50 YEARS AGO

SAM Burgess may have set the modern template in rugby league for playing on while injured, after fracturing a cheekbone in the first tackle of the match in the 2014 NRL Grand Final but going on to win the Clive Churchill Medal as man of the match for South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Yet the former Bulls star is far from alone. For example, it was confirmed that Tommy Smales, whose right arm was already plated, did break it again in the first ten minutes for Bradford Northern in 1966 in their 21-7 home defeat against Halifax in the first round of the Top 16, but also stayed on the field throughout.

Northern retained 35 players and released seven – including scrum half Alan Sutcliffe, who was on offer at £1,000. One of those retained was Dave Stockwell, who was comfortably voted as Northern's player of the year by the supporters.

The week's big talking point, however, was the performance of Leeds referee Gordon Kew in the West Riding FA Senior Cup quarter-final tie between visitors Halifax Town and Bradford Park Avenue.

Competition rules stipulated that referees must be on the Football League list but Kew, who sent off a then record seven players in the 1972-73 Football League season, was only on the Central League list then and dismissed two players – Eric McMillan (Town) and William Rodger (Avenue).

Left half McMillan was sent off for "bad language" and 18-year-old outside right Rodger for a "deliberate kick".

Avenue won 5-2, thanks to goals by Kevin Hector (3) and Bobby Ham (2), setting up a match against Bradford City at Valley Parade. But the last-eight match only attracted a crowd of 724, one of the smallest in the competition's history.

In the league, Avenue lost 2-1 at home to Port Vale, who included five teenagers, while City drew 2-2 at Newport County courtesy of goals by Derek Stokes in the third minute and, three minutes from time, Stephen Ingle.

On the opening day of the Bradford League cricket season, promoted Keighley caused a stir by beating champions Idle by two wickets, while Queensbury only made 34 against Bingley (Ken Standring 5-7) and relegated Saltaire just 48 against Yeadon.

25 YEARS AGO

GUISELEY avoided demotion from the Vanarama National League after a thrilling 4-3 victory over Torquay United at Nethermoor last weekend, FC Halifax Town going down after only drawing, but the Lions were also in the headlines in 1991.

They faced Gresley Rovers in the FA Vase final at Wembley and were 3-0 up but needed a goal by Alan Roberts two minutes from the end of extra-time to gain a 4-4 draw, Mark Tennison (2) and Dean Walling having got the earlier strikes.

That meant a midweek replay at Bramall Lane, which Guiseley won 3-1 after Tennison scored in the 41st minute – his 31st goal of the season – Walling and Peter Atkinson netting in the second half.

Another prolific goalscorer was Lee Chapman, whose brace for Leeds United helped them to a 5-2 home win over Aston Villa, while speedway rider Gary Havelock made a successful return from suspension for Bradford Coalite Dukes, who beat Cradley Heath 47-43.

Meanwhile, Dukes pay rebel Andy Smith won the first British semi-final at Ipswich with 11 points, Simon Wigg – brought in to replace him – failing to qualify with seven.

Bradford Northern said goodbye to 76-year-old Donald Ward (elder brother of centre Ernest), who played scrum half in their three successive Wembley finals.

Otley could only manage a Glyn Melville try in being outplayed 23-4 by Harrogate in the Whitbread Yorkshire Cup final at Morley.

Avenue beat Pontefract Collieries 5-1 after extra-time in the West Riding County Cup final at Valley Parade, substitute Peter Edmondson getting a late goal in normal time before Darren Wardman (2), Gary Kershaw and Ronan Eli netted in the extra period.

TEN YEARS AGO

A BANKER draw was City's 0-0 stalemate at Barnsley – it was, after all, the Bantams' 18th one-pointer of the season – while almost as predictable was Wigan-based Phil Veivers joining former boss Brian Noble at Wigan Warriors. After all, Veivers lived in Wigan.

Leeds United did not seem too worried by their 2-0 defeat at Preston North End, ahead of meeting them in the Championship semi-final play-offs, while Bradford & Bingley were celebrating winning National League Three North.

They beat main rivals Nuneaton 36-29 at Wagon Lane, with Bees coach Geoff Wappett saying: "What a great advert that was for our division. They were two quality sides and the tries were out of the top drawer."

Bradford & Bingley, who still had a game left, had the third best points-for tally by a club in the national leagues that season with 904, bettered only by Bedford (906) and Harlequins (1,001).