Last week I reckoned the most auspicious player to wear the Dewsbury number one jersey was a guy most of us had not seen play.
Today I am going to give star billing in our number two shirt to someone that none of us saw play!
How do I justify this? Well, here goes.
As a young kid starting out on supporting Dewsbury I wanted to know all the records – how many cups and league trophies have we won? What is our record attendance? How many of our players have played for England or Yorkshire? Who holds the record for most goals, most tries?
Back then I noticed two records that still stand to this day – both to the same player.
That player is Dai Thomas.
He holds the tries in a season record with 40 in 1906/07. He also holds the tries in a game record, with an incredible eight against Liverpool City in April 1907.
40 tries in a season and eight in one game – I reckon Dai Thomas takes star billing at number two.
As his name suggests, he was a Welshman and represented the Wales Rugby League team on three occasions against England.
He also played for his country in a 14-13 victory against the touring Australians at Merthyr Tydfil in 1909.
In more recent times, an absolute icon on the right wing was Eddie Rombo. Every try he scored seemed to be a contender for try of the season.
Eddie had an aura about him that not many players can match – an absolute entertainer with a smile always on his face!
“Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!” was the chant from the terraces.
He hailed from Nairobi in Kenya and his time in Yorkshire was eventful.
He signed for Leeds and attained a Law degree at Leeds University. His time at Headingley had its highlights but it was his move to Dewsbury where he really hit the headlines.
Whenever Eddie touched the ball your head lifted and your heart rate went up – you anticipated something special.
One try stands out above all others and it came at the Elland Road, home of Leeds United, in the time when Hunslet played their home games there.
A Hunslet player dabbed a kick into the Dewsbury in-goal area that Eddie picked up.
The Dewsbury fans would have been content for him to just bring the ball back from behind his own line – but that was not on the Rombo agenda.
He proceeded to pin his ears back and set off to the opposite end of the field, weaving in and out of despairing Myrtle, White and Flame shirted defenders as the roars of the travelling Dewsbury fans got louder.
He kept going and going before planting the ball down for a try that was special even by his standards.
I have seen a lot of Rugby League in my life but that is my favourite try ever and I am not anticipating it to be topped!
In recent weeks Eddie has been appointed Head Coach of the Kenya international rugby league team – but he will always be revered at Dewsbury.
When thinking of past icons in Red, Amber and Black you always have to look back at our 1973 Championship heroes, and in the number two shirt we find another man from the Welsh valleys in Greg Ashcroft.
Ashcroft was a flame-haired winger from Pontypridd who was a talented all round sportsman – indeed he held the 100 yards Welsh Youth title.
He played for the Welsh Youth rugby union team and also represented Wales at athletics and basketball.
Greg is back in Wales nowadays and during our 2006 NL2 title-winning season the travelling Dewsbury fans had the pleasure of renewing acquaintances with him when we played Celtic Crusaders at Bridgend.
He was in attendance under the guise of his building company and had sponsored the game. He was a popular post-match figure in the bar and I had my photo taken with him!
In my early days supporting the team I recall Kevin Osborne, a great player for Dewsbury who was also a talented footballer that spent time on the books of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Not too many years ago I recall walking into the Barristers pub in Wakefield city centre after a night at the theatre and spotted Kevin.
He was instantly recognisable and hadn’t changed from when he played!
In more recent times we have had Bryn Powell, who scored 62 tries in 118 games for Dewsbury, and was capped six times by Wales.
A local lad on the wing was Andy Ramsden. He was signed from the St John Fisher club that produced many fine players who signed for professional clubs.
So many players have worn that number two shirt with distinction and here is another – Gary Mitchell.
A good question for you – who wore that number in the final game at Crown Flatt?
The answer is Barry Drummond, who, after leaving Dewsbury, gave good service to Thornhill Trojans.
Who is the current incumbent carrying on such a fine tradition? None other than Andy Gabriel.
Andy is a fine speedy, athletic, elusive player who typifies the modern day winger.
He has scored many spectacular tries, and we all hope – and know – that there are many more to come!
