NOSTALGIA: City edge ahead of Avenue after big midweek derby

50 YEARS AGO

IN A week when a speed limit of 50mph was being considered for the Bradford section of Hollins Hill (it didn't have one beforehand), bragging rights weren't the only things at stake when Avenue met City in a midweek derby in front of 8,997 at Valley Parade.

City gave their best display of the season thus far in winning 3-0 via an own goal (within 90 seconds) and efforts from Robert Newton and Derek Stokes, and not only did it lift the Bantams out of the bottom four in Division Four but it gave them the edge over Avenue in post-war meetings.

Avenue had won 17, City 18 and ten matches had been drawn, with both teams netting 65 goals.

Meanwhile, centre forward Jim Fryatt and half-back Tony Symonds had put transfer requests in at Avenue, with Fryatt apparently wanting to go back south and Symonds citing a lack of opportunities.

Leeds United drew Ujpest Dozsa in the quarter-finals of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (forerunner to the UEFA Cup), with the Hungarians having already knocked out Everton and Cologne.

Jack Charlton, Norman Hunter and Paul Reaney were all selected in England's 22 to face West Germany at Wembley later in the month, but the controversial picks were Arsenal pair Joe Baker and George Eastham, who were both on the transfer list.

Bradford Northern notched their first victory at Parkside in 16 years when they defeated Hunslet 16-7, with tries by Ian Brooke and improving stand-off Dave Stockwell, who was the star performer alongside Tommy Smales.

Terry Clawson kicked five goals in front of a crowd of 4,250, about half of which were Northern fans.

25 YEARS AGO

HAVING struggled to beat the amateurs of Leigh East three weeks beforehand, Bradford Northern had no trouble in despatching professional neighbours Leigh 50-4 in the Odsal club's first victory at Valley Parade since 1937.

Odsal was still weather affected but the change of ground did not affect the home side, whose props David Hobbs and Jon Hamer scored tries in the opening 11 minutes.

Hooker Brian Noble swore blind that he had also crossed the line to complete what would have been a memorable front-row treble, but his effort was disallowed.

In the end, Northern seemed to be having their own try of the day competition, with Hugh Gumbs scoring after a 70-yard run down the touchline, and full back and man of the match Ian Wilkinson, Roger Simpson and replacement prop Craig Richards also notching cracking tries.

The day before, England had stuffed France 60-4 in a British Coal international at Headingley, with Martin Offiah scoring five tries but not winning the man of the match award, which went to Garry Schofield.

Penalty shoot-outs weren't introduced into the FA Cup until the 1991-92 season, so Leeds United and Arsenal had four meetings in the fourth round before the Gunners won 2-1 in a third replay, with Lee Chapman netting for Leeds.

"We have played them on equal terms in four matches," said United's manager Howard Wilkinson. "That has given the players the opportunity to grow up and me the chance to make a very accurate comparison with a side who could win the title this year."

Radio 5 Live have done features this week on bad behaviour by parents in junior sport but touchline abuse is nothing new, and a couple of officials of West Riding County Amateur League side VAW were banned until the end of the season by the West Riding County FA.

President Robert Benn, who was also fined £50, and his son, manager Robert Benn, who was fined £75, were punished by the county FA after being found guilty of a verbal attack on a referee at Halifax Irish on November 24.

TEN YEARS AGO

BANTAMS manager Colin Todd was frustrated by his failure to sign loan players after a second-half header by David Wetherall secured a 1-1 draw at Swansea.

Meanwhile, Rob Hulse (five stitches in an ankle injury) and Richard Cresswell (needing a cartilage operation) went though the pain barrier in Leeds United's 2-1 home victory over Watford, who played for the last 29 minutes with nine men after the dismissals of goalkeeper Ben Foster and striker Darius Henderson.

In a week when it was announced that a smoking ban was to be introduced in pubs, clubs and restaurants the following summer, Bradford Bulls Foundation's Rugby League Heritage Project was staged at the city's National Museum of Photography, Film and Television.

It included over 4,000 photographs, many of which were from the Telegraph & Argus, and covered 100 years.

A week after 16-year-old Danny Belcher had starred for Clayton in a Challenge Cup tie, his current Bradford Salem team-mate Ryan Smith, then a teenager with West Bowling, got the winning try in their 20-18 victory at Thatto Heath Crusaders in National Conference League Division One.

Twenty five years ago this week, it was announced that former Yorkshire and England wicket-keeper David Bairstow would play in the Bradford League as a batsman for Undercliffe in the 1991 season.

Fast forward 15 years, and 16-year-olds Jonny Bairstow, Craig Fletcher and Nick Sharp (sons of Yorkshire players David, Stuart and Kevin respectively) were all at winter indoor nets at Headingley.

Former Bulls legend Henry Paul was the stand-in captain for England, who won the International Rugby Board Sevens at Los Angeles, with England also having 19-year-old former Prince Henry's Grammar School Danny Care in their squad.