I think it depends who you ask really - and like you say, what you remember. You say the Leeds rivalry wasn't really there until Fax went down, but we got the - then - SL record crowd against Leeds and I remember the rivalry being pretty fierce and that was four years before Fax were relegated.

I can't really speak about life pre SL, as I was born in the mid 80s and although I did attend some Northern games my memories are naturally strongest in the SL era. However I remember asking my parents/grandparents about the Fax thing even in the late 90s, and they always said our main rivals have always been Leeds and Fax have always wished they were ours.

I think, should Keighley stay up - I would still think our bigger rivalry will be with Fax in that division.

Edit - After I posted this I was thinking about the comment about how "all kids growing up in the SL era hated Leeds" - as I was in secondary school for most of the glory years, I can confirm most guys I knew that supported the Bulls viewed Saints as our biggest rivalry and weren't that bothered about Leeds. Bumped into one of them last Christmas and he still viewed Saints as the biggest rivals!!

It's always been Leeds for me.

I remember the game, well it [iwas[/i pretty unforgettable wasn't it, Lol, and though I definitely do remember someone 'showboating', I can't actually remember who - though I'm pretty sure he wasn't doing it [iafter[/i the game!

Going back the 'biggest derby' thing, I think the reason most folk don't think of Fax as the 'mortal enemy' is that they have mostly been below us, even when in the same division and it's hard to truly dislike strugglers, whereas Leeds have always felt themselves as glamorous and we've usually felt they needed taking down a peg [or three]. Certainly, back in the fifties and sixties Leeds won a lot of 'pots' and always seemed to have the wood over us.

Think it was Asa Amone that did the showboating for fax that day. Didn't he look a prat at the end of the game ☺

It was Asa Amone holding the ball out as if to day 'come and get it' on the way to the line. One of the greatest comebacks I can ever remember, very sweet on the last trip to Thrum Hall.

At least one of the holiday fixtures at Christmas/New Years or Easter were against Fax when I was growing up. At least when they were both in the same divisions of course.

Historically Leeds had the Hunslet rivalry in the post WWII boom period of the game plus Wakefield and Cas who would be considered fierce derby rivals, especially in fallow periods for Northern.

It will be refreshing to not hear the 'go get yer father's gun' BS from the Headingley mob, or that horrible soccer song they sing for a year or two.

Glad I helped bring back some good memories ha ha Part 1 - youtu.be/DmD1EZRPwM0 Part 2 - youtu.be/-HCfKtkY1EE

Glad I helped bring back some good memories ha ha Part 1 - youtu.be/DmD1EZRPwM0 Part 2 - youtu.be/-HCfKtkY1EE

Yes, a great come back. It was a spur of the moment decision to go, finished work about the right time, sunny evening, so why not celebrate Thrum Halls death. Halifax fans singing youre not singing any more when they were something like 24- something up, and then such satisfaction to sing it back to them what seemed only a few minutes later.

In fairness, and it does make me smile, whenever Leeds are on sky at Headingley - which is a lot - they do sing that "father's gun" garbage to whoever they're playing; Wigan, Saints, Cas, Warrington, Hull FC. I'm pretty sure one fella even tried a rendition against London...

If Campbell had any bottle he should have had a word with him about it.

Not trying to start an argument but Bulls Fans namely the young kids sing this regularly towards us too.
Both as bad as each other.

That's correct, both sets of fans do the 'father's gun' song, though I've only ever heard Bulls' fans singing it against Leeds. Even the [cringemaking imo, in games not involving the Rhinos] 'we hate Rhinos', is fine in games against Leeds and adds to the atmosphere.

As for the soccer song, that ought to stay at Elland Rd.

They should bring back some of the old songs, more wit and scorn than violence.

My first choice, to the tune of 'My Bonny Lies Over The Ocean' if you need to Yotube it,



Of course, while self-powered flight would be interesting if unlikely, and to be clear I don't [iactually[/i advocate defecating on opposition supporters, and would not [iactually[/i participate in this activity even if they crack the flying thing, but it was always a song that I couldn't help laughing at the punchline, and invariably well-received.