Sporting Bygones: Unlikely band of Fartown heroes took the long road to glory 50 years ago as they secured a glorious double

Paul Anderson’s side lifted the League Leaders’ Shield last night after finishing above every other rugby league side in the land for the first time since 1932.

They did not manage to go on and win the title that year, though, and will be hoping history does not repeat itself as they bid to now plot their course through the play-offs to a Grand Final success on October 5.

The last Huddersfield team to be crowned champions was this vintage from 1961-62.

Few would have believed they would be capable of such a feat just 12 months before.

Then, the Fartowners had finished 14th, winning only half of their games and showing no signs of the success that would come.

However, in 61-62, they were transformed and, guided by their coach, the great Dave Valentine, and inspirational captain Tommy Smales, managed not only to reach the Championship final but Wembley too.

Though much improved, Huddersfield had still only marginally scraped into the top four play-offs, finishing just two points above three teams – Workington, Widnes and champions Leeds – who were all locked on 50 points.

But once there, they certainly seized their unexpected opportunity, defeating a table-topping Wigan side, whose famous flyer Billy Boston scored 51 tries that year, in the semi-final to set up a showdown against Wakefield Trinity at Odsal.

Ironically, in both major showpieces they faced the golden-boys of Trinity, a side laden with talent including the peerless Neil Fox, who had targeted completing the very rare feat of winning all four major trophies in a season.

By duly defeating Huddersfield 12-6 in the Challenge Cup final, many observers expected their West Yorkshire rivals to go on and do just that with the Yorkshire Cup and Yorkshire League also secured that season. However, just a week after that narrow defeat in the capital, underdogs Huddersfield retaliated in perfect style to win 14-5 at Bradford Northern’s ground and ruin Wakefield’s hopes the much-coveted quadruple.

Many felt it was justice served after what some deemed conservative tactics from Trinity at Wembley, who only won a dour encounter courtesy of Fox’s three dropped goals which, then, were worth two points each.

In the Championship final, it was the dynamic scrum-half Smales who raced through towards the end to deliver a classy try more fitting of such an occasion and unfashionable Huddersfield were champions.

In Valentine’s team was the likes of Frank Dyson, the revered full-back known as ‘Spanky’ who went on to secure Fartown’s points record, something current captain Danny Brough could soon eclipse.

Aiden Breen was a winger – and journalist – who signed from Broughton Park RU in 1958 while young centres Leo Booth and Raymond Haywood were both secured from the town’s rich amateur scene.

Left winger Mike Wicks, from Torquay, was once touted as being the next Lionel Cooper – the famed Australian who lit up Huddersfield with his prolific tries after signing in 1947 – but injuries thwarted his progress.

Stand-off Harry Deighton, 18, came from York Imperials and played often alongside the brilliant Smales, a former Featherstone Rovers No 7 who proved a shrewd tactician and crucial talisman.

Up front, there was international prop Ted Slevin who celebrated a league success in his testimonial year wwhile Peter Ramsden, by now a loose forward, was another marking 10 years service having won the Lance Todd Trophy as a 19-year-old stand-off in Huddersfield’s 1953 Challenge Cup final win.

Huddersfield were a team whose sum was greater than its parts and their sheer determination and ability to retain possession against glitzier sides proved crucial in frustrating Wakefield and delivering the club’s seventh title.

Few could imagine, more than 50 years on, the Claret and Golds would still be waiting to add another.

That is something Brough and his colleagues will seek to do in the weeks ahead as they strive to emulate Smales and his unlikely heroes of 1962.