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More stories will be added on a weekly basis, so keep coming back to see what's new. Very soon the search function will be added allowing you to easily search the entire site for stories, players, games or any other reference.

Learn more about Sheffield Eagles through the stories we've researched and focused on. If you'd like to share your memories and stories with the project then get in touch. 



In 2009 the Club put together a brochure to celebrate the first 25 years of the Sheffield Eagles. The plan is to put together a similar publication in 2024 to mark the 40th anniversary. 

25 Years of the Sheffield Eagles You can view the brochure below. 
[File: undefined]

A history of the first 25 years of the Sheffield Eagles

The First 25 Years of the Sheffield Eagles



The Sheffield Eagles played their first ever game on Sunday 2nd September 1984 against Rochdale Hornets, winning 29-10. Below is an extract from the book "Against the Odds - The First Decade of the Sheffield Eagles" to act as a starting point for a history of the Club. We'll be adding more as the project progresses. 

The Origins Gary and Kath Hetherington established the Sheffield Eagles to create a new club with new ideas. It took three years of hard work and setbacks along the way from Gary’s initial idea before the first game on 2nd September 1984 when Sheffield Eagles beat Rochdale Hornets 29-10 at Owlerton Stadium.

Against the Odds "Against the Odds - The First Decade of the Sheffield Eagles" was written by John Cornwell and Richard Pepper published in 1994. It provides a comprehensive insight into how the Club was formed, the challenges faced and the details of each of the first 10 seasons. Below is an extract from the book's introduction.

[Image: Against the Odds - written by John Cornwell and Richard Pepper]

Launching the Dream Shortly after four o'clock on the afternoon of the 2nd September 1984, on one of these glorious early September days that often mock an indifferent English summer, the final whistle went signalling the end of the Eagles' first ever league match, with a 29-10 points victory over Rochdale Hornets. Before more than a thousand spectators, an attendance rarely to be bettered for the next five years, the Eagles had produced a spirited and at times skilful display, with loose forward Paul McDermott scoring a hat-trick of tries. 

[Image: Sheffield Eagles v Rochdale Hornets, 2nd September 1984]



Spectators The spectators at Owlerton that day included Sheffielders curious to see this alien game. A game which so excited the passions of other Yorkshire people in the old East and West Ridings, let never penetrating the southern corner of the county, where two of the most famous of soccer clubs dominated the winter sporting scene. They were joined by Rugby League exiles, often long resident in the city, whose loyalties lay with the established teams of their youth based on either side of the Pennines. They were exiles who had come to the match out of support for their game, even if they were uncertain the new venture would flourish and survive. 


The Obstacles Already many of the public knew that the Eagles had overcome obstacles that would have blocked the ambitions of many ventures. That aspirations to enter the Second Division in some considerable style, playing home matches at Bramall Lane, a ground that would have been the envy of every club in the Rugby League. backed by substantial sponsorship that would enable the starting line up at their first match to include some established star players, had been dashed in the months of preparation before a ball had been kicked in earnest. A desperate realism had become the Eagles' style. 

The Team Their team that day was constructed of young tyros, who were playing their first ever league match, alongside old pro's in their final years in the game. Even an American footballer who had played with the Vikings and the Jets graced the Owlerton turf, alongside former Wembley Cup finalists recruited to boost the league's newest team. 

[Image: The squad list from the first ever game]


The Club The club's organisation off the field existed in outline only. Volunteers covered the vital posts that make up a professional sports club, with everything run on a shoe-string budget and co-ordination dependent on enthusiastic goodwill. The realism and the ambition were encapsulated in the article in the match day programme by the late Dr. David Durie, then club doctor and one of the directors. He wrote a feature called 'watch this space', whose words read prophetically with ten years' hindsight, but at the time were perhaps just the brave words any new club would offer.




Dr. David Durie, Club Doctor and Director when the Club was established 
[Quote: "Sheffield Eagles are still fledglings, one day they will be high flyers. This club will be a testing ground for new ideas - we do not accept hierarchies between directors and players, Sheffield will be a friendly club; we want it this way, and we believe we will attract better players when this is known. You can buy success or sell it - but you cannot buy team spirit - we shall start as we mean to finish, playing good rugby. The rest will follow." Author: Dr. David Durie]

The First Ever Programme Thanks to Vicky Brooks for sharing her copy of the first ever programme. 
[File: undefined]

Full footage of the first ever game The Heritage Project was contacted by long time Sheffield Eagles Fan Dean Palmer to let us know he has a digital version of a VHS tape of the first ever Sheffield Eagles game. We're delighted to be able to share it, but also make sure it as archived for the future. Dean's parents were both at that first game and had a VHS copy of the game that was digitised. Dean's parents helped run the Eagles Colts team in the late 1980s with Dean playing for them and the original Hillsborough Hawks team.
Commentary on the game was by Martyn Sadler now the editor of the League Express - at the time he was a lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University.
As you can imagine the picture quality isn't what we're used to today - it's transferred from an almost 40 year old VHS tape. It does capture the occasion though and the historic first appearance of the Sheffield Eagles.

[Video: Sheffield Eagles v Rochdale Hornets, 2nd September 1984]

Player Profiles You can find out more about each of the players from that first game using the links below. 


[Player 001, Andy Tyers]
[Player 002, Ray Smith]
[Player 003, Daryl Powell]
[Player 004, Mark Q Campbell]
[Player 005, Dave Alred]
[Player 006, Steve Robinson]
[Player 007, Paul Welsh]
[Player 008, Billy Harris]
[Player 009, Gary Hetherington]
[Player 010, Vince Farrar]
[Player 011, Steve Cooper]
[Player 012, Ian Jowitt]
[Player 013, Paul McDermott]
[Player 014, Mark S Campbell]
[Player 015, John Gregory]

Share Your Memories Were you at the first game? Did you watch the Eagles in the first season? Share your memories ,here,. 

Authors John Cornwell and Richard Pepper, from Against the Odds.

This is brief introduction to the history of the Sheffield Eagles, we'll be adding more over time until there is a full record of the Club

How it Started



After the success of 2012 the Eagles once again reigned supreme in 2013, coming from behind to defeat Batley Bulldogs 19-12 in the Championship Grand Final. It was a season in which the team established themselves as one of if not ,the, best outfits outside of Super League, playing scintillating rugby league throughout the season. A televised Challenge Cup quarter final appearance against London Broncos at Don Valley in front of a crowd that was almost definitely larger than the official figure of 2459 was certainly another highlight of the season. Though successful, it was also a season of frustration and ‘if onlys’, losing the Northern Rail Cup final and narrowly missing out on the league leader’s shield. The victory in Leigh was also a bittersweet moment, with Don Valley Stadium (DVS) officially closing on the same day. This marked the beginning of 9 years of off field turmoil for the club.

A season of records 2013 was a season in which many long-held club records were not only broken, but quite frankly obliterated! The Eagles recorded their biggest ever winning margin against Leigh East in the Challenge Cup, defeating the amateur side 112-6. Menzie Yere scored five tries during the match, equalling Daryl Powell’s record that had stood since 1989. Yere was in unstoppable form, smashing the try scoring record that QLT had made the season before. In all, Yere crossed the whitewash a staggering 46 times. All these tries meant lots of conversions, and Dom Brambani certainly obliged. The halfback kicked a record 169 goals and scored a total of 361 points, eclipsing Mark Aston’s previous record tally.

League campaign In the league, the Eagles had an extremely successful campaign, winning 22 of 26 matches and amassing 67 points (after gaining a losing bonus point). When attending home matches at DVS and Bramall Lane there was always an anticipation and expectation of victory. Supporters found themselves discussing not whether we would win but how much we would win by, with the Eagles regularly defeating teams by 20 points or more. Despite being quality all season, it was Featherstone Rovers who once again came out on top of the league table. It was a close- run thing though, with the Eagles having the chance to move a point in front of Rovers in the penultimate game of the season when the two faced off at the Big Fellas’s Stadium. Sadly, it wasn’t to be with Featherstone winning the game 24-40.

Northern Rail Cup 2013 also saw the Eagles enjoy their most successful run in what would be the final season of the Northern Rail Cup. Victories against Barrow, Dewsbury, and Doncaster saw the club reach the final for the first time. The final against Leigh at The Shay in Halifax was a tight and ill-tempered affair for the majority of the 80 minutes. Prop Liam Higgins and Leigh’s Steve Maden were sent off after a brawl on 47 minutes. In the second half, with the Eagles up 24-16, QLT found himself with a two man overlap but elected not to pass to the wing and was tackled just short of the line. It could and should have been a decisive score. After this the momentum of the game changed, with Leigh scoring 27 unanswered points in the last 25 minutes to claim a 43-24 victory.

Grand Final For the third season in a row the Eagles found themselves in the Championship showpiece event. This time though they were in the unusual position of being favourites against a typically plucky Batley Bulldogs side who had defeated Featherstone Rovers to make it to the Leigh Sports Village. It was perhaps this unusual pressure which contributed to an uncharacteristically lacklustre performance for most of the match. Sat in the stands at half time trailing 12-0, supporters were hit with the sickening thought that despite pushing for silverware in three competitions we would somehow finish 2013 with precious little to show for it. The second half continued in the same vein as the first until Scott Turner finally got the Eagles on the board on 55 minutes, touching down in the left corner. Suddenly the players had found their mojo, with Menzie Yere barging over in the same corner 6 minutes later to make it 12-8. On 64 minutes captain Mitch Stringer came up with a superhuman play, ankle tapping Batley’s Ben Black on the Eagles left edge to stop a certain try. Stringer’s effort would prove crucial, with Sheffield drawing level 4 minutes later and then finally taking the lead on the 70 minute mark following a trademark jinking run by QLT. Brambani finally kicked a conversion, and a Patch Walker drop goal sealed an historic victory for the men in red and gold.

Share your memories Do you have any memories of that season? You can share them with the Heritage Project ,here,. 

Author Ciaran Rooney

Sheffield Eagles become the first club to retain the Championship title

2013 - Back to Back Champions



For many people the Sheffield Eagles game against Widnes Vikings on the 23rd May 2022 was the final match in that weekend’s round of Championship fixtures. For the club and its fans it was more than that. It was a celebration of a a return to a permanent base in the Steel City at the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park Stadium, after nearly nine years on the road. It was the start of a new era and the chance to look forward to a more optimistic future, both on and off the field.

9 years away With the demolition of Don Valley Stadium - the Eagles’ home since 1990 – in 2013, the club were left without a suitable home in the city. This period included “home” games in Featherstone, Doncaster and Wakefield along with a variety of other temporary arrangements in and around Sheffield. For many clubs this would have marked the end – in terms of finances, fanbase and morale. Somehow the club has survived, thanks to the driving force of “Mr Sheffield Eagles” Mark Aston, a committed Board of Directors, supportive sponsors and a core of fans who have remained loyal despite everything.

Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park The new ground has been built on the same land as the old Don Valley Stadium and is part of the wider Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park Masterplan in the east end of the city. This will see £250m invested in the area to create business space, research facilities, education hubs and commercial opportunities with a focus on health, wellbeing, sport and activity. This development is being led by Scarborough Group International, including the stadium as one of the early phases, which will eventually have a capacity of up to 3,900. The club, having signed an initial 5-year lease for the ground as a key tenant, have been able to adapt some elements of the ground – particularly the changing rooms and support facilities - to suit their requirements.

The Return The return to city was, in typical Sheffield Eagles fashion, not without problems. The construction of the stadium had been delayed by a combination of the global pandemic and a shortage of vital construction materials. Further delays at the start of 2022 meant that the team were still on the road having to play “home” fixtures in Featherstone and Doncaster. With the first home game finally set for Monday 23rd May, live on Premier Sports, there were problems the week before with the licensing of the ground, meaning capacity was limited and the match was all ticket. In the end 795 attended the game, though frustratingly demand was much higher. Much of the frustration and last-minute re-arrangements were kept behind the scenes, with the focus instead on the celebration of the return to Sheffield and a chance for fans to experience their new home for the first time.

What it meant to people As David Butler, chair of the Eagles Foundation, commented “It felt like attending a family wedding where you’ve not seen many of your relatives for so many years – fans were hugging and reuniting. There were many faces who had not been around for many years coming along to be part of a great occasion.”
For Geraline Ingham that first game meant “Home at last! I can say to my husband, who said it would never happen, you were wrong! The Eagles are at last getting what they deserve after so many years as nomads”. 
Katie Peat said before the game that “the 9 years on the road I can only describe as soul destroying, every year not knowing and stressing out about whether we would get through the next season. Travelling away to home games was a killer too and I still to this day do not know how the club have managed to do it.”
[Video: The reaction of fans, players and staff to the first game at the Sheffield Eagles new home. ]

The game The kick off was 7.45pm and some fans were in their seats from 5.30pm when the gates opened, ready to soak up the atmosphere (and the sun), explore the ground and be part of the build-up. Fans were delighted with the new stadium whether it was the legroom, the views or just the fact there were toilets and catering facilities – something they weren’t used to with the temporary grounds in Sheffield and Rotherham. For the club the catering arrangements are also significant as they can operate the food and drink concessions themselves on matchdays. This means for the first time in their history they can generate their own income through this. The pre-match and half-time activities were also a celebration of rugby league in Sheffield. The three Rugby League World Cups were on display outside the ground recognising that Sheffield is hosting the England v Greece game in the men’s competition and several games in the wheelchair tournament later in the year. There were also a series of pre-match friendlies between teams from the local community and schools’ teams, showing once again that rugby league is continuing to grow across the city. The game itself kicked off with a flurry of cheering, flag waving, pyrotechnics and relief. That first game saw a 34-24 win for the Eagles, which was almost incidental compared to the sense of celebration of being home. That said, despite a fightback from Widnes in the second half it was a performance to match the expectations with both the team and the ground looking great on television. That game was a chance to recognise a sense of positivity around the club both on and off the field and there is already excitement about what the 2023 season may hold.

Looking to the future The Sheffield Eagles Supporters Association was formed two years ago to create a voice for fans, work with the club and raise funds. In that time they have raised over £5,000, quite an achievement considering the relatively small fanbase. The new stadium provides them with opportunities to develop more social events and activities to make connections between the club and fans. Over the last 18 months the Eagles Foundation, the first rugby league community foundation established in this country, has undergone a renaissance. It has been able to create a two-year development officer post and in less than a year, Andrea Dobson amongst a range of other activities has established wheelchair and women’s team with training now underway for both girls’ and learning disabilities sides, with further plans for a physical disabilities team. Members of all of these Eagles’ teams were featured at some point on the 23rd, with one of the biggest cheers of the night being for the on-field training session by the learning disabilities squad in response to their sense of enjoyment of being out on the 3G pitch in front of the crowd. The Foundation has also been successful in securing £93,650 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a two-year project, led by Richard King, to collect and share the stories of the club. For a club that was only formed in 1984 it has a rich history and the project provides a chance to share these stories, many for the first time, through a website, films, podcasts and exhibitions. Celebrations are planned for 2023 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Challenge Cup win against Wigan and also the 40th anniversary of the club a year later. That first game was therefore more than just another game. It was a chance to celebrate rugby league in Sheffield and the opportunities in the future. It was a chance to look ahead to the growth of the Eagles, on and off the field. Just as importantly it was a chance for the club to celebrate the fact it is still here and has survived the last nine difficult years.

Author Richard King

Share your stories Do you have any memories of that day? You can share them with the Heritage Project ,here,. 

23rd May 2022 saw the Sheffield Eagles return to the city of Sheffield at the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, 9 years after the demolition of Don Valley Stadium.

The Return to Sheffield 



The 2012 Championship season was one of the most significant in the club’s recent history. After losing in the decider the season before, the Eagles made it second time lucky against Featherstone Rovers, defeating them 20-16 in an enthralling contest in Warrington. It was the first major trophy for the club since re-forming and the title marked the beginning of a golden era for the club.

The Regular Season The first game of the season was played against Swinton lions in front of an excellent crowd of over 1800 people at Don Valley. The club organised a carnival day pitch side before the game to draw in more families and young supporters, with the injured Dane McDonald being “gunged” before the game. Not to be outdone by sumo suits, rodeo bulls, and candyfloss, the Eagles provided some excellent entertainment on the pitch too, defeating the lions 56-22. Dom Brambani scored his 100th point for the club with a try in the first half. The free scoring performance would set the tone for the rest of the campaign, with Menzie Yere and Quentin Laulu- Togagae each picking up a try. Both would shine throughout the season, becoming regulars on the scoresheet. Whilst Menzie’s destructive running was brutally effective from close range, QLT provided the Eagles with excitement, skill, flare and was a potent long- range attacking weapon. At times he was simply unplayable, skipping past defenders on his way to score a club record 35 tries.
After winning on the opening day the Eagles never looked back. A 40‐60 away win against reigning champions Featherstone Rovers at the Big Fellas Stadium was certainly one of the most memorable victories, even if it was a score line the defensive coaches of both clubs would rather forget! After a tough run of three straight defeats in late April, including away against Catalan Dragons in the Challenge Cup fifth round, the Eagles would go on a remarkable run that would see them lose only twice in their next 16 league and playoff matches. The Eagles finished the regular season in 4th place, winning twelve, losing five, and drawing once against Featherstone.

The Play Offs and the Grand Final The Eagles cruised past Batley in the first round before putting Halifax, a team they had failed to beat in the regular season, to the sword at the Shay by 54 points to 12. Just like in 2011, the Eagles once again played Leigh Centurions at the Leigh Sports Village in the semi-final, and it was déjà vu as they battled past the hosts by 10 points to secure their place in the decider. 
Like the semi, the final was also a repeat of 2011 as the Eagles faced league leaders and strong favourites Featherstone Rovers. There was to be no Groundhog Day though, with the team avenging their previous 40‐4 loss. Winger Scott Turner opened the scoring on 12 minutes, diving over in the corner after an outstanding flick pass by Menzie Yere. Rovers responded quickly with a try of their own and two penalty goals.
On 31 minutes QLT scored one of the most iconic Eagles tries. Pinned in on their own ten metre line on the third tackle and with fatigue clearly setting in amongst some of the middlemen, Michael Knowles ran down the short side and passed to Yere on the left edge. Fending off a man, he passed back inside for Misi Taulapapa who offloaded inside for winger Scott Turner. In a remarkable piece of skill Turner caught and passed to QLT in a split second as he was picked up and dumped on his back by a Featherstone defender. The offload was so quick that it took the camera operator who was recording the game a couple of seconds to realise that Turner had got the ball away! QLT then did what he had done all season and danced around three Featherstone defenders to complete a stunning 70 metre move. Simon Brown converted for a 10-8 lead going into half time.
Featherstone levelled just after the resumption as the heavens opened. The game see sawed as both teams exchanged quickfire tries, before Taulapapa collected a Brambani chip and touched down on the right wing on 57 minutes. Brown angled his kick perfectly from the touchline for a narrow 20-16 advantage. And that’s how the scores stayed. After what seemed like an eternity for Eagles fans the fulltime hooter finally blew.

What it Meant The win was the culmination of year-on-year improvement on the pitch following promotion from National League Two in 2006. It just rewards for Mark Aston and all those who had battled to keep Sheffield Eagles alive following the merger with Huddersfield in 1999. After 14 years of struggle major silverware was finally on its way back to South Yorkshire.

Share your memories Do you have any memories of that day? You can share them with the Heritage Project ,here,. 

Author Ciaran Rooney

The Eagles win the Championship Grand Final for the first time. 

2012 - Grand Final Glory



The Don Valley area, to the east of Sheffield, has been associated with the Sheffield Eagles since they started playing at the Don Valley Stadium in 1990. Following the demolition to the Stadium in 2013 the Club, had a nine year period playing at a variety of grounds - both in and outside Sheffield. The Club returned to the City in May 2022 with the opening of the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park Community Stadium - a 25 year programme of regeneration of the area. What is the history of the Don Valley area and in particular Attercliffe? It's an area long associated with sport and recreation. 

Introduction Close to the River Don, which runs though Attercliffe, Don Valley was at the heart of the steel industry in Sheffield.Located there was Brown Bayley steel works which played an important role in both World War 1 and World War 2.Many ‘women of steel’ worked there during World War 2, employed to keep the steel works running by filling the roles of men who had been sent away to fight.Sadly the decline of the steel industry in the 1980s saw Brown Bayleys close and fall into degeneration before being demolished in 1985.
The area found new life with the building of Don Valley Stadium in 1990 and Sheffield gained a new identity as the ‘city of sport’.
Following the closure and demolition of Don Valley in 2013 the area was again brought back to life with the building of the Olympic Legacy Park, an ongoing development which now has one of the highest concentrates of sporting facilities in the UK.Here, amongst other things, can be found the English Institute of Sport, Ice Sheffield and the home of the Sheffield Eagles.It is also a centre of education, having Sheffield Hallam University’s Well Being Centre, the Oasis Academy and the University Technical College OLP.

Attercliffe Attercliffe was first mentioned in the Domesday book in 1086.Attercliffe was so called because it was ‘at the cliff’, a banking resembling a cliff which overhung the River Don.A Chapel was built here during the 17th century which was replaced by Christ Church, a grand place of worship which opened in 1826.Christ Church was badly damaged in the blitz of 1940 and had to be demolished.In 1953 the site of the old Church and graveyard was turned into a garden which is situated on Attercliffe Road opposite the Don Valley Hotel.
The role of Attercliffe and Don Valley in the industrial revolution was largely due to the waterpower from the nearby River Don and the opening of the Sheffield Canal.
The parish of Attercliffe-cum-Darnall was created in 1844 to extend to, and join up with neighbouring Darnall.

Education In the 17th century the area was recognised as an education centre. Attercliffe Academy, located where the Oasis Academy now stands, was in Attercliffe Old Hall, a Jacobean mansionIt produced some impressive pupils and was highly regarding within the academic world at the time.

Sport & Recreation At the beginning of the 19th century Attercliffe/Don Valley was mainly a rural area noted for the quality of fish in the River Don.Before industry dominated the area had fine houses with grounds.One of these grand houses was New Hall, which was later converted into a recreational area with a cricket ground, race course, bowling green, a maze and a lake.Also at New Hall there was a cinder running track where the annual ‘Sheffield Handicap’ race was held.
Victorian industrial workers in the area needed leisure activities and New Hall was where the sport of pedestrianism became popular.Developing it has since evolved into racewalking or starwalking, following the heel to toe rule.Men would race around fixed distances, being similar to an early example of track and field athletics.Professional racers would train at local centres, usually based in local public houses.
Cricket was also a popular sport in the local area. A cricket ground was first opened in Darnall in 1822.Following the collapse of a stand the ground moved in 1824 to Darnall New Ground which was a more appointed ground large enough for 8000 people to attend.Early matches attracted large crowds, often in excess of official capacity and it was for a time regarded as ‘the finest ground in the Kingdom’. However, due to the opening of a new ground at Hyde Park, which was closer to the city centre, crowds started to decline and the ground was put up for sale.Minor games were played there until 1859 when the land became Darnall cemetery and sadly all traces are now gone.

Brown Bayleys The industrial revolution brought large scale steel production to Sheffield in the 19th century.Brown Bayleys at Don Valley was established as Brown Bayley & Dixon in 1871.It manufactured Bessemer steel and railway tracks and was a vast firm employing a great number of workers, many of them local and living in the area.
By the 20th century Attercliffe had become a residential area and had shops including the John Banners department store and Burtons Taylors. It also had recreational facilities such as the Adelphi Cinema and the Palace Theatre.
Post the Second World War the area began to decline, housing was cleared and not rebuilt and it became a mainly industrial area once again up until the closure of the steel works.

Don Valley Stadium Following the closure and demolition of Brown Bayleys new hope was given to the area in the form of the Don Valley Stadium.Work was completed in September 1990 and in 1991 it hosted the World Student Games, which attracted competitors from all over the world to compete in the new purpose built facility.Don Valley was the largest athletics stadium in the UK outside of London at the time of its closure and in addition to athletic meetings had held a number of well attended concerts for top music acts of the time, including U2, Michael Jackson and The Rolling Stones.

The Future It is now the turn of the Olympic Legacy Park to stand on this historic site.
This fascinating area can be seen in many ways to have come full circle, being first recognised as an area of education and home of sport before the industrial revolution took hold and put Sheffield firmly on the world map, it is now returning to its roots - as an area of education and home of sport.
Long may its fascinating journey continue!

Share your memories Do you have any memories of the Don Valley area and Don Valley Stadium? You can share them with the Heritage Project ,here,. 

Author Caroline Guest

A brief history of the Don Valley area of Sheffield, associated with the Sheffield Eagles for over 30 years.