Wasnt it an aussie by the surname of Clift or something like that ???? Malcom Clift IIRC

Correct.

Not correct. Clift was briefly coach between Bamford and Fox.

Minor detail.

Now, move along, Nothing to see here.

started in 1980 and 1st challenge cup disaster was the 1982 crossbar semi.

The last crop of home grown players were fading out. good moments from John Holmes, Kevin Dick , David Ward, Dyl ,Smith and Atki, Dave Heron but not enough and we seem to have waited a generation for such a crop to appear again.

In between how many failed at being the next john holmes or wardy.

David Creasser was prob the best but suffered with his shoulder.

Overseas players seem to have stayed longer this decade too. So many in the 80s were here for the off season. One year think 85 had nearly full team of queenslanders that left b4 the last month of the season. Think only webby stuck around for any length of time in the 80s though was he too hammered to get home.

We have had our fair share of poor over seas signings recently (O'neil, cross)
But we have had some good signings (Donald,Ali,Webb,buderus,kylie)

Didn't Mike O'Neill play on the wing in that game?

Bailey's next move?

How have I missed this thread ? It's like a who's who of Southstander posters through the years, and their memories both good and bad. I like these threads as the remind me of how bad things were from the period of starting to watch Leeds (1982), and how greatful I am that the group of players we have now as lavished us with such amazing victories in Grand Finals.

I'm the same as some others on here, the 84 JP Trophy, 88 Yorkshire Cup, and 99 CC Cup was as good as it got. I was at Central Park on that foggy day we got hammered by Widnes. Stuart Spruce was sat in front of me on the old wooden seats at Central Park and I accidently kicked him up the backside........I was only a young lad and I thought he was going to kill me !!!.....Was at Elland Road for the 24-24 HKR match, and the 0-17 replay, that was following on from the 10-10 draw with Widnes, and the 5-0 replay victory ! Ahhhh the memories, ET's chip v Widnes gobbled up by Rick Thackray (I think)..........Rex Terp, what a full back......Carl Gibson's step..........Roy Powell nearly swallowing his tongue v Widnes, Eric Grothe, all those Aussies, Peter Tunks, winning away at Cas in the play offs thanks to Schoeys last minute try............there must be a million and one memories for us all to write about, and no matter how good or bad they were they will always be in my heart as part of Leeds RLFC, and now Leeds Rhinos, however, there is no getting away from the fact that the last 9 seasons have been the most amazing fabulous times I have ever seen. Victories I would have never imagined, I don't think I've been into a Grand Final ever where I was confident we would win, however, shame on me for doubting the guys in the trenches..............simply the best team SL has ever seen..........in my humble opinion.

Think I might toast the lads with a little whisky after that !!!

And giving a big thumbs up as he was stretchered off, to a Southstand chorus of 'Bruno'.

Just another couple of golden memories from me - Hanley's try where he seemed to take the whole Hull pack over with him, Fordy's tackle on Offiah, Iro's debut and Jon Davies grinning and shrugging at the southstand after being brushed off for the second time in the lead up to Iro tries, Holroyd getting a brace on his debut (one with only one boot on), the sunwin challenge where you could win a car if you could kick a ball through a hole the size of a tennis ball, dog on the pitch at the Watersheddings...

I was on the tv that v Widnes at Headingley when Roy Powell did that. It was on scrumdown and there was that massive fight that nearly fell into the southstand.

The RT semi final v salford - I seem to remember Mike o'Neill either scoring a great try or making a long break that was finished off by someone else.

Another 1 I can remember is .... Steve Pitchford scoring at Odsal... Bursting 30 yards to score, though over the years my memory has probably warped the length and it could have been anywhere between 20 (yards in them days) and the half way line...

Ah, the 'Double Header" .... Watching Leeds beat Salford in the afternoon, then legging it to Bootham Crescent to watch Tranmere play York City in the FA Cup in what was then a rare Saturday evening game.

That VP semi was one of Divorty's few really good games for us, wasn't it?