AROUND 500 supporters turned out on Thursday evening to a tribute rugby league match which marked the 40th anniversary of the death of one of their up-coming stars.
Terry and Audrey Hunt were guests of honour at the Neil Hunt Memorial Ground as the Bradford Dudley Hill team paid homage to 16-year-old winger Neil Hunt who died three days after suffering a broken neck in a one-on-one tackle while playing for the team against Sedbergh Boys Club on November 10, 1976.
The Sedbergh team came along for the memorial match and met Neil’s parents.
Also a guest for the evening was Zoe McNicholas, Neil’s daughter.
Meeting the players prior to the game, Mr Hunt said: “It is very special to be here and meet the lads. We were delighted to be invited to the memorial match and thrilled to be able to present a memorial trophy.”
Mrs Hunt added: “We do occasionally come along to matches but not as often now because we are getting older. But we have made some lovely friends here over the years. We were thrilled when the ground was renamed in our son’s memory so that he will never be forgotten. It has made us very proud.”
Andy Harland, who coaches the club players, also coached Neil.
“I wasn’t a lot older than Neil at the time but I remember he was an outstanding and talented player.
“It was a huge shock to everyone when he died. The club was playing at its former ground off Tong Street at the time and was only a small club.
“In 1978 we got the chance to lease this site, which was the former Bradford Rovers Football Club site, and when it was opened we decided unanimously to rename it after Neil in his memory.
“It was a huge commitment at the time because the ground needed a lot of work but we did it and opened on September 1, 1979. It has now grown and we have eight teams with players ranging from four years old to and under 17s.
“Neil was in his last year and showed huge talent in what was becoming a very promising career. What happened was such a shock.”
Prior to the match, which resulted in a 22-12 win for Dudley Hill, Reverend Ashley Evans said a prayer reflecting on the life Neil lived and the game he loved.
The memorial trophy was presented to Dudley Hill team captain Anthony Huby.
During the evening the club revealed its new shirt for the upcoming 2017 season in the National Conference League Division Two, which will feature a picture of Neil on the front and all the work that has gone on to preserve his memory since printed below.
