs. Only other player to come out of the school tha I know of is Alex Bretherton who is with Batley at the moment.

Re: Which RL school : Thu Nov 03, 2011 9:04 pm  

Roonaldo6 wrote:

Dissapointing thing having attended Ossett School many years ago was how little rugby was offered there. I heard tales of Ossett School vs North Ossett School rugby game a few years before I joined had turned into a mass fight and they took rugby off the curriculum then. It was a shame as I'm sure most of the year groups could have fielded a half decent team at junior level. Only player in my year who did anything was a mate of mine who was on Halifax's books at the same time Chris Chester was on. He ended up joining the RAF I think and played for them instead of making it with any of the English Clubs. Only other player to come out of the school tha I know of is Alex Bretherton who is with Batley at the moment.

Who was that?

[PopTart]

Re: Which RL school : Thu Nov 03, 2011 9:06 pm  

I

The Clan wrote:

The McDermotts spent the majority of their years on Townley Rd, on the junction with Waterton Rd, living in two houses knocked into one to accommodate all of them. They all attended English Martyrs before going on to St Austins when the family moved to College Grove. They all then attended St Thomas a Becketts with exception of Patrick who had all the brains and went to QEGS.

Paul, Mark, Stephen, Patrick, Theresa, Michael, Mary, Christopher, Matthew, Brian

Matthew was in my team. Good player, was just too small compared to everybody else. Good lad. Tackled well above his weight.
Was it Chris who played for Wakefield Colts. If its him I'm thinking of he once played fullback at Belle Vue and instead of catching a high ball he headed it over the deadball line.

We should count George as a StaB product. Can't spell his second name of course but he was a pretty good winger.

Re: Which RL school : Thu Nov 03, 2011 9:07 pm  

The Clan wrote:

I think St Thomas a Becketts is out in front, Outwood (the sixth largest school in the UK) only started concentrating on Rugby League about ten years ago.

Off the top of my head STABs:
David Ward
Paul McDermott
Paul Kelly
Andy Kelly
Neil Kelly
Richard Kelly
Brian McDermott
Kieran Allen
Nick Fozzard

That's certainly not a finite list.
Incidentally, has any other school produced so many top flight coaches/international coaches.

James Elston went to Becketts too.

Re: Which RL school : Thu Nov 03, 2011 9:17 pm  

im suprised nobody has mentioned freeston their have been a number of players that have done well from their not all wakey players granted but it is still a wakefield school,am i right in thinking the conway brothers were both freeston players.

has is cas and airdale high`s who have both produced international players for years. the most notable for me been neither a wakey or cas player in andy goodway who was imo one of the best 13`s in the world during his time.

Re: Which RL school : Thu Nov 03, 2011 9:30 pm  

braytontiger wrote:

im suprised nobody has mentioned freeston their have been a number of players that have done well from their not all wakey players granted but it is still a wakefield school,am i right in thinking the conway brothers were both freeston players.

has is cas and airdale high`s who have both produced international players for years. the most notable for me been neither a wakey or cas player in andy goodway who was imo one of the best 13`s in the world during his time.

i read this thread with interest and kept expecting Normanton Freeston to appear...i may be wrong on some of these but here goes:
Ben Cockayne
Mark Webster
Ben Westwood
Jamie Langley
Steve Lewis
Ady Hampshire
Mick Butterfield

I am sure Uptoncat will correct errors/add to that list

Re: Which RL school : Thu Nov 03, 2011 9:32 pm  

Bazza Fishcake wrote:

i read this thread with interest and kept expecting Normanton Freeston to appear...i may be wrong on some of these but here goes:
Ben Cockayne
Mark Webster
Ben Westwood
Jamie Langley
Steve Lewis
Ady Hampshire
Mick Butterfield

I am sure Uptoncat will correct errors/add to that list

Richard Blakeway
Andy Kain
Tony Tonks

Re: Which RL school : Thu Nov 03, 2011 9:32 pm  

Bazza Fishcake wrote:

i read this thread with interest and kept expecting Normanton Freeston to appear...i may be wrong on some of these but here goes:
Ben Cockayne
Mark Webster
Ben Westwood
Jamie Langley
Steve Lewis
Ady Hampshire
Mick Butterfield

I am sure Uptoncat will correct errors/add to that list

Suppose you can add Ryan Hampshire to that list too. Getting a lot of rave reviews from Wigan fans.

Re: Which RL school : Thu Nov 03, 2011 9:34 pm  

Roonaldo6 wrote:

Suppose you can add Ryan Hampshire to that list too. Getting a lot of rave reviews from Wigan fans.

Yeah, he is supposed to be different class