According to just about any written history you can find, Hillsborough Hawks were formed in 1989. However, I have received today a programme from a Hillsborough Hawks game from April 1985. According to notes in the programme this was their first season.

The game was against North Staffordshire Pioneers (!!) and was played at Owlerton Stadium. It is an 8 page programme and there is a team photo on the back in black and white.

I can give details of players etc if required, but I was wondering if anybody else could shed any light on this team - how long did they last? Or did this open age team 'merge' with the junior Eagles?

www.flickr.com/photos/eagleowlpr ... 902394644/ Front cover of said programme.

www.flickr.com/photos/eagleowlpr ... 902394644/ Front cover of said programme.

Team started 1984-1985 Season Coached by Arnold Hema Ex Eagle Fullback , Steve Redfearn Ex England RU Internationaland Eagles Prop Forward also played whilst trying to regain fitness, a few of the Eagles Colts played for both Teams

The Team Moved on to become Sheffield Wharncliffe probably at the time Hillsborough Running track was being upgrade to Become Hillsborugh Arena

Then reformed at Hillsboro arena in 1989 as Sheffield Hillsboro Eagles later reverting to Hillsborough hawks after Confusion with the Sheffield Eagles probably over funding issues

Before the Hillsborugh Hawks started amateur rugby League was played on a Saturday afternoon by a team named Sheffield Concord.

Useful Contacts
Arnold Hema ,
Gamel Kassim (Played for the old Hawks and Wharncliffe sides)
Brian Moore(Eagles Kit Man) seems to remember the first Hawks days
Staurt Sheard is an expert on South Yorkshire Amatuer rugby League at the time look him up on Facebook.

Kev Critchley
..

Wembley98, some of your information is wrong I'm afraid.

1. "Hillsborough Hawks" as they are today are nothing to do with the old club that Hillsborough Lad mentions - no connection at all.

2. You're right that today's Hillsborough Hawks began life in 1989, but it was as JUNIOR EAGLES. It was an initiative from Tim Butcher, then SADARLDA/Sheffield development officer. The kids trained in Hillsborough Park, but in the first couple of years games were played on schools pitches in the area. The move to the "Old Running Track" (later renamed the Hillsborough Arena) came later - probably around 1991/92. I can check though - my dad will remember, as a long term Hawks/Junior Eagles coach/chairman/committee type.

3. Junior Eagles changed to "Sheffield Hillsborough Eagles" when the open age team was launched in the early 90s. I can't remember any funding issues being behind the "Hawks" name change - I think the committee just thought it would be better to change the name so it was clear that there was no real connection with the Eagles. Maybe the fact that there was a club in 1985 with the same name played a part - I couldn't say. It would be interesting to know.

4. The "Old Running Track" redevelopment happened between 1997 and '98. The new facilities opened in November 1998. Before that we had to put up with the crap old changing rooms and knackered terracing. It hadn't changed much since the 1960s!

You're right about Brian Moore, by the way - his son (also called Brian) was in the same team as my brother Simon, I think. Now his son plays, I think. I assume he's also called Brian.

My first coach when I started at Junior Eagles in 1989 was Mick Heys, who is the Eagles physio these days. Ted Dowde, who was Eagles kit man/bag man at one point was also involved in the early days.

In the days when I played for Junior Eagles there was another team in Sheffield called "Steel City". They folded. Can't remember for the life of me where they played. They weren't very good and we'd thrash them. We used to lose more often than not to Hoyland and Dodworth.

I remember the old Hillsborough Arena, it was the only running track i've ever seen where you had to dodge the potholes

I personally wouldn't regard the 1985 version as being the same club as the 1989 incarnation but these things are often a matter of opinion.