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Featherstone Rovers are a professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone (near Pontefract), West Yorkshire in England. To many people they are known as Fev or "The Colliers", highlighting the close link between the club and the local mining community. The idea that if they were short of a player or two before match time they would trawl the local collieries to make up the numbers is a myth. Featherstone is a small former coalmining town with a population of around 16,000 and for many years "Fev" have graced the top levels of the game in a manner that belies their small-town background. Their local rivals are Castleford and Wakefield Trinity. They have won the Challenge Cup three times, in 1967, 1973 and 1983; and in 1977 won the Championship.
[edit] History[edit] Early yearsFeatherstone Rovers was formed in the Railway Hotel in 1902 and reformed in 1906. The club was originally made up of local miners and between 1912 and 1913 played at the Featherstone Main Colliery Welfare Ground. Featherstone became a semi-professional club on 14 June, 1921, beating Bradford Northern in their first game as a senior club. Their first game at Post Office Road attracted 4,000 fans. Rovers reached the Championship final after just seven seasons, losing 11-0 to Swinton and were beaten by Leeds in the following season's Yorkshire Cup decider. Rovers' first major silverware was won in 1939/40, when they lifted the Yorkshire Cup. [edit] Post-warRovers' first visit to Wembley Stadium was in the 1952 Challenge Cup Final, the first to be televised. They were defeated 18-10 by Workington Town in front of a crowd of 72,093. In 1959, the club's record attendance was set at 17,531 for a third round Challenge Cup match against St Helens. This was more than the population of the village of Featherstone. Rovers' first ever Challenge Cup Final success came in 1967 when despite their lowly league position they defeated Bradford Northern, Wakefield Trinity, Castleford and Leeds to get to Wembley Stadium. Barrow provided the opposition in the final where a crowd of 77,000 paid a then record £54,435 to watch the game. Rovers won the match 17-12. Only Widnes in 1937 had accomplished the feat from a lower position in the league table. Rovers repeated the feat seven years later, when Bradford Northern were beaten 33-14. Cyril Kellett's 8-goals for Featherstone Rovers against Bradford Northern in the 1973 Challenge Cup Final is still a record that has only been matched by Iestyn Harris for Leeds against London Broncos 1999 Challenge Cup Final. In 1966/67, Featherstone Rovers reached the final of the Yorkshire Cup but were beaten 25-12 by Hull Kingston Rovers. Rovers were crowned Division One champions in 1976/77 and won the Second Division title three years later. They again reached the Yorkshire Cup final in 1977/78 and were beaten 17-7 by Castleford. Allan Agar joined Featherstone as captain-coach in December 1982. Featherstone Rovers won the Challenge Cup as underdogs on May 7, 1983 beating Hull 14-12 in front of an 84,969 Wembley crowd. Steve Quinn secured their victory with a late penalty goal. During the miners' strike of 1984-1985, the club allowed pass holders in for that season free with the understanding they would pay for their passes when the strike had ended. Rovers won the Second Division title when they were relegated for the 1992-93 season. [edit] Summer rugby eraWhen a Rupert Murdoch-funded Super League competition was proposed, part of the deal was that some traditional clubs would merge. Featherstone Rovers were asked to merge with local rivals Castleford and Wakefield Trinity to form a new club, Calder, which would compete in the Super League. Trinity's shareholders voted 2:1 in favour of a merger but Featherstone's members voted against by a large margin [1] and this was resisted. Rovers finished 11th in the 16-team First Division but were effectively relegated to make way for London and Paris. Featherstone went within a whisker of gaining Super League status in 1998, when they were beaten 24-22 by neighbours Wakefield in the promotion-deciding inaugural First Division grand final. [2] Peter Roe was in charge of Featherstone from 1999 to October 2001, before leaving to take charge of Wakefield Trinity. He was replaced by his assistant Ian Fairhurst. In November 2002, Featherstone went into administration, owing the Inland Revenue £97,000 and with total debts of £403,000.[1] In September 2003, Andy Kelly's contract was not renewed following their failure to reach the National League One play-offs for the first time in six years.[2] In 2005, David Hobbs was appointed coach of Featherstone Rovers half-way through the season after Gary Price left, he failed to save Rovers from relegation to National League Two. [edit] Friends of Featherstone Revolution - 2006 onwardsIn late 2006, the "Friends Of Featherstone" were formed, their main aim being to provide money for contracts for players to ensure that Rovers gained promotion to National League One. The money raised enabled Rovers to sign players such as Paul Handforth, Chris Ross, Tom Haughey, Jamie Field & Loz Wildbore. [edit] National League Two Grand FinalIn 2007, Rovers won promotion from National League Two with a 24-6 win over Oldham at Headingley, on the same day that their local rivals Castleford gained promotion and amateurs Featherstone Lions beat much fancied Bramley 40-32 to complete a remarkable day for the area. This was done in front of just over 4,000 very loud supporters. [edit] 2008[edit] LicensingAs of the start of the 2009 season clubs wishing to participate in the Super League competition have to gain a licence granted by the Rugby Football League removing promotion to and relegation from the top tier. Featherstone did apply for the first round of licences though with the popular view this would not be successful and could be used as a learning experience for future bids. In July 2008 The RFL made its decision selection all current Super League teams plus two from the National Leagues Salford City Reds and Celtic Crusaders. [edit] The FutureLate 2008 saw a major announcement in the history of Featherstone Rovers, a possible move away from Post Office Road. Featherstone are in a rare situation, that they own an expanse of land around the current stadium. The proposed development would include a supermarket, community sports facilities and a purpose-built 12,000 capacity stadium though this could be reduced to a 6,500 modular design, meaning should it be needed the capacity can be increased to the required 12,000 should and bid be successful for 2011. A recent press release stated that plans would be released by the end of 2009. [edit] Club honours
[edit] Club Records
[edit] Current squad
[edit] 2009 Fixtures and results
[edit] Players earning international caps while at Featherstone Rovers
[edit] Other notable players
[edit] Sources[edit] References
[edit] External links
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