Photographs and information relating to West Hartlepool R.F.C.
Please go to button 1-9 for a chronological list of photographs and information relating to West Hartlepool RFC
Images from West’s early years, when they emerged from 1876, playing at Belle Vue, York Road and Foggy Furze, formalising matters in 1884 and the start of their climb to National prominence with the upheavals in the County in 1892.
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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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Over the years, Durham Rugby has produced ten Match Officials who have gone on to Referee at International level, with the latest being Nikki O’Donnell in the Women’s game in 2021.
The first person to gain the honour was from West Hartlepool when William Humphreys, a West member, officiated at the Scotland v Wales game in Edinburgh and shortly afterwards the Wales v Ireland match at Llanelli, both in Spring of 1893.
Born in Hartlepool in 1859, his father, also William, was a watchmaker who had moved from Barnard Castle and his father Thomas Humphreys, also ran a Watchmakers business in that town and was the inspiration for Charles Dickens to name his story collection “Master Humphrey’s Clock”, which were to introduce “Old Curiosity Shop”,” Barnaby Rudge” and “Pickwick Papers” to English Literature.
William Henry Humphreys captained the West Hartlepool Wanderers 2nd XV., in 1881 and West 1st XV in 1884/1885 season. By 1893 he had become a proficient Referee, in addition to his two Internationals that season, he officiated in the Yorkshire v Middlesex County Championship Final at Richmond and ended his season taking the Yorkshire Cup Final, Halifax v Batley at Headingley.
It was the following year that Wm Humphreys came to the fore in the County Union, when in January 1894, he took over as County Sec in place of Arthur Hill from Rovers. This season of 93 into 94 was a time of upheaval both at national and local level. At the 1893 AGM of the RFU, the rules on Amateurism had been defined, locally clubs were demanding Leagues to counter the popularity of Soccer, the Junior Clubs (around 40 of them at the time in the County) had been agitating for representation on the Union, the County Championship had ceased, and a new system initiated, the Referees Society had been formed (both Humphrey’s and Albert Boddy from West being at the forefront in that initiative). In addition, there were complaints of the domination of the County XV system by Rovers and Sunderland.
Against this background, Humphreys oversaw a major response by Durham County to the challenges, the system introduced under Humphrey’s tutelage saw the end of the Ashbrooke/Friarage fiefdom with the County matches and Trials and Cup Finals being staged throughout the County and not just at the Big Two. The 1897 2nd Teams Cup Final being a good example of the policy, the Final was at Hetton, the replay at Sherburn House. Likewise, County Championship games came to the Victoria Ground, Spennymoor, South Shields, and Low Fell Gateshead, Trials at Tyne Dock and South Shields. The Junior clubs did get the representation they sought, the Referees became part of the Union, and went from strength to strength. Eventually Leagues were introduced in 1902 but by then Humphrey’s had left the town and County.
He had been employed by the Hartlepool Gas & Water Company from around 1880 and in 1899 was one of 50 applicants for the post of Secretary to the York Water Company in that City, he was successful with his application, to end a successful decade both in Rugby and his professional life. He served in the 5th DLI rising to Captain and died in York in 1934.
More detail »Images from the years between the two World Wars at Clarence Road.
More detail »A gallery of pictures from the Hartlepool Mail Archive which show West in action against various Clubs largely in the early 1950s on the Greyhound Stadium. Each picture has been dated for “working title” purposes and we would welcome any further information as to the exact date or score for the various items, or indeed the names of players or the Referees! Not forgeting, the clubhouse at 14/16 Hart Road, burchased in 1949.
More detail »Images over the years from West’s time on Brierton Lane and their rise to National One status.
More detail »At the end of the 60s, Rovers, West and Old Boys all moved into purpose built Clubhouses with changing facilities, remarkably, West and Old Boys opened their clubhouses on succeeding days, Tuesday 1st September 1970 at Brierton Lane and then Wednesday 2nd September, Old Boys officially opened Mayfield Park. The RFU President Bill Ramsay opened both facilities each followed by a special game, West taking on The Dolphins, an Invitation side raised by Hartley Elliott, (Old Boys with Keith Baggs “Bacchanalians”).
The development at Brierton Lane came about as a result of West losing the Greyhound Stadium in Clarence Road and the new development also saw them having to leave their headquarters at 14/16 Hart Road. The last night at the old Clubhouse was on 11th July, 1970.
More detail »Images from the various Celebrations and the advent of the Rugby World Cup over the years.
More detail »Images from West 2nds or The Stags Cup tie exploits over the last 50 years
More detail »Images from the various teams comprising players largely overlooked by the 1st XV Selectors for 50% of their career (and totally ignored for the other 50%), but all vital to the wellbeing of the club.
More detail »West has long been prominent in the Age Grade area of the game, herewith just a handful images of the many successful sides turned out over the years.
More detail »Season 1981/82 saw West mark the Centenary of the start of the Club, like all Victorian Clubs they can trace their history further back than their foundation date as a West Hartlepool side was playing in the 1870s playing at Belle Vue and Foggy Furze and around Lucan Street/York Road.
On 1st October 1881 West Hartlepool played Stockton to start matters which were formalized with a meeting in Steins Hotel at 3 Mainsforth Terrace in 1884, this Hotel stood next to the Gaiety Theatre and just along from the Station Hotel.
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Player Coach Stu Waites and his squad celebrate after they secured promotion back to League Division, North One East, with a last gasp penalty to make it 24 pts to 23 pts, against Halifax club, Heath.
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