1993-94 - A Tale of Two Coaches

Hetherington had looked at the possibility of Garry Jack moving up to coach, or other insiders like Howard Cartwright or even Bruce McGuire. Jack in fact took over the role at Salford and asked Cartwright to be his deputy.

In the end the Eagles appointed Bill Gardner an outsider who was assistant coach at Brisbane Broncos and had held the position for several seasons. He had previously been a lower grade coach at South Sydney Rabbitohs. He was looking to move up to the position of coach and had applied for the job at the newly formed Queensland Crushers who were to enter Australia's Winfield Cup in 18 months’ time.

He had been head hunted by them and then interviewed but had had no response from them for some time and had then applied for the vacant Castleford role, which he did not get. Their former coach Daryl van de Velde had been appointed Chief Executive of the Crushers and on his recommendation, Hetherington decided to appoint Gardner to the vacant Eagles coach position as he met the Eagles requirements of a coach who was experienced and used to success. It was hoped that that he would be able to change the style of play to push the club into the position of a regular top eight finisher. This would require shaking up the players who had become too comfortable in the original style,

He arrived in July on a two-year contract. However he did make his views known that if the Crushers decided to approach him again, he would consider it and look to negotiate a release from his Eagles contract.

Gardner saw his role as building up a top team over two to three years and concentrate on developing skills and running at angles, making inside passes and creating good field positions. Whilst some players took to his style of coaching, others, who believed he was a good coach, did not take to his abrasive manner. He brought in as his deputy Mark Penistone. Gardner inherited a squad of seasoned and experienced players.

• Mark Aston
• Paul Carr
• Anthony Farrell
• Mark Gamson
• Dale Laughton
• David Mycoe
• Daryl Powell
• Ryan Sheridan
• Alex Thompson
• Andy Young
• Paul Broadbent
• Michael Cook
• Richard Picksley
• Ian Hughes
• Bruce McGuire
• David Plange
• Richard Price
• Lynton Stott
• Darren Turner

Andy Young however did not make any first team appearances for the whole season due to a long term injury from the previous season.

The Eagles had a gap in their overseas quota with Gary Jack taking over at Salford, so Gardner went back to his old club Brisbane Broncos to sign an up and coming back, Chris McKenna. French International back David Fraisse had also joined the Eagles. In fact Hetherington had tried to sign him four years earlier when he had starred as full back in the unexpected French test victory over Great Britain. He also did not count as an overseas player for the quota. He was signed after an impressive display as a triallist in the Oldham Sevens pre-season tournament where the Sheffield side reached the final.

Those that were signed during the season were:

• David Fraisse (Carpentras)
• Brad Hayes (Ryedale York
• Chris McKenna (Brisbane)
• Nic Grimoldby (Doncaster
• Lee Jackson (Hull)
• David Webster (Rochdale Loan)

The major signing of the season was Lee Jackson from Hull to replace an injured Mick Cook. Valued at between £150-400,000, Hetherington asked Hull what their bottom line price was for him. When they advised that it was £82,000, he snapped him up, even though he had to find the money to bring him to the club. But then Hull decided that they had undervalued him after agreeing to him joining the Eagles, believing his worth was nearer £250,000. The matter went to a Tribunal who decided that the Eagles would have to pay Hull £83,000 plus 50% of any profit made if he was sold on and the settlement date deferred to June 1994.

As a consequence the Eagles launched a Players Fund Appeal to raise £50,000 to sign him. A variety of fund raising initiatives were undertaken including an Autumn Fayre and sponsored run/ walk at Don Valley which raised in excess of £5,000. Gary Hetherington even agreed to do a sponsored run to St Helens, 75 miles over three days, for the away game there. Whilst the run was Interrupted, as he had to attend the Tribunal hearing, he completed it on time raising a further £6,000. By December the Player Fund had reached nearly £30,000 and it was decided to keep it open, the monies being used as a source to fund future signings. It was a worthwhile activity as it brought the fans much closer to the club, at a time of poor results on the field of play, particularly at home.

A number of players from the Alliance squad were also promoted to play in the First Team during the season as injuries hit the squad at crucial stages. These included Richard Arrnswood, (who was the first player to be signed from the Junior Eagles), Ben Briers, Alex Cain, Dave Mann, Karl Randall, Darren Summerill and Jamie Summers. Dave Mann and Karl Randall had been signed at the beginning of the season from Dodworth ARLFC

Whitbread renewed their sponsorship for another season, adding £500,000 to the Eagles’ finances.

Prior to the first league game, the Eagles again appeared in the usual preseason friendlies against the South West Yorkshire XIII and Doncaster in the South Yorkshire Cup at Owlerton. The game against SW Yorkshire saw only four first team regulars play in the squad, the remaining sixteen coming from the Alliance and Academy squads. The first half was a very close affair, with the Eagles managing a slender 9-8 lead, but eventually the home side dominated the second period, running out 43-8 victors, with Man of the Match Anthony Farrell running in two tries. The game against Doncaster was a different kettle of fish, with the visitors winning the game 20-6 and the Cup for the first time, an omen of what was to come in the new Championship season. An Eagles squad also participated in a wheelchair rugby game against Lodge Moor Eagles. The team led by Mark Aston were beaten 47-17 by a side that had several British Internationals playing for them.

Commenting on the forthcoming season, Gary Hetherington, who had now adopted the role of Chief Executive, believed:

The target for season was a top eight finish which would qualify them for a game against the touring Australians next season.

The Eagles first game of the season was an away trip to Salford to face Gary Jack’s Salford. Leading 16-8 at the interval, Sheffield recorded an emphatic 32-20 victory, with David Fraisse scoring his maiden try for the club on his debut, whilst Daryl Powell notched his 99th for the club. Mark Aston had a personal tally of 16 points, against his former colleague’s side, which was particularly pleasing as he had often not seen eye-to-eye with him.

Before the first game at home, which was against Castleford, Daryl van de Velde approached Gardner offering him the Queensland coaching role, after Mal Meninga had refused the job. He decided to withdraw from his Eagles two year contract. Whilst Kath Hetherington felt that his contract should be terminated forthwith, Gary reached a new understanding with him. Gardner’s commitments to the Crushers might allow him to remain the Eagles’ coach until Christmas 1994, so he would see out the present season. It was agreed that he would continue on a monthly basis, but if another coach became available who would be right for the Eagles, then he would be appointed, and Gardner would be released.

The Castleford game was an archetypal game of two halves. Benefiting from the new training regime the Eagles controlled the game and secured a 9-4 lead by the interval. But defensive errors enabled their opponents to score four tries after the break to take the points, 20-11. Another major casualty of the game was Daryl Powell, who sustained an injury that kept him out of the next three matches.

The following week at Bradford, the same happened again. They completely dominated the home side in the first half, with a three try blitz in the first fifteen minutes and looking as though they would secure the second victory of the season when they scored just after the resumption, increasing their lead to 26-12. They held that lead up to the last quarter until David Fraisse was sin-binned and then Mick Cook was badly injured which reduced the Eagles to eleven players on the field as they had used up all their substitutes. Bradford exploited their numerical advantage, scoring four tries to take the game and the points, 36-26.

To resolve the need to find a worthy replacement for the injured Mick Cook, Hetherington decided to sign out of contract Great Britain Hooker Lee Jackson from Hull. Jackson played in the home tie against Halifax the following weekend. Over 4,000 saw his debut, but the Eagles home form did not improve as they were behind at half time, 6-12, with the visitors going further ahead after the interval, victors by 40-14. The Eagles normally strong tackling failed to halt the rampant Halifax attack.

September ended with a trip to newly promoted Oldham. An injury hit Eagles, had a number of Alliance players in the squad for the match, but the team secured their second win of the season, 22-15, with Ryan Sheridan scoring two tries, with Karl Randall and Darren Turner making their debuts. The Eagles were tenth in the league with only four points.

The first two games in October were at home, the first one against Wakefield Trinity. Despite Powell’s return from injury, the team did not perform as a cohesive unit. Honours even at half-time, 10-10, the Eagles lost again 30-20 in front of a crowd of over 4,000. To make matters worse Chris McKenna sustained a broken jaw that put him out for the rest of the season, whilst Jackson was sent off after a brawl on the pitch, receiving a one match suspension and was not selected for the first test against the visiting Kiwis. Daryl Powell was selected and played in the 17-0 victory.

The lack of a home victory was starting to cause some level of disquiet amongst a section of the Eagles fan base against the coach. Commenting on the lack of success at Don Valley, Bill Gardner acknowledged the lack of consistency from his team:

The game against Featherstone brought a little progress, but not the victory the fans were looking for. Behind 8-12 at half time, the Eagles fought back to manage a point from an 18 all draw, with Mark Aston accounting for 14 of those points.

A weekend off, whilst Powell and Jackson appeared in the second test against New Zealand, enabled the Eagles squad to recover and regroup before their next match at St Helens, who had played the Kiwis in a midweek match. Alec Thompson also appeared U21 match against the Kiwis U21 whilst Ryan Sheridan was also selected but unable to play due to injury. Playing with much more confidence, ably led by Lee Jackson, the Eagles surprisingly lead the Saints, 13-6 at the half time hooter, going on to win their first ever game at Knowsley Road, 19-12, with Aston again contributing 10 points as he and Powell dominated the game. Powell and Jackson appeared in second test against New Zealand.

Hull were the next visitors at the Valley. In the match programme, Gary Hetherington observed:

Without Daryl Powell, who had been injured in the Third Test the day before, but with Jackson raring to go against his former team mates, the Eagles created a thirteen point lead, before letting the visitors catch up and go a point ahead. With seconds remaining a move down the blind side involving four players, led to Mark Gamson scoring in the corner as the hooter went, Aston missed the conversion, but the Eagles secured their first home victory 18-15. The Eagles finished the month in eighth spot with nine points from nine games. Powell was out for a month over December/January, due to his achilles injury, that affected his appearances later in the season.

The following weekend they were due to travel to Wigan, but the game was postponed to November, as to Wigan players having Test commitments. So the Eagles next outing was at Mount Pleasant to face second division Batley. Expecting an easy win they were defeated on the very muddy pitch by a Batley squad that were undefeated in six games, 8-6, with debutant Dave Mann the Eagles only try scorer. Whilst Gardner appeared not to be too concerned by the defeat, Hetherington felt deeply humiliated, calling it the worst ever day for the club.

With three games in a week, starting the following week end, the Eagles went from bad to worse as they found themselves dropping into a potential relegation dog fight. The first game was a trip to Widnes. With multiple injuries and David Fraisse playing for France against New Zealand, the Eagles secured the services of Brad Hayes from Doncaster and David Webster from Rochdale. Both Jamie Summers and Alex Cain made their debuts, as Powell. Plange, Lumb and Carr were sidelined with injuries. Whilst Widnes dominated the early exchanges, by the final whistle both sides had scored five tries, but it was Widnes’ better success rate with kicking that claimed the match points, 32-24. Both Anthony Farrell and Ian Hughes scored two tries each in the defeat.

Three days later they were at Central Park for the rearranged game against Wigan. Behind 20-2 at the interval, the Eagles were subjected to an eight try blitz that saw Wigan victors. 52-18, They then faced league leaders Warrington at Don Valley. Despite Daryl Powell scoring his 100th try for the Eagles in the opening minute, after that it was one way traffic as the visitors racked up 36 points, before the Sheffield team made the final score a bit more respectable with tries from Aston, Powell and Fraisse, the game finishing as a 36-12 defeat.

December opened with a game between two under pressure coaches. The visitors Leeds, with their star studded squad were tenth on points difference just ahead of the Eagles. When the opposition ran out the Eagles fans noted that their backs division was full of youngsters grafted onto their well experienced group of forwards. The fans anticipation of another home victory was soon scotched as they capitalised on a multitude of defensive errors by the Eagles, linked to the method of play that Gardner had introduced, which the Sheffield players were finding difficult to adhere to. Frustrated home fans turned on the players as the Eagles lost the game 31-8, the fifth successive defeat on the run, which had seen them ship 149 points.

Whilst the fans now felt that drastic surgery was required, Gardner was unrepentant, commenting in the match programme that:

It was clear to Gary Hetherington that the situation would not improve under the current coach, so he decided to act by releasing Gardner from his duties by mutual consent, even though there was no suitable replacement. This enabled him to take up his coaching role with Queensland Crushers as had been agreed but at an earlier date.

However he lost that job before even before the first tackle in the Australian season was made. His only game in charge was a match in the Brisbane XXX Cup, when the Crushers were defeated 32-16 by Cronulla Sharks’ Reserve grade side in their first trial game.

Hetherington took over the role of coach, with the intention of finding a replacement before the start of the next season. His first game in charge was the return home game against Gary Jack’s Salford side in the pre-Christmas game two weeks after the dismal performance against Leeds. Commenting on what had transpired earlier in the month and throughout the first half of the season, both Hetherington and Daryl Powell made their views known:

The Eagles were in twelfth position, only three points above the relegation spots, and one point behind Salford before the game. With only 1, 600 at the game, Mark Aston again took apart Salford, who were on a six game unbeaten run, scoring twenty points with two tries and six conversions. David Fraisse also scored a brace in the 28-22 victory.

This was followed by a Christmas week visit to bottom of the table Leigh who had only a draw in the fourteen games they had played in the season so far. The game brought their next success, defeating the Leythers, 2412 with tries from Fraisse, Plange, Powell and Stott.

The Christmas programme finished with the visit of lowly Hull KR to Don Valley on January 2nd. The visitors were well beaten 30-17 with Lee Jackson getting two tries and Mark Aston scoring six goals. With three consecutive wins, the ninth placed Eagles were climbing away from the relegation dogfight, and if they maintained this momentum they would easily qualify for a top eight berth at the end of the season.

Their next test was at Castleford, where they had never won, the following week end. They were ahead 12-0 after half an hour, but their opponents got themselves back in the game and a disputed late penalty secured them a victory, 20-18. The game pivoted on Mark Aston leaving the field with an injury, and a disallowed try by the Eagles.

Another narrow defeat followed at Don Valley the following week, but by a single point. Their opponents were Bradford Northern. The flowing rugby produced an early Eagles 18-0 lead, courtesy of two exciting tries from David Fraisse, But Northern scored two tries either side of half time. With Powell sidelined injured and Aston playing with ten stitches. The Eagles hit back to level the game at 28 point each. Both sides were looking for the drop goal to take the game, but it was the visitors who secured it. , 29-28. Yet again the Eagles had allowed Bradford to come back from the dead to win. The Eagles found themselves down to tenth place, but only two points off the play offs.

January ended with a trip to fifth placed Halifax, who had comprehensively defeated them at Don Valley. Five tries to Halifax’s three with Paul Carr scoring a brace and Alex Thompson recording his first try for the first team secured the points with a 28-20 victory. This comprehensive win was the first in the longest winning streak the Eagles had recorded at the time. Richard Picksley returned to the first team after a year out with injury.

The following Sunday they faced Leigh in the second round of the Challenge Cup at Don Valley. Since their last meeting Leigh had recorded their first victory in the league, beating St Helens 21-4, but they were unable to compete with a rampant Eagles, who defeated their opponents 42-10, scoring six tries, with Aston successfully kicking nine goals. They progressed to the next round to face Widnes.

With Lee Jackson absent on international duties playing for Great Britain in the World Cup Sevens, they faced Oldham in a home fixture. In very wet conditions they ran up a half time lead of 16-4, before the weather started to take its toll of the handling in the game, yet Ryan Sheridan produced some fine incisive running, enabling the Eagles to finish with another victory, 28-14. Bruce McGuire secured his first try of the season and another two were scored by Fraise, one each side of half-time.

In the next round of the Challenge Cup they travelled to Widnes, the Eagles went off the boil conceding needless penalties and several unenforced errors which their opponents capitalised on, easily progressing to the next round by 22-6 to face Castleford, to whom they lost. Now having to focus on the league alone, the Eagles had two consecutive away games,

Their first trip was to Wakefield where Mick Cook made his 200th appearance for the club. Although level at 10 each at the interval, the result was never in doubt, the Eagles winning 23-11, moving up to ninth place. They were just outside the play-offs on points difference behind their next opponents, Featherstone Rovers, who they met the following Sunday.

The match at Post Office Road was a clear example of strong counter attacking rugby and once again the Eagles threw away an early lead. At half time they were ahead 18-12, but mid-way through the second half they found themselves trailing 29-26. With Aston playing at loose forward and Powell and Sheridan at half-back they managed to create two more tries to take the match points, 38-28 and the eighth spot in the league, displacing their opponents.

At the start of March the Rugby Football League attempted to ban Bruce McGuire from participating in any more games, thereby ending his Rugby League Career. He had joined the Eagles on the understanding that he was a free agent, but his former Australian club, Canterbury Bankstown put in a belated request for a £15,000 transfer fee, which had the support of the International Board, but the Eagles refused to pay. The Council banned him until the fee was paid. McGuire responded by taking out an injunction which was served on each member of the Council at their home address, on the grounds that it was unlawful restraint of trade. This enabled him to play throughout March. A Fighting Fund was set up by Eagles fans to help pay some of McGuire’s legal costs.

The Eagles were at home for the first time in five weeks for their next game on March 11th, when they faced a return match against St Helens. With Sky broadcasting the game, this impacted heavily on the Friday night attendance of 2,729, The Eagles outplayed the Saints in every department of the game, giving the television audience a match to saviour, doing the double over their opponents for the first time. It was the power and commitment of their tackling that completely disrupted the rhythm of St Helens and set up two tries for Gamson and a fourth minute try for Fraisse. They beat their opponents 18-6 with a display of aggressive defence and imaginative attacking play. By the time the final whistle went, they had moved into seventh place, with seven games to play.

As both Powell and Jackson were due to play for England against France, for whom David Fraisse had been called up to play for (which Great Britain won 12-4), and whilst Ryan Sheridan was due to play for the GB Academy side, the next scheduled fixture at Hull was postponed until mid-April.

A fortnight later they faced Wigan, who they had never beaten, but had also suffered some heavy defeats from. The only points that the Eagles had got out of a match against Wigan was when they drew early in the 1990-91 season. It was a game that both team’s had to win for different reasons. The Eagles to consolidate their playoff berth, Wigan to secure the top spot.

Commenting in the match programme Hetherington and Powell set out the Eagles aim for the day:

In the opening quarter it was the Eagles who were on top, dominating play. Their renewed confidence that they could beat anybody nearly resulted in tries from both Powell and Jackson. Yet against the run of play Wigan scored to take the lead, and although Aston goaled two penalties, it was Wigan that led at half time by a drop goal. 5-4. After the restart the Eagles got an early try through Aston pouncing on a Wigan fumble and then converting his try. Both sides had chances to score after that, but it was the Eagles who came out on top, 10-5. The Eagles had only conceded 11 points in their last two games, that helped improve their points difference. Consequently they found themselves in seventh spot on 27 points after 24 games, ahead of both Leeds and Widnes.

The victory sealed the Eagles as the Stone Bitter’s Championship Team of the Month. Mark Aston, who passed 600 goals and 1,300 points for the club, was player of the month and Powell, Aston, Broadbent and Jackson were in the Championship Team of the month. Bruce McGuire secured a further injunction against the RFL, which enabled him to continue playing to the end of the season.

Four days after their heroics against Wigan the Eagles faced a relegated Leigh side at Don Valley on April Fool’s Day. Playing in a rainstorm, the Eagles dispatched them back to Lancashire scoring eight tries, including two each for Fraisse, Carr and Price. The 48-4 victory moved the Sheffield side to sixth spot. The winning run continued with the away trip to relegation facing Hull KR in the Easter Monday tie, three days later. They almost came unstuck as Rovers were ahead in the opening stages of the game12-4. before the Eagles started to play, with tries from Fraisse and Gamson establishing a 20-12 lead. After the break however their hosts hit back, scoring eleven unanswered points before a Lynton Stott double secured the points for a 30-23 victory.

The following weekend the Eagles travelled to Headingley to play Leeds. They had never won there. Leeds were in eighth spot, four points behind the Eagles. Having now won nine consecutive league games and looking for their tenth, the Leeds view of the Eagles was that:

On a very hot day, those that attended witnessed a record being established. The Eagles played well in the first half securing a 20-12 lead at half time. Leeds hit back in the second half after Sheffield had extended their lead with an unconverted try. Midway through the second half they took the lead 30-24, before a converted Eagles try levelled the scores at 30 each. Soon Leeds had retaken the lead racing to a 40-30 score, before Sheffield pulled a try back. But undaunted Leeds scored a further converted try and looked to have won the game. But late strikes by Paul Carr and Mark Aston, scoring in the last seconds of injury time, levelled the scores at 46 points each as the hooter sounded. All in all the crowd saw the teams share 16 tries, 11 of which were scored after the interval.

The following Wednesday the Eagles travelled to Hull in the rearranged fixture from March. Hull played free flowing rugby which Sheffield could not match in the first half which gave them an 18-10 lead at the break. Two tries in the second half from Richard Price and one from Broadbent, moved the Eagles within three points of their hosts, but Hull ran out 25-22 victors, ending Sheffield’s unbeaten league run. The defeat killed off any theoretical chance of the club securing a top four finish, and with it home advantage in the play offs.

With two games left the Eagles faced Widnes at Don Valley at the weekend. The visitors were positioned just outside the play-off, four points behind their hosts, so needed to win if they were still to qualify. Yet Sheffield were looking for revenge for their two defeats earlier in the season. A special carnival atmosphere was planned, with jazz bands before the game, dancers and marching bands at half time. Yet only 2,831 attended the game. Widnes were the form team, having won their previous two Easter fixtures and not having had to play mid-week, but it was the Eagles who took an 11-0 lead at half time, and were 21-0 ahead in the second, before their visitors managed to score eight minutes from the end . Daryl Powell scored two of the Eagles four tries, the others being claimed by the ever dependant Carr and Fraisse. The game also saw the return of David Mycoe after 14 months out due to injury.

The final game involved a trip to Warrington who were top of the table and two points ahead of both Wigan and Bradford, but with an inferior points difference. They needed to win the game if they stood any chance of finishing Champions. The Eagles, already assured of a sixth place finish, fielded a weakened team but were leading 12-11 at half time, before losing 36-18. On the wing that day for Sheffield was Richard Armswood, who had been signed from the Junior Eagles and was the first Sheffield born player to play for the first team.

Since taking over the coaching mantle again, the Eagles under Hetherington had played 17 league games won 12 and drawn 1, scoring 456 points but conceding 326. Under his predecessor, they had played 13 games, won 4 and drawn 1, scoring 248 and conceding 345. The improved performance since December had amassed 25 points, compared to 9, converting a negative points difference into a small positive one.

Finishing in their highest league position since they were formed, sixth, twelve points behind the league leaders Wigan on 46 points, securing their position on points difference from Bradford and Warrington, the Eagles could now be considered one of the top clubs in the league. The next step was to progress in the play-offs and reach another Old Trafford final.

Their opponents in their first playoff game were Warrington, away. Despite beating the Eagles a fortnight previously, they were unable to maintain their top spot, finishing third. Sheffield were out for revenge, scoring three first half tries from Price, Powell and Plange, all converted by Aston, giving them an 18-0 lead at the interval, With Jackson, Plange, Fraisse, McGuire, Cook and Farrell back from injury, they were unbeatable, scoring an additional three tries in the second half, with two more from Fraisse and one late one from Hughes coming off the bench. Although their opponents managed to claw back three tries, it was Sheffield who marched into the next round, 32-16.

Their next opponents were the league winners, Wigan a week later. Eagles fans were optimistic of the team progressing further, the team having already beaten their opponents two months earlier. They had the better of the game for the first quarter of an hour, with some inventive attacking moves, but failed to capitalise by turning possession into points. But a loose pass from Jackson let their opponents in to score their first try. Eight tries later and all the Eagles had to show was a two point penalty from Mark Aston. At 40-2, Sheffield finally took their chances with 15 minutes to play. Tries from Hughes, Fraisse and Hayes were not sufficient to dent the lead , as Wigan scored a further two tries, to progress 52-18. Wigan again won the Premiership Trophy defeating Castleford , 24-20.

As with previous seasons the club lost a number of players to other clubs:

• Mark Aston (Featherstone)
• Nic Grimoldby (Retired)
• Bruce McGuire (Warrington)
• David Plange (Hull KR)
• David Fraisse (Bradford)
• Tim Lumb (Hull KR
• Chris McKenna (South Queensland)
• Jamie Summers (Rochdale)

The biggest loss was Mark Aston who received a better contract offer from Featherstone. He had played for the Eagles for nine seasons, appearing in 228 games, during which he scored 40 tries and 622 goals amounting to 1,370 points in his Eagles career to date.

Tim Lumb had been at the club for three seasons, appearing only 33 times for the first team, but had made over 70 for the Alliance. His first team appearances had brought only six tries and six drop goals, but he had been the main goal kicker for the Alliance. Likewise Bruce McGuire had had two stints at the Eagles in his three seasons, appearing 78 times and scoring 12 tries. David Plange was also a three season player, appearing 85 times, scoring 47 tries and 1 goal. All these players would be difficult to replace.

During the season Mark Aston was top points scorers and top goal kicker 297 and 123 respectively, whilst top try scorer was David Fraisse with 23, followed by Richard Price with 16 and Mark Aston with 14 At the end of the year season awards, Anthony Farrell won the Player’s Player of the Year, for both his offensive and defensive play, which had made him a key component in the Eagles highly successful season.

Whilst the First team had a season of two halves this impacted on the performance of both the Alliance and Academy teams. Both sides played at Owlerton for the season. A number of new players were signed, including Ian Stockdale from Hull and Richard Chapman from Dewsbury to play in the Alliance, whilst five former Junior Eagles signed for the Academy, Nick Wood. Richard Armwood. Brett Skelton. Simon Lomas and Colin Ross, along with a young back, Keth Senior. In his debut game against Barrow Academy, he scored twice and made three other tries 

The Alliance had finished in the lower reaches of their second Division last season and their aim was for this season to focus on promotion. Initially coached by Mike Penistone, it all started well as the young squad won five out of their first six games to be top of their league at the start of November with ten points. But as injuries hit the first team, and Alliance players were promoted to cover them, the team had a disastrous run of defeats that saw them tumble down the league. Winning a few more games at the latter end of the season they finished mid-table.

The injury crisis also had an impact on the Academy. Initially coached by Glen Knight, up until the departure of Bill Gardner. which resulted in a coaching restructure that saw him promoted to the Alliance position, being replaced by Paul Daley. Daley was also appointed Youth co-ordinator responsible for player recruitment at 15-18. He was a former Hunslet Coach with a 10 year career played for Halifax, Bradford Northern and Hull KR.

The Eagles already had a recognised sound scouting network that had stood them in good stead, enabling Gary Hetherington to recruit in the Castleford, Featherstone and Wakefield area. This had enabled him to recruit successful sides from next to nothing,

The Academy had a mixed season falling from Division One in the first phase of fixtures but consolidating their position in the Second Division in the remaining two phases of fixtures. As a consequence they ended up in the Plate Competition were they were runners up to Barrow.

Having been relegated at the end of the previous season, the women’s team had a successful year. By the end of November they were top of their league where they remained close to for the remainder of the season. Although knocked out of the Yorkshire Cup, by April they were second from top and on course for promotion to Division 1 again Sue Johnson and Tracy Hughes were selected to play for Yorkshire and Nicki Leeson and Vicki Brookes were selected for the Yorkshire U17s. During the season their performances were improved by regular coaching from first team players.

Within the wider community, the SARDLA programme went from strength to strength. However in December the driving force behind the programme. Tim Butcher resigned as Development Officer after six years. When he started in the role in 1987 only three schools played Rugby League in the area. By the time he left his post, there were 117, with 68 teams, including 3 all girls teams, playing competitive inter school at all ages when many other sports competitions in schools had fallen by the wayside.

In addition 10 amateur clubs now operated in the area – Dodworth, Maltby, Goldthorpe, Rotherham, Sheffield, Wharncliffe, Hoyland, Royston, Hillsborough Eagles and Sheff Eagles Women.

Ralph Rimmer, the former Doncaster Development Officer and coach of the Hillsborough Open Age team was appointed to the SARDLA Development Officer role in January.

The Rugby Skills assessment Centres continued from the previous season. At the Halifax home game, 80 local boys and girls, aged 5 to 16, received British Fuel League Lion and Club awards in recognition of participation in the scheme.

The Need to build a Bigger Fan Base remined a priority.

Despite on field success, the Eagles still struggled to maintain the level of support they needed to help them fund a squad that was on a par with the top teams in the Championship. Whilst they attracted crowds of over 5,000 to two home games during the season, average crowds actually fell by 9.8% to 2,899 compared to 4.3% fall throughout the league. That figure was just over half of the Championship average of 5,715, but an improvement on the 46.5% achieved during the 1992-93 season.

When he decided to focus on the role of Chief Executive rather than coach at the start of the season, Gary Hetherington’s declared aim was:

Using the Support Club as the vehicle, moves were initiated to establish Eagles Supporters Clubs in six areas: Rotherham, NE Derbyshire, Barnsley and Sheffield Districts – with their focus on promoting matches, attracting new fans, in addition to developing a social meeting place.

The club continued with a number of tried and tested activities to help improve attendances – curtain raider games such as mini-leagues, the annual varsity game between the two Sheffield Universities, Women’s games etc. There were also a number of ticketing initiatives aimed at attracting new support.

The club also decided to award their Captain and stalwart player Daryl Powell a Testimonial year, as he was in his tenth season with the club. A programme of activities were arranged including a Question of Sport fundraiser involving teams from Players and Fans, a Bowling Night and he setting up the 2100 Club amongst others, all aimed at helping to reward this loyal servant to the club.

At the end of the day the Eagles had had another successful season on the pitch, climbing to their highest point so far in the Championship. The focus for the coming and future seasons was to improve further, increasing their support in the local South Yorkshire communities and to win a couple of league titles or Cup competitions.