Books

The Heavy Woollen Victories 1973/2010

By John Roe – with an introduction by Craig Lingard

Batley and Dewsbury are the professional rugby league clubs whose grounds are in closest proximity to each other, only a couple of miles apart, or thereabouts. In fact, Dewsbury’s stadium is located only just beyond Batley’s official boundary, both towns part of West Yorkshire’s Heavy Woollen District.

Batley RLFC’s ‘glory years’ were most definitely before World War One, although the club did manage to win the Championship trophy in 1924.

Dewsbury, their first Challenge Cup win coming in 1911-12, then had to wait 31 years to win it again, when the final was over two legs in 1943.

After which, the 1950s and 1960s were, for the most part, lean years for both Heavy Woollen clubs.

In the end, Batley had to wait rather longer than Dewsbury for another taste of success, the latter lifting the Championship trophy in 1973, the former winning the Northern Rail Cup in 2010.

This book’s author, John Roe, was born and raised in the area, a rugby league fan from the age of eight. Here in these pages, he brings together a collection of colourful reminiscences of the supporters, administrators and players of both clubs who were there – or at least watching on television!

Revelations of a TV Director – Royston Mayoh

by Royston Mayoh

Royston Mayoh was – and by reputation remains – one of the biggest names in British television production. In a career spanning seven decades, this writer and director turned actor and performer went from sweeping the studio floor at ABC TV studios in Didsbury, Manchester, to being recognised as one of the most prominent producers of his generation, responsible for such household names as Opportunity Knocks and This Is Your Life, earning the friendship and respect of their hosts, Hughie Green and Eamonn Andrews, in the process.

Later, his expertise was in demand in such countries as Belgium, Japan, India, Australia and the USA. He was a force behind Tommy Cooper shows, The Kenny Everett Video Cassette series and many major events.

Having found late-life fame in front of the cameras as a star of the ITV hidden camera show Off Their Rockers, nowadays he is most likely to pop up on screen in numerous commercials and cameo roles in such audience-pullers as Emmerdale and Death Comes To Pemberley. Here for the first time are his memoirs, a treat for any television aficionado. Lights! Camera! Action…

With a Foreword by Freddie ‘Parrot Face’ Davies

Harvey Hippo Finds His Talent

Written by George Griffin. Illustrated by Bureta Faraimo

Harvey the Hippo is excited as he prepares for sports day at school. He is ready to throw, jump, run, climb and swim – but what will he be good at in this uplifting rhyming tale of perseverance and belief?

Find out by reading this charming children’s book, written and illustrated by professional rugby league players George Griffin and Bureta Faraimo, as they too reveal their hidden talents.

Never the Easy Option – The Gareth Ellis Story

The Gareth Ellis Story – with Vince Groak

A shy, introverted rugby league-loving boy conquered the sport on both sides of the world, reaching the summit of the game while continually doubting himself.

Always prepared to work the hardest to achieve his goals, four times he faced life-changing decisions; to leave Wakefield, who gave him his start; depart from Leeds, when part of the club’s ‘golden generation’; turn his back on the NRL while at Wests Tigers, despite being the club’s player of the year on three consecutive occasions; and to choose Hull FC on his return to Super League.

On each occasion, as he reveals in candid detail, he never took the easy option. This book is the story of his glorious career, including the brave decision to come out of retirement in 2019.

Unashamedly open and honest, Ellis defines the nebulous concept ‘club culture’; reflects on his sacrifices to become one of the game’s most revered talents; how the international game – where he won 38 caps – must be improved; and reiterates that his sole aim in over 480 career appearances was to be the kind of player that others wanted beside them.

Never The Easy Option offers rare insight into what it takes to be a professional sportsman.

Salford Red Devils 150

A Comprehensive Record 1873-2022

By Graham Morris

Salford Red Devils are one of Rugby League’s most celebrated clubs, claiming a history going back to 1873. During the 150 years since, it has claimed numerous honours including six championship successes and eight Challenge Cup final appearances, four of them at Wembley. In 1934, the team achieved legendary status when touring France, their adventurous attacking play earning the accolade Les Diables Rouges – the Red Devils, a sobriquet officially appended in 2014.

Some of rugby’s most most revered names have worn the famed red jersey including Harry Eagles, who played in every match of the inaugural British rugby tour to Australasia in 1888; Welsh greats Gus Risman and David Watkins, both of whom are included in Rugby League’s Hall of Fame; and Jimmy Lomas and Chris Hesketh who – along with Risman – share the honour of captaining a Great Britain touring side. The club continues to produce exciting, entertaining rugby, evidenced by recent prestigious Man of Steel awards to half-backs Jackson Hastings and Brodie Croft.

Rugby League historian Graham Morris pays due homage to all of Salford’s heroes, past and present, via a comprehensive and wide-reaching set of facts and figures covering every match and every player known to have represented the club since its formation. Backed by over 80 superb photographs and images, several in colour, this is the perfect reference book for Salford Red Devils supporters and Rugby League fans in general.

Scratching Shed Publishing

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The Heavy Woollen Victories 1973/2010

Revelations of a TV Director – Royston Mayoh

Harvey Hippo Finds His Talent

Never the Easy Option – The Gareth Ellis Story

Salford Red Devils 150

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