The history of Halifax RLFC...

Halifax Rugby League Club was formed way back in 1873. It was a Rugby Union club in those days, as all rugby clubs were before the birth of Rugby League in 1895, and was very successful in that code. After becoming the first ever winners of the Yorkshire Cup in 1878, Halifax went on to win it on four further occasions. Several players were supplied for the Yorkshire County side in these years, and five were picked for the full England Rugby Union team.

The club moved into their previous home of Thrum Hall in 1886, their home for the next 112 years until the move in 1998 to the re-developed 'Shay Stadium' to ground-share with local footballing neighbours, Halifax Town AFC.

Halifax were founder members of the Rugby League (then known as the Northern Union) in 1895. They continued to be very successful, producing one of their best ever teams in the early years of the twentieth century. In season 1902-03 they achieved the 'double' by winning the Challenge Cup and finishing top of Division One. They won the cup again the following season, and were the first ever Championship Play-off winners in season 1906-07.

When the Challenge Cup Final was taken to Wembley in 1929, Halifax became one of the first teams to sample its special magic, beating York in the 1931 final. They have since been to Wembley six more times, winning in 1939 and 1987, with their last appearance being in 1988 when they lost to Wigan.

They were the last Yorkshire team to win at Wembley, before Sheffield in 1998 and were the last Yorkshire team to finish top of Division One, achieved in 1985-86, before Bradford Bulls in 1997, the club were also the first winners of the John Player Trophy Special/Regal Trophy in 1972.

Their last major finals were reached in the early 1990s when, as a Second Division side, they lost to Wigan in the 1990 Regal Trophy final at Headingley, and in the 1991 Second Division Premiership Final to Salford who had also beaten them to the league title that same year.

An addition to the Halifax R.L.F.C. name was required upon the formation of 'Super League' in 1996 when pre-match entertainment, mascots and summer rugby became the norm when the club was renamed Halifax Blue Sox R.L.F.C. - however the club returned to the traditional Halifax R.L.F.C. at the start of 2003.

Former coach, Chris Anderson shows off the League Championship and Challenge Cup at the 1997 World Championship game against the Canturbury Bulldogs.
Chris lead the team to both trophies during his spell here in the 80's before going onto become Australian coach.

The sides of the late 1930s and mid-1980s were outstanding teams, but many would claim the best of all was the team of the 1950s. During this decade they were Championship runners-up three times, Yorkshire Cup winners twice, and Yorkshire League winners four times. They figured in two Wembley finals, featuring in the first ever drawn final in 1954, and then in the replay at Odsal Stadium appearing in front of a world record Rugby League crowd of 102,569.

There have been many top players over the years, including internationals, tourists and overseas stars. The leading 36 of these are featured in a "Hall of Fame" in the Weavers Bar at The Shay Stadium.

Karl Harrison holds the record for the Halifax player with the most Great Britain appearances.