Season 1971/72

‘A’ team winning Yorkshire Senior Championship

The M62 was opened but did nothing to stop the decline in attendances across rugby league, Rovers average attendance of 1,787 was our lowest since 1937 - despite Peter Fox trying to focus the team on “playing fast, open football”. A young side did ok finishing 8^th predominantly playing sides from the lower half of the table.  But early exits in the Yorkshire Cup, the new Players no. 6 competition, the Challenge Cup and losing to Castleford in the first round of Top 16 play-offs left supporters flat.

However, coach Fox wasn’t too disappointed predicting “I feel sure that our standard will continue to rise having regard to the abilities of our playing squad”.  Fed by the Ken Everson coached Featherstone Juniors a stream of good young players joined the ranks including Keith Bell, Billy Harris, Mick Gibbins and Graham Bray.  In turn, the reserve side was getting stronger and stronger leading to victory in Yorkshire Senior Championship. This coupled with a determination to hold onto players like Jimmy Thompson (who was the subject of intense transfer interest this season) and Steve Nash meant Fox would soon have a side capable of challenging for honours.