1986-1987

8th June, 2017 By Phil Daly

1986-1987

A difference in for and against of 108 points was all that separated Leeds from relegation for the first time in their history at the end of an ?annus horribilis?. A changing guard, poor recruitment, a horrendous run with injuries from the off which saw a total of 42 players used and a waning of confidence within the team and among the fans almost brought the club its greatest ignominy. Although only two competition points separated the Loiners from the play offs and encompassed six sides; if Oldham had not lost their last six fixtures ? two of them to champions Wigan ? then Leeds would have joined Featherstone, Barrow and Wakefield in the Second Division.

A woeful start, winning only three games in ten and equally dispiriting end, with three victories coming from the last twelve fixtures, were the main reasons behind the fall from grace, which by the mid-way point had cost Peter Fox his job.

Before a competitive boot had been laced, Leeds were in dispute with neighbours Hunslet, who had appointed David Ward as their coach although the Headingley management still saw him as a key member of their roster. Eventually the RFL fined Hunslet ?200 for an illegal approach but arguably the club?s best modern-day skipper had played his last game in blue and amber. He was joined at Elland Road by Terry Webb, who was made their skipper, after Leeds decided to make him a free agent with a year left on his contract.

Likewise, stalwarts Neil Hague ? for a fee of ?12,000 ? and Roy Dickinson left to join Halifax and within three weeks of the start of the season, Kevin Dick departed for Hull in a swap deal that brought in scrum half Andy Gascoigne and prop Trevor Skerrett.

Jeff Grayshon had been advised to retire with a chronic back problem although he came back later in the season after rest and the only bright spot was the return to the fold of John Holmes following a year out during which he greatly missed the game he loved and adorned.

Overseas recruitment was similarly feted, with Leeds desperate to recruit a top line centre. Tony Currie was approached by Canterbury which scuppered a return for the previous years? Player of the Season; Dean Bell looked like he would be coming back but the lure of Kiwi Graham Lowe?s appointment at Wigan put a stop to that and terms were agreed with Peter Jackson until he was tempted from Brisbane Souths to Canberra.

In the end, once the 1986 Kangaroo squad was announced, Leeds got their man; bringing over young, Cronulla superstar Andrew Ettingshausen ? who was to prove a revelation ? followed by his team mate Mark McGaw, who were both omitted from the Green and Gold?s.

Similarly, in September, the Headingley management went after Wayne Pearce who had initially pulled out because of injury and Greg Alexander who was later called up as cover for the sidelined Eric Grothe.

There were question marks over the pedigree of other two quota recruits in the pack; hooker Bob Morris coming from country football at Taree and playing most of the year in the Alliance and Illawarra prop Peter Smith making little impact and eventually having his contract terminated. Their arrival had seen popular Kiwi Trevor Clark farmed out on loan to York because of quota restrictions. Straight away, the signs were ominous.

Big league defeats at home to St Helens and away at Widnes sandwiched a comprehensive Yorkshire Cup second round exit at Castleford; long term injuries to Roy Powell and Keith Rayne seeing Kurshid (Tony) Butt given his debut who, in his first three appearances, played prop, hooker and then second row.

Ettingshausen?s arrival brought temporary respite, the immediately popular pin up scoring on his debut in a comfortable success over Salford ? York?s county back rower Gary Price also making his bow ? and registering six touchdowns in his opening four championship appearances. The standards gap was cruelly exposed by the touring ?unbeatables? who, inspired by Peter Sterling and two-try Wally Lewis, put on a Headingley master class to win 40-0. League inconsistency continued to keep Leeds haunted by the relegation spectre.

A magnificent win at their traditional Boulevard graveyard, with Mark Conway outstanding and ?60,000 recruit from Bramley, centre Andy Mason, scoring on his debut; was followed by another home mauling this time by Warrington for whom Mark Roberts blazed a hat trick and Andy Gregory was at his cocksure best. When he went on the transfer list for a world record ?130,000 fee, Leeds were reported to be interested but Gregory went to Wigan, who dumped the Loiners out of the John Player Special Trophy in the first round at Central Park.

The slide was becoming so concerning that a public meeting was held with the coach adamant that things would come right. With Ettingshausen revelling in his new full back role, Hull K.R. were inflicted with their worst defeat for 12 years in mid-December and although Barrow were then beaten, with former Leigh winger Phil Fox scoring two tries; namesake Peter was sacked on Christmas Eve.

Maurice Bamford, who had announced after the Test whitewash that he would not be seeking a contract renewal with Great Britain, was re-appointed and on Boxing Day Wakefield were thrashed with Ettingshausen scoring a hat trick.

Ray Ashton was captured from Oldham for ?40,000 to become the eleventh debutant of the season while an approach from Rochdale for John Holmes was turned down and Brendan Hill moved to Bradford for ?30,000, the club his father had played for. Two defeats and two victories followed ? the last a comprehensive taming of Widnes ? in the run up to the Challenge Cup; Carl Gibson?s 100th career try being the only score in a first round win at the Willows over Salford.

Barrow were beaten in the second round with Mark McGaw signing off with a brace but Wembley dreams were ended by Widnes, the sixth successive year the sides had met in the competition, in front of a Headingley crowd of nearly 15,000. Despite leading 7-0 at the break in the best forty minutes of the season Leeds could not hang on, ?E.T? having a try disallowed and then trying to chip over Rick Thackray in the desperate closing stages only to see the Chemics? winger pick off the ball and register the decisive score.

Versatile Trevor Clark, who had been re-called from York and looked to have made the loose forward berth his own, bravely filled in at full back when Ettingshausen returned home with a record of 17 tries in 20 appearances. The only bright spot in a disastrous six week run-in was the completion of a rare double over Hull, ending a six match home losing streak against the Airlie Birds, with Paul Medley back to his best rampaging form.

The poor results prompted the formation of a new football division under the chairmanship of banker Bernard Coulby as Leeds just held on to their top flight status. Among the youngsters signed, were prop David Amman who came from Sandal rugby union and Paul Worthy, son of former Keighley player Dave; while Australian Mark Wilkes was taken on trial from Workington, landing two goals against Barrow in his only appearance. Headingley was also the backdrop for an ITV drama series ?Flying Lady? with footage shot during the home clash with Hull K.R.

Stadium Partner

Competition

Technical Partner

Technical Partner

Main Partner

Main Partner

Associate Partners

Tetleys
Berrys
Leeds Beckett University
SMUK
Dynamic
Chadwick Lawrence
Caddick Developments
Vale Services
Ipsum
NIC Group
Sedulo
ACS
Johnstone
Bartercard
Axis Group
Evolve Lettings
Best Western
Naked Wines
Apache Automotive
Seat Unique
Ponte
Wetherby Whaler
Pickups Self Storage
Heatable
Nuffield