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A Collection of off-field player moments, from Headingley Rugby Voices

When I decided to get involved with the Rugby League Conference, one of the first calls I had to make was to Bev Risman, who was helping to run West London. It was tremendous because Bev was one of my heroes, one of the stars who were playing for Leeds when I first went to watch them in the late ‘60s and he was the first name in my autograph book. When I got through to him I said, ‘actually you wont remember me but last time we spoke I was five years old’. He confirmed he didn’t but since then it’s made me determined to find the book to prove it to him sometime. I’m sure it’s somewhere in the loft at my parents’ house. Andy Cave

In early 1959, Leeds signed a South African rugby union international, flying winger Wilf Rosenburg. He lived next door to my uncle out there and before he left our relatives gave him a party as a send-off because such signing were very rare at that time. My uncle then got in touch with Dad and said he had passed on our address to Wilf before he had departed, then one Monday evening at about half-past eight there was a loud knock and standing there on the doorstep was the big man with greetings from Uncle Geoff. He came in and immediately established a rapport, becoming firm friends ourselves even after he went back home. Mel Reuben

I’d been in the supporters’ club before the testimonial match for Chris Sanderson between Leeds and Great Britain just after Wembley in ’77. I was walking up the tunnel into the South Stand just after the game had kicked off and the ball went into touch. I caught it on the bounce and threw it back to John Atkinson on the wing and immediately ripped the sleeve out of my red velvet jacket. Afterwards, in the bar, Atky said ‘that was a good pass you threw me’. I replied, ‘ Yeah, look what I’ve done here and, by the way, it was the only one you caught all night’. Stuart Duffy

Originally published in 'Headingley Rugby Voices' Recollections of supporters, compiled by Phil Caplan.

www.scratchingshedpublishing.com Twitter @scratchingshed2

Follow Sporting Memories Network @sportsmemnet

Originally published in 'Headingley Rugby Voices' Recollections of supporters, compiled by Phil Caplan.

www.scratchingshedpublishing.com Twitter @scratchingshed2


Follow Sporting Memories Network @sportsmemnet

Memory added on October 22, 2012

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