Welcome to this Edition of BULLieve this week we bring you,
Recap of recent events and news.
Bradford Northern during the 1914-1918 war.
Help BULLieve make a difference.
Mentions.
Weekly Recap
Is it February yet??? Well we don't know about you but here at BULLieve we cant wait for next season to get underway, everything seems positive and the news out of Odsal is steady at the moment. The players are still training hard according to Jimmy who is not letting them switch off and keeping the boys in shape ready for next season, the players have been back in training before Saints had lifted the Super league trophy.
A huge congratulations goes to our very own Danny Addy who has just helped Scotland clinch a spot in the next 4 nations after winning the inaugural European Championships.
Sam Burgess is back in British Rugby after a stint in the NRL well we all knew he wouldn't be going to Bath really!!!!
So we need to ask did Ryan Hall score the TRY??? All the pundits have said its a Try its up to you now.
England put in a magnificent performance, the first 40 mins England moved the ball around subsequently moving Australia's defence and tiring them out, sadly in the 2nd half England were a bit too conservative and tried to play it safe, one thing you cant do against the Australians. The final is anyone's for the taking after the results from the weekend. England must beat New Zealand by 10 points or more to guarantee a place in the 4 nations final. Maybe that sounds simple but NZ have a 100% record in the tournament. Good luck England were right behind you.
We also have several interviews lined up too from former players at the Bulls. Wayne Godwin, Glenn Morrison, Stuart Reardon, and hopefully many more to feature in the very near future. If any of you have any questions you would like to ask any of the guys please ask us on our facebook page Bradford Bulls BULLieve or via our twitter handle @BullsBULLieve. We look forward to hearing from you all.
Bradford Northern and The 1st World War
Before he first round of fixtures took place on the 5th September Northern had lost 10 of its first team to the war already, these had all been reservists and were immediately called up on declaration of war. Suddenly a whole bunch of local youngsters were thrust into the first team, which proved to be disastrous as Northern only managed 4 defeats and a draw up to October. With most of the three quarter line non existent the club tried to bridge the gap by bringing back a former player from Hull kr, T.Surman but now 31 years old no difference was really made, as the youngsters were below his class and failed to react to his direction on the park.
With the war 2 months old and most clubs experiencing difficulties, several clubs called the league for the season to be abandoned Hull kr, Leeds, Hunslet, Wigan were all experiencing some sort of financial hardship, Saint Helens reported they had only taken £10 in season tickets compared to the year before of £426. Nearly every club had a story to tell Northern were hit hard on the gate as men were joining the war effort and some stayed away on moral grounds that if you were fit enough for rugby, you were fit enough to fight. It was decided that on the meeting on the 20th October that the league would continue as it started but with a 25% reduction in players wages to help the clubs.
Northern finished the year of 1914 on a low as they were forced to field a makeshift side against Hull on 28th December and were hammered 65-0 against a also heavily depleted Hull side, Northern were also hammered earlier on December 12th by Huddersfield 60-7.
Northern continued to sign players into the 2nd half of the season but as one seemed to sign another went off to war, form did slightly improve a victory came in some unusual circumstances against Runcorn who were also in a very similar situation to Northern but were having a bit of a worse time of it as they had spent all season rooted to the bottom of the table. With 12 losses and 1 win from Bradford's travels Runcorn managed to field a reasonably strong side as some of there men were home on leave, some predicted a Cheshire win and there 1st victory. Bradford went into the game with only12 men, as 1 of the players had missed the train at Bradford, then during the match lost another to fighting and were down to 11 but managed to get the victory of a 13-7 win.
Debts began to mount and the club found itself in a financial crisis, many other clubs were facing the same problems, it was then realised by the league that the war would not be over quickly and the effects were having serious consequences on the game, the decision was made and all competitive fixtures were suspended and the structure to take an amateur format. Clubs were informed to arrange there own "friendly" fixtures. With over 1,500 players in the forces it was also decided to bring down the age limit to 18 years old before anyone could play for a club.
The war was now beginning to drag on and several clubs faced similar positions to Northern, ultimately extinction. No money coming in, ground falling into decay and disrepair each season under war time conditions pushed the club further and further to the point of no return. As like most clubs Bradford relied on local talent to take the field for them it was either this or turn up short and hope the opposing team could lend them someone to compete. By 1917 the age limit had been scrapped and players could play for any club they wished providing there own club did not have a match arranged, sometimes a club could have 7-8 "guest" players in the side just to fulfil a fixture. Bradford Northern were no exception to this. occasions there would be a forward in the backs and it was very rare any player would be in the same position twice, as seasons went on it got worse 7 different full backs, 15 players tried on the wings, 11 different players deployed at stand off, and 9 different scrum halves.
December 8th 1917 Northern have a fixture against Dewsbury, the team is all picked 2 days before and ready to go, all of a sudden the squad is left in shreds as the players that were home on leave were suddenly ordered to report back to there units, others cried off because of illness. Northern went to Dewsbury with just 6 men, their side was made up of reserves from Dewsbury, but at one stage it looked as though Bradford would take up the offer of a wounded soldier from the crowd who had offered his services if they could not raise a full squad. March 31st 1917 at Batley, 4 Batley players in there side plus one each from Dewsbury and Leigh, similar a week later at York having to use 3 York players, 1 from Hunslet, Keighley and Bramley to raise a full squad. Northern also often loaned out there own players but did themselves dis-service on one occasion by loaning 2 of there better players to Halifax, of which Halifax won the match 7-0 and the loaned Northern player being Man of the Match (Craven) the players being Craven and Middleton. Bradford also used others ploys to field a full side by fielding some of there former players who were now retired.
1916/17 became a crunch season for Northern the club were only existing on a week to week basis, the struggle to survive became at the very beginning of the season, the opening matches were to take place on 2nd September, Northern notified there opponents for this and the date 7 days later that they would not be able to field a side, truth be had there was no money at all to pay players and taking part in fixtures looked very remote. Northern did survive till the end by donations and some help from the League, at the beginning of the following season there were nervous moments but public donations and directors dipping into there own pockets enabled them to survive the storm.
On 9th February 1918 Bradford played a fixture against all the odds in the grip of winter on a Brighouse pitch covered in 8 inches of snow, some rough markings were made out in the snow and play went ahead but amazingly only 9 people watched the whole affair as it was thought that the match would not go ahead the 9 being 3 press, 2 officials from each club and 2 ground staff. The game was played in blizzard conditions but was eventually abandoned after 35 minutes due to appeals from Bradford and Brighouse players, the final score stood 13-11 after a league meeting decided the outcome.
In all the First world war lasted 4 years 3 months and 2 weeks, more than 9 million combatants and 7 million civilians died as a result of the war, a casualty rate exacerbated by the belligerents' technological and industrial sophistication and tactical stalemate it was one of the deadliest conflicts in history, paving the way for major political changes, including revolutions in many of the nations involved. It also endured the bloodiest battle in its history the Battle of the Somme, an anglo French offensive which ran from July to November 1916 the British Army suffering huge losses 57,470 casualties including 19,240 dead on the first day. The entire Somme offensive cost the British Army 420,000 casualties, the French suffered another 200.000 casualties and the German forces an estimated 500,000.
It should also be worth remembering how Bradford as a city also contributed to the war effort. Listers mill were producers of silk shell linings and many other firms too across the city either directly or indirectly involved in the manufacture of munitions from picric acid, shell casing to actually filling the shell. Also with casualties without going to war was the munitions factory at Low Moor on 21st August 1916 the explosion could be heard as far away as York, 38 were killed and hundreds injured. It was also in a 2nd explosion that 2 Fireman from the Odsal station were crushed to death under a wall that fell over whilst connecting hoses. Most of all we shall we never forget those that fought so bravely for our country and freedom we will never forget, for those who lost there lives, for those that suffer with every day memories that haunt them, for those crippled due to the effect of war, we will never forget.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
Help BULLieve make a difference.
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As we are all aware the Bradford Bulls have been promoting the sleep out at Odsal. Many of the first team are taking part in what aims to raise vital funds and awareness for struggling youngsters in the city, who have either been made homeless, or out of education, training or work.
All monies raised will go to support centrepoint the UK's leading charity for homelessness and the Bradford Bulls Foundation, who use the power of sport to educate, motivate and inspire the local community.
You, our BULLieve readers can help us too by donating HERE and helping us reach our target of £500. Any amount is welcomed from £1 to £100 please give what you can we would be very grateful, sadly neither of us can take part to due to other commitments its going to be very cold out there so please take a moment before going to your warm bed and think of those less fortunate who have to endure the cold of the streets every night and the threats too, its not just the cold to be worried about. please if you can donate we thank you in advance.
Mentions.
We would like to wish Debbie Jenkins a very Happy Birthday who celebrates her Birthday on 24th November, don't be having too much Lager Debbie we hope you have a great day.
Fancy a Massage or some Personal training, well if you do, get in touch with JR Massage and Personal Training you can follow them on Facebook where you will find all the details required. We have been informed the price list will be up on the Facebook page very soon.
I personally (Tom) would like to wish all the best to Jay's (BULLieve creator) daughter "Baby Bull" who has been quite poorly and spent some time in hospital in recent weeks from this end we send our love to you all and hope things begin to look up for her very soon, she has not the easiest start in life and its certainly been difficult for you all. All the best.
Special mentions have to be to all our supporters who have donated their hard earned cash for the sleep out at Odsal tonight.
supporters are,
Stephen Forkes
Phillip Davies MP
Roy Blackwell
Mrs Laura Benson
Joanne Bentley
Massive mentions to ALL the Bulls staff and players and especially Marc Green who are all working tirelessly to bring us the best in all aspects of the club! Thank you.
Thank you to every single one of you who are reading this blog, without YOU we couldn't continue.
We also welcome your feedback good or bad and any suggestions you might have to improve our blog as this is vital.
thank you and, until next time,
Don't stop BULLieving!
#BULLieve
