50 YEARS AGO: RAIN is never good news for cricket fans, unless a team is about to lose a County Championship match or is behind on Duckworth-Lewis, and it certainly wasn't good news for Rev Robert Burd.

The Moravian minister at Baildon was due to umpire the Priestley Cup final between Bradford and Laisterdyke at Park Avenue but the match was washed out on the Bank Holiday Monday (the bank holiday was on the first Monday of the month until 1971, when it was switched to the last) and re-arranged for Sunday, August 28, meaning that Rev Burd could not stand.

He said: "I am disappointed, but not bitter. I cannot umpire because it is my job, but I would not have done so even if I had not been preaching."

Morley Cycling Club's Beryl Burton again showed that she is one of the greatest British sportswomen ever.

Not only did she win the Women's National 100-mile Time Trial Championship by almost 19 minutes, beating her old record by 4min 42sec, but her time was faster than the male winner over the same distance.

Bradford City, who were drawn at home to Doncaster Rovers in the first round of the Football League Cup, signed 19-year-old left back Ian Cooper as a full-time professional. He had played for them as an amateur since 1962 upon leaving Buttershaw School.

Hartlepools United were drawn at Bradford Park Avenue, who had received tentative interest from Norwich City over their record-breaking goal-scorer Kevin Hector.

Bradford's Tony Fall partnered London journalist Attis Krauklis to win the 1,800-mile Polish Car Rally, ahead of 1965 Monte Carlo winner Timo Makinen,

Meanwhile, Great Britain rugby league tour manager Wilf Spaven said that the standard of the English game was slightly higher than that of the Australians after they finished the first leg of their tour Down Under having won 15 of their 22 matches.

Great Britain defeated New Zealand 25-8 in the first Test in Auckland, with tries coming from late call-up Colin Clarke, Northern's Ian Brooke, substitute Frank Myler, Bill Burgess and Cliff Watson.

In the 15-a-side code, the British Lions lost 16-12 to New Zealand in Wellington in front of 50,000 – twice the number that watched the 13-a-side test.

Cassius Clay (as Muhammad Ali was still known then) beat Brian London over three one-sided rounds in a world heavyweight fight in London's Earls Court Arena, with the loser saying: "I knew he was very good but I didn't know he was as good as that."

Stanley Matthews jnr (son of the legendary footballer) won the main prize, the Wharfedale singles, at the Ilkley Open tennis tournament for the second time in three years.

Meanwhile, Leeds' three links with their 1966 World Cup success – Jack Charlton, Norman Hunter and trainer Les Cocker – were given a civic reception in Leeds by Lord Mayor, Alderman JS Walsh.

Charlton held up his golden winners' medal to cheers from a small crowd. A SMALL crowd? Imagine the fuss that would be made in identical circumstances today?

25 YEARS AGO: BRADFORD City's chief scout Maurice Lindley called for the potentially explosive removal of segregated fans after only 3,630 turned up to watch his testimonial match against Tony Dorigo-inspired Leeds United at Valley Parade.

Lindley felt there would have been a much bigger crowd if the fans had been allowed to mingle, but although United won the West Riding Senior Cup tie 1-0, it was no boring affair.

Phil Babb had the best two chances for City, while Meryvn Day denied both Stephen Torpey and Wes Reid, and, at the other end, Paul Tomlinson saved splendidly from Bobby Davison, and Alan Dowson headed off the line from David Wetherall.

Gavin Oliver (who kept Lee Chapman quiet), Robbie James and trialist defender Steve Gardner were best for City, who only conceded in the 31st minute, Gordon Strachan's corner being flicked on by Wetherall for Chris Fairclough to head home.

However, maybe Lindley was lucky as only 1,437 turned up days later at Valley Parade to watch the 1-1 draw against Spanish First Division club Real Valladolid, who included Colombian World Cup winger Carlos Valderrama.

Meanwhile, the worrying combination of high wages and falling gates meant that Bantams chairman Dave Simpson told manager John Docherty to raise £400,000, £350,000 of which came when Lee Sinnott – probably their most bankable asset – was sold to Crystal Palace, after a £300,000 move to Southampton collapsed over personal terms.

Bradford Northern agreed a £100,000-plus sponsorship deal (double the amount for the 1990-91 season) with brewers Webster's, with an option for an extra two years.

Golfer Martin Foster showed his prowess back in the amateur ranks by adding the Bradford Open Championship to the Bradford Strokeplay Championship that he had won three weeks beforehand.

The Bradford League won the White Rose Trophy for the third time in four years by defeating a Yorkshire League side that included Michael Vaughan, Richard Kettleborough, Chris Silverwood and Gary Keedy by 94 runs at Harrogate, Stephen Bethel (86) and Mark Nicklin (4-33) starring for the victors.

TEN YEARS AGO: IT WAS a good week for Bradford Bulls.

Days after they announced a two-year £100,000 sponsorship deal with Bradford-based Link Telecom, they defeated Warrington Wolves 50-22 at Odsal in a romp that included a delicate kick and gather by prop Andy Lynch.

Other tries went to Terry Newton (2), Karl Pryce, Brad Meyers, Stanley Gene and Shontayne Hape, with the Bulls scorching into a 22-0 lead in 24 minutes.

Bradford City gave an encouraging display in a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, with the new signings, including Derby County loanees Lee Holmes and Nathan Doyle, gelling well.

David Livermore left Leeds United for Hull City 12 days after signing for them, while the Aire-Wharfe League, inspired by Toby Jacklin (3-12 and 41no), beat the Bradford League by four wickets in the White Rose final at Green Lane.