League Entry in 1921

With Britain still recovering from the devastating effects of the First World War, Featherstone Rovers RLFC recommenced playing in March 1919 to take part in that season’s Yorkshire Cup. The next year, 1919/20, was a tremendously successful one, winning just about everything in sight; the Leeds and District League, the Leeds and District Cup, the Dewsbury, Wakefield and District League, and the Dewsbury, Wakefield and District Cup. The club knocked Keighley out of the Yorkshire Cup and played Broughton Rangers in the first round of the Challenge Cup.

When season 1920/21 started, the feeling was that Rovers had such a strong team that winning everything again might become boring, and preparatory moves were made to apply to the RFL for a place in the Senior League. The club’s quest was to retain all four district trophies it had won the previous year, as well as to make progress in the Yorkshire Cup and Challenge Cup. The nucleus of the squad included many players who would serve Rovers in senior rugby, such as the Denton brothers, the Williams brothers, Norman Reeves, Billy Seymour and Ernie Barraclough. With Cllr. George Johnson as chairman, the club had another cracking year. The club won every single junior competition they entered, and reached the second round of the Challenge Cup, beaten by Dewsbury.

It was time to move up to the senior league. The official application was made to the Northern Union Management Committee on 7th June 1921 and sponsored by Wakefield Trinity and York. The vote to accept Featherstone Rovers was unanimous. Here's how the Pontefract and Castleford Express reported the momentous occasion:

These are copies of the minutes of the NU meeting which confirmed the Featherstone Rovers vote:

For the story of Featherstone Rovers from 1902 to 1921, see here: Before 1921

For the story of Featherstone Rovers in 1921/22, see here: 1921/22