/FROM CVA TO SUPER LEAGUE\
By Adge Cutler

 

My name is Ian Cutler but better known as Adge and was born in Scotland 46 years ago a twin and youngest of six. My father worked for British Aerospace so we moved around the country before settling in the area near Market Weighton. At the age of nine we moved to Summergangs Road in Hull and I went to Alderman Cogan School (that backed on to the old Craven Park) and here I played rugby league during the winter and baseball in the summer. I did not know a lot about Rovers then but the coach at the school, Mr Morrel, made all of the rugby team go to Craven Park each Sunday. That was probably the best thing that a teacher ever did for me. My introduction to Rovers was in 1971 now a lifelong passion!

The old Craven Park had an East Stand standing area and seating opposite in the Main Stand. We used to watch the match all together on the Main Stand side towards the school in the corner at the score board end. I longed to be old enough to sample the atmosphere in the East Stand where the tram was.

The first players I can remember are Alan Burwell, Bernard Watson, Sully, Paul Rose, and Len Casey. Then later there was Roger, Steve Hartley, Watkey and Mike Smith, arguably one of the best local lads.

In the early 70’s Rovers won the Yorkshire Cup four times, runners up twice, the Floodlit Trophy (which was one of my favourite competitions) and League Champions in 1979. When I went home after each game my mother would say, “Did they win?” which they normally did. Rovers did not win by huge points but with three points for a try once you had a two-try lead that was usually ‘game over’.

I moved on to Malet Lambert school for all my teenage years, even though we moved to Paull when I was fourteen, as l felt it was a bad time to change schools. I made many great friends in Paull - the Brown family, Ward’s, Bucknell’s, Gorbett’s, Becks, Hume’s, and Harrisons and lots more. During this time I continued travelling to Rovers home and away. I converted many mates in Paull to watching Rovers. For the home games I used to ride my bike with scarves tied to the handlebars from the village to Holderness Road and leave it at Roddy’s house down East Park Ave.

Can you recognise me as the slim nineteen-year-old with hair, also a young looking Kev Deighton?

At sixteen I started an apprenticeship at the Gas Board ‘Negas’ and one of the first things I bought was a blue 50cc Yamaha fsi-e autolube. All my friends had different models - Suzuki, Honda, and Garrillie. This enabled me to get to Hull a lot quicker to watch my favourite team. The atmosphere at Craven Park used to be fantastic, especially when we played Hull FC. The East Stand would be full of Rovers fans with Hull supporters segregated by only a line of stewards (if they were brave enough). I can always remember a lad with a broken arm in a pot who decided to go and shake hands with the Hull fans, if you know what I mean!! The steward helping him back as though he had been the victim. With players like Bri Lockwood, Phil Lowe, Roy Holdstock, Steve Hubbard Phil Hogan, John Millington, Alan Agar etc it was a pleasure to watch Rovers.

What a great bloke John Millington was - nothing flash but a grafter and gentleman. I remember him at Wembley jumping up and down like a nine-year-old.

History was being made at Craven Park without me realising it. Those were the days of the notorious Wingfield Reds, all now in their 40’s or 50’s and probably like me a bit wiser and less hair. That’s what age does you know!

Like many work places it was great fun going to work if your team had won - you had bragging rights. It was no different at the gas board, the banter was intense and I used to wind people up as good as anyone. In our Stores we had red and white Paul Rumkee who would play tricks on the gullible black and whites Albert Grindle and Bernard Hair; easy targets. When Hull lost I would try and get hold of the opposition’s shirt and wear it on the Monday.

I have been reminded by Dave Verity that at Northern Dairies in Charles Street they had two checkout tables where the loads were inspected – one decorated in the traditional Rovers red band and the other Hull with the black and white hoops. Every Monday morning there would be a mad scramble in the milk floats to reach your team’s check out points, due to the fact if you ended up at the wrong one, your life would be made hell!

Away days used to be a fantastic adventure when I was at school we used to go on Catley’s coaches heading for the back of the coach for good sing song and off we went. There was no Clive Sullivan Way or fly over at Goole (Ouse) - first stop would be Ferry Bridge. The Rover’s team coach would stop at the cafe and the squad would have a traditional English breakfast then would have to jog across the iron bridge towards Goole to run it off. The coach would then pick them up. Apparently when Flash was playing he was always the first to get back on the coach.

Featherstone was always one of my favourite grounds to go to. They did not have the new family stand but a shed and most of Fev fans where miners wearing long thick jackets. Fev also had a clubhouse on the car park but unfortunately a fire destroyed it. During the miners strike of 1984-1985 the club allowed pass holders in for that season free with the understanding they would pay for their passes when the strike had ended.

Trips to Post Office Road used to be eventful. We normally went to the market place in Pontefract first and visit certain pubs like Elephant & Castle, Red Lion etc. They would have the back door open but as you did not have all day drinking then, pubs officially were open for two hours at lunch time. At the match, we sometimes would call into Featherstone’s supporters club that used to be situated on the car park, which, unfortunately burnt down In the eighties, it was usual to see strippers at pubs and clubs. I can always remember when we once went to the Featherstone supporters club, in the interest of science of course, one of these ladies was performing and my good friend Buzzard joined us, he was fine until the lady brought out her pet snake, a rather large python and all you could see was a cloud of smoke as Kevin left the building.

Fev players that stick out in my mind were Steve Quinn and Derrick Fox and Hobbs. Featherstone’s most famous victory as underdogs was at Wembley in 1983 against our rivals FC; the score was 14-12.We always had cracking games against Featherstone and when we left the ground after the game they would normally throw lumps of coal at the coaches and wave goodbye with two fingers.

Just across the motorway was Weldon Road, Castleford. Not a lot of things have changed apart from the name. Cas is our Roger Millward’s home town. They had some great players like Malcolm Reilly, John Joyner, Tony Merchant, Kevin Ward and Keith England. In 1986, we played Cas at Wembley as favourites’ and lost 15-14 with super cool John Dorahy missing a touch line conversion. This was Gavin Miller’s last game and to be fair, the start of Rovers decline.

Next on M62 corridor was Belle View, the home of Wakefield Trinity. They had players such as David Topliss, Mick Morgan, David Heslop, Graham Eccles and Clive Pickerill. Trinity was the team that prevented Rovers getting into Super League in the play offs. I think we played them four times that season, but lost the most important game. Again, Belle View is one of the stadiums that has not changed or improved over the years. It still has open concrete terraces and wooden stands. Wakefield had promised redevelopments at the ground to stay in Super league but all they have done is put few cabins on top of each other and called them executive boxes. I think they have been very fortunate receiving a franchise that certainly was not down to stadium facilities.

Headingley before redevelopment

Just a few miles down the M62 is Headingley where players like Steve Pritchard, Kevin Dick, captain David Ward and Dean Bell graced the famous pitch. Headingley was used for all the major semi finals and finals and Rovers were in many .Apart from the new stand, things have not changed much but Headingley is a favourite ground for many rugby league fans.

Next door to Leeds was Odsal Stadium, Bradford Northern. I have never really liked Odsal, it was always difficult to create an atmosphere there .Northern had great players like Peter Fox, Keith Mumby, Mick Burke, big Geoff Grayson and prolific try scorer Ellery Hanley. Bradford have always played physical rugby with big players. Bradford changed their name from Northern to Bulls and have been one of the top teams in Super League, getting large crowds and entertaining them in spectacular fashion. I think this season has been poor for Bradford on and off the pitch and they seem to have lost momentum as a club.

Ellery Hanley playing for Bradford Northern

In the West Yorkshire area there were clubs like Batley, Bramley, New Hunslet, Dewsbury Crown Flat, Keighley and Halifax. I had some good days out at Thrum Hall with Maurice Bamford as coach at Halifax. They played entertaining rugby but winning at Headingley in the State Express Challenge Cup semi on 22nd March 1980, and then to go on and win the cup was one of my most enjoyable games. The referee that day was a great character Stan Wall from Leigh.

On the opposite side off the motorway was Huddersfield who played at Fartown. This ground was used for cup finals and one that springs to mind was Yorkshire Cup final against Leeds that we unfortunately lost eight seven. Huddersfield now play at the Galpharm Stadium, which is now used as a semi final venue.

Further along the M62 and into Lancashire came Rochdale and Oldham at the Watersheddings with players like David Hobbs and Ray Aston. Then Swinton, and Salford who played at The Willows with players at the time like Steve Nash, Kevin Ashcroft and Steve Rule.

Warrington, or the Wire was the next club. They played at Wilderspool but now play at the Halliwell Jones stadium. I like the concept of the new stadium keeping a large terraced area for home supporters and a standing away end creates a great atmosphere. I am against all-seater stadiums (football grounds). Mind you as a lifelong Rovers supporter, I can tell you Wilderspool used to be the most intimidating grounds ever to go to. On the pitch, we always found it difficult and often struggled even with our best players and at the top of our game. Off the pitch, it was just as bad. I can remember when a police car was overturned, there was fighting before, during and after the match. The majority of away supporters used to go in the shed behind the sticks in those days and supporters traditionally swapped ends at half time. This is when there used to be trouble under the stand. I can remember when Rovers supporter’s used to walk straight down the middle of the pitch as this was the safest way to do it.

Warrington had Players such as Bob Eccles, Tommy Martin and Steve Hesford. Now the Wolves, they are a club that has under-achieved over the years they have managed some great one off performances but lacked consistency. When we visited clubs in Lancashire and Cheshire it was very rewarding to travel that far and return home with victories. We managed several famous victories away at Leigh, but winning the Championship is one that sticks out. Leigh had players like Des Drummond, John Woods and Phil Fox. We had many a good battle on and off the pitch as Leigh supporters were not known for their hospitality.

Widnes was always a good day out. We usually had a couple of drinks in the Cricketers arms then went into Naughton Park, now the Halton Stadium. They had players like Mick Burke, Reg Bowden, Mick Adams, Jim Mills, Doug Laughton, Mal Aspey and Martin Offiah to name a few. Widnes played some of the most entertaining rugby and became known as the cup kings. I find it difficult to understand why they have not been awarded a franchise. Yes, they have had financial problems but name me one club that over the years has not. At least they have kept their own identity and not merged with other clubs to survive like Gateshull and Huddersfield Eagles.

Naughton Park

Central Park was the home of Wigan. Not too many victories there over the years, with players like Graeme West, Shaun Edwards, Steve Hampson and Kieron O’Loughlin. Wigan became unbeatable and made Wembley their home. Mind you, we enjoyed our trips to Central Park; the Rovers supporters used to go into the middle of the side stand in front of the bar and create a good rapport with the home supporters. Now, Wigan Warriors have a new all-seater stadium that they share with the football team called the JJB stadium.

Just a few miles away is St Helens ground, Knowsley Road. This is another ground that has not changed over the years .On the pitch they had players like Harry Pinner, Eric Chisnel, Roy Haggerty, Neil Holding and later, the mighty Mal Meninga. It was difficult to return to Yorkshire with points but Saints where known as the brides maids never the bride. Over the last 10 years they have won all major honours with exciting free flowing rugby with a massively improved defence. I have always favoured Saints over other Lancashire teams and they currently hold the Challenge Cup after victory against Hull FC this season.

Knowsley Road

One the coast there was a little team called Blackpool Borough who played at Borough Park. We visited them in 1983 in the 1st round of the C/C. Further up the coast are Barrow, Whitehaven and Workington. I have great memories of our visits there. I remember staying over when we played Whitehaven and Barrow on the same weekend, camping in a farmer's field. I had to stay there because my clutch burnt out trying to get out of the field. My poor little blue Hillman avenger got a bit of hammer, and I had to ring in sick on the Tuesday while we waited for a part in Cumbria. We stayed at a friend's house. Paul Cullen who’s dad was a mechanic, thank god!

Rovers seemed to struggle when they travelled to these grounds, they all had very good home records and made it difficult for visiting teams to go away with a result. We visited other stadiums over the years like Craven Cottage (Fulham), Wiggington Road (York), and Tattersfield (Doncaster). We played against Tony Banham and if you can remember, he was in a TV programme, Another Bloody Sunday. Tony was a well known character round the town centre as he worked as a bouncer; you would not argue with Tony. I can remember him on the door at Shire Horse, which used to be one of my drinking establishments as a young man.

The Don Valley Stadium (Sheffield), Gateshead, Carlisle, Trafford Borough and many more some teams have played at many different grounds during the years. Oh, I nearly forgot the Boulevard where Hull played at, and the KC stadium where Hull City play football too.