As you know from via the front page of this website, there is a Southstander Hall Of Fame .... Those who for various reasons have made a special contribution to the life of this great club that we love.

The two current memebers are Tony Smith and Barrie MacDermott and rightly so, however there has not been anyone else inducted in to it for a little while now.

Given that the Southstand, in its current present form, is coming to an end and perhaps the other similar memorial on the wall of the Supporters Club's 'games room' is also scheduled for demolition when the stand comes down (and with no plans to relocate it to a physical location), isn't time that some of the great names of the past were commemorated going in to what is now the digital age ?

Several people commented to me at the time and there has now been a suitable interval since the passing of John Holmes to suggest his postumhous addition to the group ?

What about those players that made a massive contribution to the club in the pre-internet / pre-Southstander age ? Or those players from even the pre-television age ? Shouldn't they have their rightful place in our memories due to the pleasure they have brought to previous generations of Loiners ?

Just because the Rugby League's Hall Of Fame fizzled out in to nothing, that doesn't mean to say that we shouldn't lose touch with our past great players.

To think of just a few :

Alan Smith / John Atkinson - Leeds' feared centre / wing partnership and a points machine behind the great Leeds side of the late 60s / early 70s

Mick Shoebottom - A stand-off of the same late 60s era and a member of the last Ashes winning GB side, who's career was tragically cut short with a horrific on-field injury.

Roy Francis - The mastercoach of Leeds great side of the 60s

Harry Falkingham - An off-the-field servant to the club for over 60 years and holding just about every adminstrative position within the club itself and the supporters club too.

Joe Thomson - The club's previous record points scorer and still high on the all time points lists, with a playing career from before WW2.

Lewis Jones - Still the world record points scorer in a season ... Need I say more ?

There are many, many, many more that could be added to that list and I am sure you have a few of your own.

The only criteria for membership is a suitable period since last participating / coaching etc. before being added, so sorry folks that would exclude your favourite present members of the current team. Having said that, many of them would be worthy editions to the Hall Of Fame in years to come.

Good idea ?

Who would you include ?

Should it be something that is voted on ?

How could you nomiate someone ?

In need of a slight re-write there.

Great idea generally though and a fitting date to post, remembering a player that paid the ultimate price on a future inductee's first birthday. I always spare a thought or several for Chris Sanderson on this date.

Crickey, is today the anniversay ?

Yeah, Sanderson without a doubt ....

Great idea Admiral and i personally don't see why we couldn't induct the "Legends" en masse!
Especially when you think the current crop will all finish around about the same time i'd expect there to be more than one inductee from that group.

Without being unkind to a young lad's memory...how can I put this...the fact of his unfortunate demise on the field of play should not immediately qualify him for a "Hall of Fame" - a fitting memorial epitaph certainly, but there would be several others in front of him from that team of 77 on a Virtual Hall of Fame.

I apologise for those who may be taken aback by that opinion, but there you are.

Not taken aback, I agree.

I can understand your sentiments with regards to Chris Sanderson ... Does the club still have some sort of memorial to him ?

Wasn't there some sort of social event or isn't the reserves player-of-the-year award named after him ?

Senior Academy Player of the Year rlhttps://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/4918.phprl

Also there is the memorial stone/garden set into the wall in the car park of the Headingley Lodge - ex-players should be listed on there really... rlhttps://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/2624.phprl

Of the Australians, Eric Harris, Arthur Clues and Vic Hey spring immediately to mind.

Harris 383 games for Leeds, 391 tries.

Clues one of the greatest Australian forwards of all-time and a cornerstone of the great Other Nats side during its hey-day.

Hey ("The Human Bullet"icon_wink.gif was one of the all-time great 5/8ths, some say second only to Wally Lewis.

Going a little more "off the wall", might I suggest Billy Watts or Harry Jepson both of whom have given many years loyal service to the Leeds club in different roles?

I'd concur on Billy Watts.

A very good shout AG they are as much about this great clubs history as anyone.

Out of curiosity is the reason Harris isnt in the hall of fame due to him going to Bradford and the issues around his departure or the fact he isnt deemed worthy?

Not seen it ever mentioned tbh but that 99 squad wouldn't be a bad shout!

Yup. Dean Lawford defines talent.