Walking the walk with the Hawks

Hawks support the Founders Walk

Hunslet Hawks are getting behind the Founders Walk, which is visiting the original sites of each of the 22 founding clubs of Rugby League, to celebrate 120 years of our great sport.

South Leeds Stadium
South Leeds Stadium

Fans and the wider community are encouraged to get involved by joining the local stretch of the walk from South Leeds Stadium to Headingley Stadium on Tuesday 21 July.

The walk will leave from Hunslet’s current ground at the John Charles Centre for Sport, Middleton Grove, LS11 5DJ at 9:30am. If you want to walk further – you can do the whole day or even the whole 6 days!

The club are also looking for volunteers to help make the Hunslet-Leeds stretch the best 5.7 miles of the whole week.

If you are at work or on holiday you can sponsor a walker – give a little to support someone you know who’s walking with us.

This is a fun activity for friends, family and fans to get together to celebrate 120 years of Rugby League and raise some money for good causes within the game.

Visit the website for more information: http://www.rugbyleaguecares.org/founders_walk_2015

To book your place, e-mail: katharine.irwin@RLCares.org.uk

There is just a £5 registration fee per person, which gets you a t-shirt and wristband.

Here are a few facts about the clubs’ history:

Hunslet – Parkside

  • Club founded 1883.
  • Had moved to Parkside, at Hunslet Carr, in 1888.
  • Ground previously waste land covered by rubble.
  • The Anchor and The Engine pubs used for changing until pavilion built 1901.
  • Later, Parkside had a fine playing surface and one of the largest car parks.
  • Complex also included a cricket field and bowling green.
  • First Northern Union home match: 14th September 1895 v Oldham. Won 16-8.
  • Last match at Parkside: 21st April 1973 v York. Lost 5-22.
  • Record crowd 24,700 v Wigan in March 1924.
  • Ground sold for industrial development, and club closed.
  • Revived as New Hunslet for 1973-4, playing at Elland Road Greyhound Stadium.
  • Later reverted to Hunslet and changed grounds, latterly South Leeds Stadium.

Leeds – Headingley

  • Club founded 1870 as Leeds St John’s.
  • Headingley purchased in 1889 for £25,000.
  • Also a cricket field (with athletics track around), tennis courts and bowling green.
  • Previously the land had been playing fields.
  • First Northern Union home match: 21st Sept 1895 v Brighouse Rangers. Won 3-0.
  • Staged a host of international and other big matches, incl. 13 Challenge Cup Finals.
  • 1st Challenge Cup Final played at Headingley in 1897, Batley v St Helens.
  • Similarly the cricket field has been a regular Test Match venue.
  • The Leeds Rugby Union team (now Yorkshire Carnegie) also play there.
  • Main stand burned down in 1932 at the Good Friday game v Halifax.
  • Replaced by the current structure in 1933.
  • Undersoil heating was installed in 1963.