40 from 40 Years: The 1980s
"40 from 40 Years" the 40 Sheffield Eagles players, each representing one season in the Club's history
Below are the players from the 1980s who form part of the "40 from 40 Years". For each season there is also a full list of players that played in that season.
1984-1985
The New Zealand international winger had two stints with the Eagles, including the first season. He went on to win a number of honours with Wigan.
You can watch highlights of his last game for the Sheffield Eagles, a 62-16 win over Hull KR in 1991 below. It includes an interview with him at the end of the game.
1985-1986
The first player to sign for the Eagles, the first to score 5 tries in a game for the Club and the first Eagles player to play for Great Britain.
There are so many games to choose from for Daryl Powell but here is the Sheffield Eagles v Swinton game from 14th May 1989. Having already been promoted for the first time to the First Division the Eagles won their first trophy - beating Swinton 43-18 in the Second Division Premiership Final at Old Trafford.
1986-1987
The Australian international only played 6 games for the Eagles but remains one of the highest profile players ever to have played for the Club.
We don't have any footage of Cliff Lyons playing for the Eagles but here's a compilation of some great moments from his career. At the 2 minute point you can see him hand off his former team mate Daryl Powell in an Australia v Great Britain Test Match
1987-1988
A strong, hard tackler and a stalwart of the team for four seasons, before leaving for Wakefield. He returned to Sheffield for a further two seasons in the 1990s.
John played for the Sheffield Eagles the first time they played at Wigan’s Central Park, this was in the first round of the John Player Special Trophy and the Eagles lost 34-8.
1988-1989
Mr Sheffield Eagles - record holder for most appearances and most points, Lance Todd Trophy winner at Wembley and rescued the Club after the merger.
There were so many possible games to choose from featuring Mark Aston but here is a key match in the history of the Sheffield Eagles. During their first nomadic season they played Widnes at Bramall Lane in front of a record Eagles attendance of 8,636. Widnes were the newly crowned World Champions but the Eagles beat them 31-6.
1989-1990
The Eagles second ever signing. His courage and commitment, along with seeming to be able to play almost every position made him a Club legend.
You can see footage of Mark scoring for the Eagles against Leeds from the 1989/90 season. This was a season "on the road" for the Sheffield Eagles - home for this game was Saltergate in Chesterfield. 4,622 travelled there to see the Eagles lose 27-16 against Leeds.