Hartlepool History Then & Now

West Hartlepool Amateur AFC - 1904 - 05

What we know about this image :

This image is West Hartlepool Amateurs FC taken around 1905; it is from a postcard franked in Middlesbrough on April, 8^th 1905. The picture was taken at “Rosebank” a ground often mentioned in the Victorian era in connection with Soccer and Rugby. Belonging to the Pyman Family, it was situated where Newlands and Queensberry Avenues now stand. One of the houses in the background is “Broomhill” (now demolished), which stood at the corner of Queensbery and Elwick Road, opposite “Ambleside” and built originally as “Browne Hill” by Robert Lauder, Timber Merchants, and eventually belonged to Miss Forslind, who sold it on condition that is was demolished. The name “Broomhill” continues with a modern home on the site.

The Amateur’s won through to the Final with wins over Saltburn at home 5 – 1, Skinningrove United away by 3 – 1, and in the Competition proper the run to the Final was as follows. Round One Grangetown Athletic (home) 2 – 1, away to Nottingham Jardines which saw a 4 – 1 win. The 3^rd Round, again away, saw them account narrowly for Darlington, St Augustine’s by 1 – 0 before facing Stockton in the North Division Final at Stockton where the beat Bishop Auckland by 2 - 0. They took the F.A.Amateur Cup against Clapton by 3 – 2 at Shepherd’s Bush.

The side on the day of the Final was J.Bainbridge (goal), T.Hegarty and J. Hegarty, F. Black, J.Hyslop, S.Stokes, D. Larkin, W.Fairweather, R.Hodgson, A. Robinson, R. Warner. Richard Hegarty was to die whilst serving in France in 1917.

Among the officials are probably Christopher and Stephen Furness, William C Gray and members of the Trechman family. The Secretary was Mr John Proud.

The West Amateur soccer side can date its history back to 1881/82 when they were formed and played in the Northumberland & Durham Association. Two years later they were founders of the Durham F.A. They played in Amber & Black halved shirts (this appears to be the strip on the pic).

They joined the Northern League in 1898,playing the likes of Newcastle United, Middlesbrough and Sunderland “A” teams among the pro teams. In addition they played Amateur sides such as Stockton and Shildon, finishing 4^th in 1908 season. They had announced plans as early as March 1903 to become a professional outfit, despite finishing bottom of the League that season! The club folded in 1910 and all their assets and liabilities were taken over by Hartlepools United which had been formed in 1908 out of the West Hartlepool RFC.

This Amateur Cup win occurred coincided with Rugby being at its lowest ebb in the area, the arrival in the same year of the All Blacks which led to a revival of the Rugby game nationally, and ,albeit very slowly, in the two towns.

(sources Gillian Smith – P L Hogg – I Lightfoot)

Date (of image) : 8/4/1905

Donor : Ian Lightfoot

Creator : Postcard

Part of the "Lightfoot Family" collection

Location

Related items :

gallery

1893 - 1911 - West Hartlepool - Rise -J.T.'s Era - Demise, Restart

The appointment of West member, William Humphreys as County Secretary and the sweeping policy changes in the County Union from 1894 marked the start of the rise of West and this gallery shows series of images especially from the “J.T.” (Jack Taylor) era at West Hartlepool, a period that saw the player and his Club achieve national prominence in the Game. Jack Taylor (1876- 1951) came to the Club from Castleford in the summer of 1897, the year in which he made his debut for England, the first of 11 appearances for his country, he also captained the side and also held 10 North Caps.

His International career lasted until 1905 when he played in the game against Scotland that year, the Scotland XV also containing a West player in Leonard West.

He captained the Club from 1898-1908 and was a prominent member of the Durham County XVs during their great era, playing for Durham 44 times and for Yorkshire on 18 occasions, before he joined Winlaton Vulcan’s, and when not on the Rugby field was Landlord of the “Good Intent” in Stockton Street, which stood where the former M & S store Car Park is today.

These various images illustrate just some of the many successes of the period at every level of the Game at Club, County, Representative and International level, but against this background there was a decline in interest in Rugby in the towns allied to calls for a professional Association Club in town, West also had to scotch rumours in 1898 that they were about to join the Northern Union!

By May 1908, the club was in financial difficulties and reformed to create Hartlepool’s United to see Soccer on the Victoria Ground. Many of the Rugby players went on to Greatham RFC who enjoyed their finest and final seasons before West Rugby restarted in September of 1911. A number of the star players had by this time made the move to Winlaton Vulcans, North Durham or Durham City which saw rise in the fortunes of those clubs, this move by town players to the clubs in the North West of Durham was experienced by Rovers as well.

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