16 Mar 2023
Giants Proud to Launch Heritage Numbers!
Huddersfield Giants are proud to announce that, after over a decade of work, we will be releasing the clubs heritage numbers at a launch event at Laund Hill on the 29th of March!
The Giants are proud to announce their player heritage numbers will be announced on the 29th March at Laund Hill - 7:30 pm start.
The Huddersfield Rugby League Heritage Society have completed the mammoth research task of documenting every single player to have ever worn the famous Claret and Gold jersey. Over the years there are various people that have taken part in the process resulting in this staggering achievement. Thanks must go to the late David Gronow, David Thorpe, Graham Parr and Graham Sykes for the huge effort and time dedicated to this project to ensure that every player past and present can have their numbers.
David Thorpe said “David Gronow, Ben’s Grandson, started the project over ten years ago when he was the club historian. Following David’s untimely death in August 2014 I picked up the task with help along the way from Graham Parr and Graham Sykes. The most difficult periods were from 1895 until about 1908, when Huddersfield started becoming a power in the game. Newspapers often just gave surnames and the two local papers, Examiner and Chronicle, occasionally had listed different teams!
“World War 2 was also a problem because teams could use guest players from other clubs and there was often a shortage of available players due to military duties which sometimes meant a local ‘amateur’ made up the numbers. Covid also delayed things for a period because we were unable to use Huddersfield Library and the Rugby League Archive at Huddersfield University. We’re now in a position to be able to release the numbers and we’re really looking forward to the event.”
The numbers start right back in 1895 and begin with Harry Lodge and go up to 2022 with the most recent player being the debutants in Bet Fred Super league round 1. The numbers don’t discriminate and if you played 1 game or 500 games all players wo have made a first team appearance will be allocated a number to record their effort in the history books of our great club.
The achievements of these players will be recognised at various points throughout the year starting with the event at Laund Hill on 29th March. The event, run in conjunction with the Huddersfield Giants Supporters Association, the Heritage Society and the Past Players Association, will feature various players past and present and they will be the first to receive their numbers. Jermaine McGillvary, Leroy Cudjoe, Eorl Crabtree, and Ashton Golding will be amongst some of the players to be presented their number and Head Coach Ian Watson will be in attendance to explain the importance of the heritage numbers. All supporters are welcome to attend the event which will also be a celebration of Huddersfield’s rich history.
If any past players or family of past players would like to get in touch to receive their heritage numbers, please contact Derek Wroe from the past players association at derekwroe@hotmail.co.uk
Details for the event are as follows:
Huddersfield Giants Heritage Numbers Launch
Wednesday 29th March – 7:30 pm -9:15 pm
Laund Hill Community Club
New Hey Rd
Salendine Nook
Huddersfield
HD3 3XF
Partners
