Cup final first - a day to remember for Rovers
IT'S 50 years since Birkenshaw Rovers played in the Bradford and District FA Cup Final, in a thrilling match at Valley Parade.
It was Birkenshaw's first cup final, and the memories are still vivid for former player Ken Aveyard who was a centre-half in the team.
The final of the prestigious competition was always played at Valley Parade and the two teams which battled it on Monday April 25, 1960, were Birkenshaw and Thackley.
"Reaching the final was the highlight of Birkenshaw Rovers' history, though unfortunately we didn't win the match," said Ken.
"Rovers was formed in 1944 and the team played behind Birkenshaw Working Men's Club, now the Fleece."
Ken was with the club for more than 20 years, joining in 1956 as a player and later becoming a committee member.
He can recall the names of all his former team-mates and remembers that teams in those days had no substitutes.
"It wasn't like today, you just had to play on because there were no subs," he said.
Ken also remembers the Birkenshaw Rovers Workshops and Medal Competition.
The competition was run by Rovers and was open to all mills, works, workshops and clubs within a 10-mile radius of the village.
It was run over a fortnight with two or three matches being played every night.
There were strict rules for the competition.
No team could field more than five league players - the rest of the team had to be made up of ordinary lads who just wanted a game.
The matches were played at Rovers' ground and proceeds went to the Birkenshaw club.
Ken would love to know what happened to the cup.
Anyone who knows can contact Spenborough Guardian news editor Margaret Heward on 01274 874635.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Cleckheaton
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
