Having signed from Wakefield Trinity Dave made his Bramley debut on the left wing in the 11-16 home defeat against Leeds in the opening match of the 1966-67 season, writes Paul Abraham.
His first points for the club came as he kicked three goals in the stunning 20-18 Yorkshire Cup victory at Leeds while his first try in the Bramley colours was scored in the 23-7 stroll at home to Liverpool City.
He would go on to score a further four tries that season, these being in the home win against York (21-11) and in the away matches at Wakefield (11-21), Keighley (11-22) and Hunslet (14-10) he also kicked 32 goals in the season including six in the 42-8 demolition of Dewsbury at home.
Dave Sampson, Bramley Rugby League Club
In all he started in 31 matches including 26 at left centre, 4 at right centre and his debut on the left wing.
The 1967-68 season saw Dave make his 50th appearance for the club in the impressive 11-5 win at Huddersfield in December.
He scored a try in the first match of the season, an 11-24 home defeat to Leeds and two games later in the 8-53 loss to a magnificent Wigan side at Central Park.
One of the best results for the Bramley side was the shock 12-10 victory at Wakefield Trinity where Dave romped over for a try, other tries came in matches at home to Keighley (24-10), Castleford (10-21) and Blackpool Borough (46-14) and trips to Featherstone (3-10) and Keighley (14-0).
The following season resulted in Dave scoring five tries, unfortunately all in defeats, firstly in successive matches away at Rochdale (12-22) followed by at home to Featherstone (3-20) and then in both games against Halifax (8-23 away and 17-25 at home) and finally at Batley (12-25).
In all he played in 30 matches including the impressive away victories at Huddersfield (6-5) and Whitehaven (10-7).
Another 31 starts plus two substitute appearances in the 1969-70 season brought Dave just two tries.
But what an important two tries they were as they helped Bramley defeat the very strong Hull side 16-15 at home and then defeat Keighley on their own pitch 7-0 in the Rugby League Challenge Cup.
The match at Castleford in October was Dave’s 100th start in the amber and black jersey, sadly it ended in a 5-15 defeat to classy Cas.
The 1970-71 season saw Dave score his only try of the season in the 27-5 Yorkshire Cup victory at McClaren Field.
While not scoring tries himself he was the provider to many of his winger Peter Goodchild’s 15 tries that season. He had his kicking boots on in two consecutive matches when he kicked four goals in the 23-5 home victory against Hunslet and then another three in the 9-29 defeat at home to Leeds.
Bramley had a very successful run in the Rugby League Challenge Cup during the 1971-72 campaign when they reached the quarter-final before losing at home to Warrington,
But it was the second round match against Bradford Northern in front of a record 7,500 crowd at McClaren Field which is remembered for the news that the Bradford players were so confident of winning against “little” Bramley that it was reported in the YEP that they accepted an offer of double pay for a win but nothing for a draw or loss.
Robin Dewhirst kicked four goals as Bramley dumped them out of the cup 8-4!
Dave scored a brace of tries in the 17-5 defeat of Hunslet at Parkside and then a try in a 14-27 defeat at Bradford Northern.
The 27-11 home win versus Doncaster saw Dave’s 150th appearance for the club while his 150th “start” came in the 0-21 defeat at Barrow.
Bramley were now entering a golden era in their long history and after an excellent season they had qualified for a place in the new First Division of the Rugby League for the following season.
Although Dave only made 15 starts he contributed greatly be scoring tries in victories at home to Doncaster (34-6), Keighley (8-5), Bradford Northern (20-13) and Hunslet (15-8), his other try came in the 18-26 defeat at Hull.
He also kicked two goals in the crucial 13-10 victory at Odsal.
Bramley now had their greatest season in their 94 year history as they won the BBC 2 Floodlit Trophy and reached the semi-final of the John Player Trophy.
Player-coach Arthur Keegan pulled of a stroke of genius as he played Dave in the second row for the first time in an outstanding 30-18 win at Oldham in the fourth match of the season.
Dave excelled in the pack and made 19 appearances in the second row and ten at prop-forward.
His only try of the season came in the BBC 2 Floodlit Final when he scored the crucial try as Bramley stunned the sporting world by defeating cup-kings Widnes on their own pitch 15-7 in a never to be forgotten match.
He also kicked three important goals in the league victories at Whitehaven (19-12), Wakefield Trinity (18-13) and in the Good Friday match at Leeds (17-13) which confirmed that Bramley could not be relegated.
During this spectacular season Dave made his 200th appearance in the 0-9 defeat at Warrington while his 200th “start” came at Leigh in a 0-7 reverse.
After the highs of the previous season Bramley had a disappointing 1974-75 season which saw them relegated.
The two Yorkshire Cup ties resulted in Dave scoring in successive matches, firstly in the record-breaking 52-17 first round win at home to Doncaster and then in the 10-23 loss at Hull Kingston Rovers, his only other score being a drop-goal in the 6-9 loss at home to Widnes.
The 1975-76 season resulted in just eight “starts” and one substitute appearance for Dave although the 27-9 victory at home to New Hunslet provided Dave with his 250th first team appearance.
The following season and with Peter Fox as coach Bramley gained promotion back to the first division when they won 14 consecutive league matches.
Dave finished the season having started in 18 matches and came on as substitute twice.
He scored his only try in the nail-biting 19-21 home defeat against York and also kicked a drop-goal in the 6-11 home defeat to Widnes in the first round of the Rugby League Challenge Cup.
The 5-20 BBC 2 Floodlit Trophy defeat at Wakefield Trinity was Dave’s 250th “start” for the Villagers.
Dave finished his career at Bramley after playing in the first four matches of the 1977-78 season with his final match, fittingly at home to his former club Wakefield Trinity in the BBC 2 Floodlit Trophy, a match which Bramley lost 4-14.
Dave was then transferred to Castleford where he would eventually become first-team coach. Without question a Bramley legend and fans favourite.
Some of you may remember the TV series Heartbeat or seen the repeats on ITV, writes Mark Stevenson.
The scenes that were filmed in the police cells were filmed in Otley – not exactly West Leeds I know, but bear with me.
Sloan and Davidson on the floor of the police cells in Otley. Photo: Mark Stevenson
I went to see these cells (anyone can) when I noticed a ‘frosted’ window on the floor (not sure what they are called) and I noticed it was made by Sloan and Davidson Leeds.
I had seen this name before on manhole covers around Leeds, so I decided to look the name up.
Stanningley past: A William Barraclough manhole on Bagley Lane, Farsley. Photo: Mark Stevenson
Turns out the company was based at 177 Kirkstall Road the old Thyssenkrupp site in 1894 and the Carrick Foundry in Stanningley (roughly where Stanningley Fire Station is now) in 1918.
Next time you see a manhole cover with Sloan and Davidson on you could be looking at a piece of West Leeds history that could date back a 100 years or more.
You can also see manhole covers cast by Arthur Gibbs and Son of Pudsey and William Barraclough of Providence and Victoria Ironworks, Stanningley, as you walk around West Leeds.
During World War One Sloan and Davidson advertised that they made castings for the construction and erection of aeroplane and airship sheds. They employed 108 men and no women.
A scaled-down application has been submitted to build four one-bedroom flats at two businesses on Town Street in Stanningley, writes Keely Bannister.
The flats will be created by adapting current living and storage space and building two new extensions – a first floor extension at Shalamar restaurant and an extension above and behind at next doors Bennetts Fisheries.
A document submitted with the current application by agent MAS Design Consultants of Guiseley reveals that a meeting was held with a Leeds City Council planning officer in early December 2019 where it was agreed that the scheme would be reduced from six to four flats to “minimise the new build and maximise the landscaped area”.
The document adds:
“Following consultation with the client it has been clarified that the existing area previously shown as unable to access for survey to the rear of 139 Town Street is in actual fact an existing bedsit unit with an existing tenant who has lived at the address for a number of years.
“Additionally, the existing flat on the first floor of no.139 Town Street has been a three-bed flat for a number of years as existing, however, the client believes that single bedroom flats are better suited to this location.”
Environmental Health were consulted as part of the previous withdrawn application, with them recommending refusal due to the high number of commercial premises in proximity and the likelihood of odour and noise nuisance.
To combat this, it is stated that the windows of this new development will be sealed with an acoustic glazing and a whole house ventilation system will be installed.
As with the previous application, no on-site parking will be provided as part of the application.
Farsley Celtic and Barnet face a replay in London on Tuesday evening, after the home side earned a deserved FA Trophy replay with a 1-1 draw.
The visitors from the higher Vanarama National League dominated the opening exhanges and went ahead within the opening 10 minutes through Simeon Akinola.
But The Celts grew into the tie and Tyler Walton’s well-taken strike in the 53rd minute in front of 400 fans saw the Celts earn a midweek replay.
Dispatch photographer Simon Cullingworth was on hand to capture the action at The Citadel:
Farsley Celtic had a strong penalty appeal turned down following a clear push in the first half. Photo: Simon CullingworthMore shirt pulling in the penalty area.
A senior councillor has again raised concerns about planned new bus priority corridor improvements in West Leeds.
Councillor Andrew Carter (Conservative, Calverley & Farsley Ward) said the proposed improvements along the A647 could cause disruption for the local area and may actually worsen problems for travellers and local people.
Cllr Andrew Carter
The proposals along the corridor include bus lanes in both directions along Bradford Road between Dawson’s Corner and Thornbury Roundabout, new pedestrian crossings and cycle lanes, junction improvements and bus gates.
Leeds City Council is holding a public drop-in event about the proposals in Armley on 29th January, with the scheme set to get under way in February.
“I remain concerned about several aspects of this scheme, particularly about the impact on businesses and also the potential for local parking and traffic problems to be made worse. With new restrictions on the main road, cars are likely to try to use residential streets which don’t have the capacity to take extra traffic, creating added congestion and pollution.
“We all want to see investment in our transport infrastructure and initiatives that can cut journey times for local people, but schemes need to be properly designed and take account of any negative consequences.
“The Highways department have not, in my view, taken proper consideration of how to deal with residential on street parking, which will certainly be made worse by these proposals. Residents’ only permits must be introduced.
“The Council is also still missing a big piece in its transport strategy – a mass transit solution that can really tackle some of the significant long standing problems that Leeds suffers from. Without that, bus schemes, however well-meaning, are limited in how much real benefit they can bring.
“I would urge all local people to attend the forthcoming drop-in event planned on 29 January.”
As reported by WLD earlier this week, there is a drop-in event between 3pm-8pm on 29 January at Wesley Road Chapel, Wesley Road, Armley for local people to find out more about the project and how construction work will affect them.
Works – which are scheduled to last until Spring 2021 – include:
New bus lanes, parking restrictions and new crossings to the section of the A647 between Bradford Border to Dawsons Corner;
Traffic signal upgrades with buses given priority at junctions between Dawsons Corner and Bramley Town End Roundabout;
The conversion of Stanningley Road’s High Occupancy Vehicle Lane (two-plus lane) into a bus lane, apart from a section between Cockshott Lane and Armley Ridge Road during peak periods to maintain existing on-street parking provision for residents, as well as the extension of the bus lane linking up Bramley Town End roundabout;
Cockshott Lane and Armley Ridge Road junction changes along Stanningley Road and the creation of a new crossing at Redcote Lane;
Changes at the Ledgard Way/Armley Road (Mike Carpets) junction with a reduction in the movements allowed between 11am and 7pm, with changes to Pickering Street to help accommodate more traffic movements as a result; and
A reduction of Branch Road to a single lane allowing widening of the footway and tree planting.
Cllr Lisa Mulherin (Lab), Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development, hit back at Cllr Carter’s criticism back in October. She said:
“We all share the desire to see a mass transit system in Leeds or beyond. While we work with West Yorkshire Combined Authority on new proposals to determine what this could look like, we remain committed to investing in bus travel for the people who live and work in our city.
“Making bus journeys faster and much more reliable is crucial to creating a shift from people using cars to buses.
“The A647 sees bus delays that impact on people’s lives making it hard to get to work on time, make important appointments or plan journeys with any kind of reliability. This scheme will make a positive difference to people travelling by bus.
“This scheme underwent significant consultation and looked to address residents’ and business concerns over parking as much as possible while still making the very necessary improvements to the corridor.
“Many sections of bus lane will be restricted to peak hours only to allow for resident and business parking on the highway outside of these hours, including in Calverley and Farsley.”
Staff from HSBC’s Leeds call centre have donated their cycles to a Wortley organisation which refurbished unwanted bikes.
The Bikes College (TBC) are a West Leeds community interest company which refurbishes bikes donated directly from the public or collected from Leeds City Council’s household waste recycling sites.
Their aim is to make cycling accessible to everyone, regardless of age or financial status, by offering bikes at highly discounted prices to fund their talent development programme and numerous other initiatives across the city and beyond.
TBC recently partnered with Leeds’ HSBC call centre and long-termpartner Enterprise Van Hire to offer a workplace collection point for HSBC employees to donate their unwanted bikes over a two week period.
20 bikes were collected and employees donating were offered a free puncture repair kit.
More workplace donation schemes with number of employees in the city and beyond are planned.
New Pudsey Station. Photo: Ian Kirk, used under Creative Commons licence
Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves has written to transport secretary Grant Shapps over concerns that the government is yet to clarify its plans for the Northern Rail franchise.
Her letter comes as Mr Shapps visited Leeds today. He acknowledged that rail users deserve better, but admitted Northern passengers could wait ‘months or years’ for a significant improvement of the rail network.
But Pudsey Conservative MP Stuart Andrew today welcomed Mr Shapps’ commitment to protect the services currently under the Arriva Rail North franchise in light of the franchise’s financial difficulties.
Concerned: Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves at Bramley Station
In a letter to the secretary of state, Ms Reeves asked for assurances on when a reliable train service would be delivered for people in West Leeds and beyond, said:
“The need for change has been clear for a long time, yet there is still no end in sight for passengers who have had to endure these problems for far too long.
“While Northern’s record is lamentable, many of the underlying issues contributing to the problem of unreliable services are caused by poor infrastructure.
“To rectify this problem, the government must urgently invest in railway infrastructure. What plans does your department have to delivery the improvements that we urgently need?”
Mr Shapps today expressed the Department for Transport’s commitment to taking action to ensure Northern Rail’s performance improves.
He said he will make a further announcement about the way forward at the end of the month, but warned it will take ‘months and years’ to see a full improvement of everything
Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew
Stuart Andrew, MP for Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough, welcomed Mr Shapps’ commitment to protect the services under the Arriva Rail North franchise in light of the franchise’s financial difficulties.
Recent financial information has demonstrated that the franchise will only be able to continue for a number of months alone and the Department for Transport is considering whether to take over the franchise or allow them to continue.
The Department for Transport have confirmed that the current financial position of the Northern franchise will not impact on the railways day-to-day operations. Services will continue to run and there will be no impact on railway staff. Mr Andrew said:
“I am delighted to hear that intervention is being taken by the Government to address the ailing Northern franchise.
“I have spoken to many of my constituents over the years and this is very much an ongoing and frustrating issue. Many of us rely on the railway to get to and from work and it is essential that the services are reliable and punctual, which they have not been for some time.
“I am very pleased that the Secretary of State for Transport has listened to my constituents and many others in the North who are subjected to this franchise. I look forward to hearing what action is being taken at the end of this month and I will be keeping my constituents informed of any developments.”
The men in charge of Northern and its parent company Arriva Rail North were grilled about the poor performance of the franchise at a Transport for the North meeting in Leeds yesterday, but the financial problems were not mentioned.
A creative organisation is on the hunt for anyone who attended Christ Church Upper Armley Primary School within the last 150 years!
The school – who count Armley greats Alan Bennett and Barbara Taylor Bradford as former pupils – is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year and to mark the occasion will be holding a series of events.
Alan Bennett during a 2016 visit to Armley Library. Photo: Leeds Libraries
Engaging Education is producing a short film for the school that features interviews between current students and alumni – but needs to find them first!
Barbara Taylor Bradford was recently presented with The Leeds Award, which recognises those who have made an enormous contribution to the city. She’s pictured with Leeds Lord Mayor Eileen Taylor
If you attended the school at any point in the last century, or you have a grandparent who did, they would love to hear from you.
If you can help directly message Engaging Education on Facebook or e-mail info@engaging-education.org.uk.
A pioneering former pupil at a Pudsey school who campaigned for rights of married women in the 19th century could be honoured with a statue in her home town.
Elizabeth Wolstenholme Elmy studied at Fulneck School for two years in the 1840s, but was not permitted to study further. She later worked tirelessly for girls’ education, for women’s right to own property and for their right to vote.
She campaigned heavily for the rights of married women, influencing the 1886 Infant Custody Act in which women got more rights over their children.
Emmeline Pankhurst dubbed her ‘the brains of the suffragist movement’, and she is listed on the Millicent Fawcett statue in Parliament Square in London.
A team of activists based in Wolstenholme Elmy’s home town of Congleton, in Cheshire, are hoping to commemorate Elizabeth with a bronze statue in the town centre. They say she’s an unsung hero.
Elizabeth Wolstenholme Elmy had been a suffragist for 40 years before joining the WSPU in 1903. She campaigned for rights of married women, influencing the 1886 Infant Custody Act in which women got more rights over their children. pic.twitter.com/gVQTk3FeGI
In response, Dr Maureen Wright from the University of Chichester tweeted:
“It’s an honour to be EWE’s biographer & Patron of the Lottery funded ‘Elizabeth’s Group’, now fund raising for a statue in her honour. #Suffragette“
Fulneck School principal Paul Taylor saw the Tweet, and paid tribute to Wolstenholme Elmy:
“Delighted to see that one of our most illustrious former pupils will have her life celebrated in this way. We named one of our Senior School Houses after her last summer.”
Delighted to see that one of our most illustrious former pupils will have her life celebrated in this way. We named one of our Senior School Houses after her last summer. @FulneckAlumni@FulneckSchool@WLDispatch@rh0desy
Already sold: Armley Grange. Photo: Mark Stevenson
Proposals to transform a historic West Leeds building into a specialist school have taken a step closer to reality.
Grade II-listed Armley Grange has been bought from Leeds City Council by Horizon Care and Education for use as a specialist school for children aged seven to 19 years.
Horizon have now submitted a planning application to alter and refurbish the former day centre building.
Planning application: Armley Grange. Photo: Mark Stevenson
Plans include the conversion of the annexe from offices into a teaching space for pupils.
They also include the demolition of an external canopy, rearrangement of car parking to provide two play areas and additional car parking spaces and a new bin collection point and cycle storage area.
A heritage statement submitted with the application says:
“The conversion of the annexe clearly raises no heritage issues, although it is worth noting here that the proposed removal of the ugly and intrusive canopy that currently links it to the house will considerably improve the relationship between the two buildings, re-instating the original standalone nature of the listed building in the process.”
Subject to the proposals being acceptable to Leeds City Council’s planning department and attaining approval from the Department for Education, Horizon hope to open in September 2020 with their first 25 students.
It is anticipated that after the Grange has undergone repair and refurbishment that it will support classrooms a further 25 students and open in Spring/Summer 2021
The programme has led to new clubs and rising starlets being supported to create community hubs, improve the grassroots game and cultivate the stars of the future.
For Farnley Falcons, the Rhinos Foundation’s community investment has increased local participation tremendously, engaging 1,441 children in 2019 alone – many times that have had a chance to try rugby league over the five years relationship between the school and foundation.
Annual training camps for primary level pupils at five local schools, including training session and assemblies are driving the majority of Farnley’s recruitment drive.
The club now offers coaching and a sense of community to 268 children across U7s, U8s, U9s, U10s and U11s in one of Leeds’ most underinvested areas.
Leeds Rhinos Foundation taster sessions in local schools have provided Farnley Falcons with a raft of new players each year to help build the next generation team.
The sustained annual injection of new enthusiastic talent is key to the club’s growth, having first been established to cater for children who wanted to play regularly after Sky Try sessions.
Thomas Stainland, Farnley Falcons chairman, said:
“We’re proud to be a product of this fantastic programme; Sky Try is not only working with the Rhinos, it is engaging and funding clubs’ foundations across the north and further afield – our existence demonstrates the impact of the programme.
“I love what this club has become, encouraging more young people to get on board and engage with local community rugby can only be a good thing.
“Our growth has been supported throughout, both player retention and new recruits have both been supported. The Sky Try taster sessions are essential in helping to introduce new players to Leeds Rhinos’ Ambassador clubs, like ourselves.”
Sky Try is the biggest-ever programme of rugby league opportunities, supporting club foundations across the country.
In 2019, the programme engaged a record 150,000 children and young people with top-class rugby league coaching – with the initiative is set to exceed its lofty target of 700,000 participants by July 2021.
Sky Try manager, Thomas Brindle said:
“This initiative is all about inspiring young people to get involved in rugby league and sport more widely. Sport teaches young people how to conduct themselves around others, teamwork and ultimately what can be achieved when they work hard and persevere.”
The Falcons is currently looking for girls to join its under 12s team.
Training is free every Saturday from January 11. 10.30am start on the Butt Lane training fields.
Bramley RL legends: Dave Sampson
Having signed from Wakefield Trinity Dave made his Bramley debut on the left wing in the 11-16 home defeat against Leeds in the opening match of the 1966-67 season, writes Paul Abraham.
His first points for the club came as he kicked three goals in the stunning 20-18 Yorkshire Cup victory at Leeds while his first try in the Bramley colours was scored in the 23-7 stroll at home to Liverpool City.
He would go on to score a further four tries that season, these being in the home win against York (21-11) and in the away matches at Wakefield (11-21), Keighley (11-22) and Hunslet (14-10) he also kicked 32 goals in the season including six in the 42-8 demolition of Dewsbury at home.
In all he started in 31 matches including 26 at left centre, 4 at right centre and his debut on the left wing.
The 1967-68 season saw Dave make his 50th appearance for the club in the impressive 11-5 win at Huddersfield in December.
He scored a try in the first match of the season, an 11-24 home defeat to Leeds and two games later in the 8-53 loss to a magnificent Wigan side at Central Park.
One of the best results for the Bramley side was the shock 12-10 victory at Wakefield Trinity where Dave romped over for a try, other tries came in matches at home to Keighley (24-10), Castleford (10-21) and Blackpool Borough (46-14) and trips to Featherstone (3-10) and Keighley (14-0).
The following season resulted in Dave scoring five tries, unfortunately all in defeats, firstly in successive matches away at Rochdale (12-22) followed by at home to Featherstone (3-20) and then in both games against Halifax (8-23 away and 17-25 at home) and finally at Batley (12-25).
In all he played in 30 matches including the impressive away victories at Huddersfield (6-5) and Whitehaven (10-7).
Another 31 starts plus two substitute appearances in the 1969-70 season brought Dave just two tries.
But what an important two tries they were as they helped Bramley defeat the very strong Hull side 16-15 at home and then defeat Keighley on their own pitch 7-0 in the Rugby League Challenge Cup.
The match at Castleford in October was Dave’s 100th start in the amber and black jersey, sadly it ended in a 5-15 defeat to classy Cas.
The 1970-71 season saw Dave score his only try of the season in the 27-5 Yorkshire Cup victory at McClaren Field.
While not scoring tries himself he was the provider to many of his winger Peter Goodchild’s 15 tries that season. He had his kicking boots on in two consecutive matches when he kicked four goals in the 23-5 home victory against Hunslet and then another three in the 9-29 defeat at home to Leeds.
Bramley had a very successful run in the Rugby League Challenge Cup during the 1971-72 campaign when they reached the quarter-final before losing at home to Warrington,
But it was the second round match against Bradford Northern in front of a record 7,500 crowd at McClaren Field which is remembered for the news that the Bradford players were so confident of winning against “little” Bramley that it was reported in the YEP that they accepted an offer of double pay for a win but nothing for a draw or loss.
Robin Dewhirst kicked four goals as Bramley dumped them out of the cup 8-4!
Dave scored a brace of tries in the 17-5 defeat of Hunslet at Parkside and then a try in a 14-27 defeat at Bradford Northern.
The 27-11 home win versus Doncaster saw Dave’s 150th appearance for the club while his 150th “start” came in the 0-21 defeat at Barrow.
Bramley were now entering a golden era in their long history and after an excellent season they had qualified for a place in the new First Division of the Rugby League for the following season.
Although Dave only made 15 starts he contributed greatly be scoring tries in victories at home to Doncaster (34-6), Keighley (8-5), Bradford Northern (20-13) and Hunslet (15-8), his other try came in the 18-26 defeat at Hull.
He also kicked two goals in the crucial 13-10 victory at Odsal.
Bramley now had their greatest season in their 94 year history as they won the BBC 2 Floodlit Trophy and reached the semi-final of the John Player Trophy.
Player-coach Arthur Keegan pulled of a stroke of genius as he played Dave in the second row for the first time in an outstanding 30-18 win at Oldham in the fourth match of the season.
Dave excelled in the pack and made 19 appearances in the second row and ten at prop-forward.
His only try of the season came in the BBC 2 Floodlit Final when he scored the crucial try as Bramley stunned the sporting world by defeating cup-kings Widnes on their own pitch 15-7 in a never to be forgotten match.
He also kicked three important goals in the league victories at Whitehaven (19-12), Wakefield Trinity (18-13) and in the Good Friday match at Leeds (17-13) which confirmed that Bramley could not be relegated.
During this spectacular season Dave made his 200th appearance in the 0-9 defeat at Warrington while his 200th “start” came at Leigh in a 0-7 reverse.
After the highs of the previous season Bramley had a disappointing 1974-75 season which saw them relegated.
The two Yorkshire Cup ties resulted in Dave scoring in successive matches, firstly in the record-breaking 52-17 first round win at home to Doncaster and then in the 10-23 loss at Hull Kingston Rovers, his only other score being a drop-goal in the 6-9 loss at home to Widnes.
The 1975-76 season resulted in just eight “starts” and one substitute appearance for Dave although the 27-9 victory at home to New Hunslet provided Dave with his 250th first team appearance.
The following season and with Peter Fox as coach Bramley gained promotion back to the first division when they won 14 consecutive league matches.
Dave finished the season having started in 18 matches and came on as substitute twice.
He scored his only try in the nail-biting 19-21 home defeat against York and also kicked a drop-goal in the 6-11 home defeat to Widnes in the first round of the Rugby League Challenge Cup.
The 5-20 BBC 2 Floodlit Trophy defeat at Wakefield Trinity was Dave’s 250th “start” for the Villagers.
Dave finished his career at Bramley after playing in the first four matches of the 1977-78 season with his final match, fittingly at home to his former club Wakefield Trinity in the BBC 2 Floodlit Trophy, a match which Bramley lost 4-14.
Dave was then transferred to Castleford where he would eventually become first-team coach. Without question a Bramley legend and fans favourite.
Career Totals
Season Appearances Tries Goals Points
1966-67 31 5 32 79
1967-68 32 8 6 36
1968-69 30 5 3 21
1969-70 31 + 2 sub 2 0 6
1970-71 31 1 7 17
1971-72 21 + 1 sub 3 0 9
1972-73 15 + 1 sub 5 2 19
1973-74 29 1 3 9
1974-75 19 + 3 sub 2 1dg 7
1975-76 8 +1 sub 0 0 0
1976-77 18 +2 sub 1 1dg 4
1977-78 4 0 0 0
Totals 269 + 10 sub 33 53 + 2dg 207