Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
157	157	0	76	0	0	228

As the Rovers attempted to emerge from the depressed 1930s, there was no more refreshing sight than the tall, dark, long-haired Albany Longley flashing down the touchline. He set Post Office Road alight with his incredible speed and some scintillating tries. Signed from Stourton Juniors, he scored 10 tries in his first season, after making his senior debut v Bradford (home) on 12 September 1938, and 15 in 1939/40.  Four of the latter were acquired in the run to Rovers' historic victory in the Yorkshire Cup competition in June 1940 - their first ever trophy. Longley had three tries in the second round 27-6 win over Bradford and he also scored in the final as the Rovers triumphed 12-9 against Wakefield. It was just the fillip the club needed.

He served in the army during the war, which limited his appearances from 1942 to 1945, but when he resumed in 1945 he was soon amongst the tries. Two reports at the time on his progress were relevant - he 'had plenty of speed and initiative. Tackles in accordance with high tradition. Coaching in art of beating opposing full-back will improve his claim to high honours', and 'Longley in the army has learned to sidestep, which he will find better than crashing through'. This epitomised Longley.  He had so much talent which was unbridled, partly because of his own attitude (he was very much a loner) and a lack of coaching. What he achieved was through raw application, but what a player he could have been.

He helped Rovers pull off a surprising league double against Leeds in the opening season after the war. His try at Headingley on 1 September 1945 contributed to a 9-2 win, and in the return match at Featherstone on 27 April 1946 he weighed in with two more tries in an enthralling 16-15 victory - part of a sequence of 10 tries in 9 games. His final total of 15 tries in 23 games endorsed his growing reputation. He also scored in Yorkshire's 13-10 win over Lancashire at Hunslet in November 1946, (he had made his debut appearance for the county in 1942). However, he was not settled at Featherstone and transferred to Wakefield in January 1947 for £750 – a record fee for Trinity. He moved to Barrow in 1949 and played against Rovers in a second round Cup-tie in 1950. He then returned to Featherstone in 1951, but only played six matches before retiring. His last game was away to Bramley on 11 April 1951 in what was almost an anti-climax, but he was certainly a shining light for the Rovers in the 1940s.

 

Biography by Ron Bailey