Paul Abraham casts his eye back through the Bramley RLFC archives and finds these rare gems from the 19th century…
Leeds Times, Saturday 22 September 1894
Bramley and Pudsey Football Clubs – An extraordinary dispute has arisen between these clubs. Home and home games had been arranged for this season. Last year the Bramley match came off before one of the biggest crowds of the season, but the return match could not be played owing to the Bramley being in cup-ties. Bramley offered Pudsey an extra match this season, Bramley asking that the expenses be defrayed by Pudsey, and this was agreed to.
Since then they have revised their demands, asking Pudsey to provide all expenses and provide a “suitable spread” for the visitors. The Pudsey committee sent a deputation on Saturday to try and settle the differences, and made a liberal offer towards expenses. Bramley refused and cancelled both fixtures. Pudsey intend to appeal to the County Committee for expenses incurred in regard to Monday’s match. Bramley will probably be brought up for breach of engagements. ** Keighley were eventually awarded 15s expenses.
Leeds Times, Saturday 22 September 1894
A “spite and malice” match was doggedly contested at Pudsey, between the local club members and their near neighbours from Bramley. The two teams worked with a will and determination worthy of even a better cause. But the football honour of a village is no small matter, and the keen way which superiority is fought for shows the esteem in which the laurels of the football field are held by the youth of the broad-acred shire. The Bramleyites were the fortunate winners, and they may truly said to have “gone to Pudsey” for a purpose. Certainly they came out of the ordeal by a narrow shave, the chief honour attaching to Waddington, who dropped beautifully.
Leeds Times, Saturday 22 March 1885
It is understood that at the recent football match between the Bradford and Bramley clubs at Bramley, no less than 17 watches were “missed” by their owners. At the Leeds Town Hall, on Monday, John Harris, Peter Marsden, and John Calvert, middle-aged men, strangers to the town, were each charged with having frequented the streets with intent to commit a felony. Detective-officer Foster stated that on Saturday he noticed prisoners loitering near the Barley Mow Inn. They met waggonettes and mixed with the occupants, and went in to the public house and behaved suspiciously. After watching the prisoners for some time, the officer left, and went in to the field. On returning, a fourth man said something to prisoners, and they then crowded round a gentleman, and pushed him about. Prisoners were then apprehended. The “suspects” were remanded for a week.
Leeds Times, Saturday 25 March 1899
At Leeds police court on Monday Harry Brayshaw, a member of the Bramley football club, was summoned at the instance of the Police for improper behaviour towards a lady at Kirkstall. In answer to Mr Willey, witness said that defendant was not the man who insulted her, and that she had said so all along. He bore a certain resemblance to the individual of whose conduct she complained. The latter, however, had a moustache, whilst defendant was clean shaven. The case was dismissed.
