The Millennium Masters - Backs
So where do you begin? Well Full Back seems an obvious choice but with so many contenders who would get the Number 1 jersey? Would it be George Carmichael or Bill Leake, Wembley winners both, or New Zealander Joe Phillips? What about Terry Price, the Welsh Wizard or Cumbrian Eddie Tees, whose records look set to tumble to Henry Paul this year. And then there's Stuart Spruce? No there could be only one choice. One man stood out like a colossus in front of all others. Keith Mumby. Keith played for Bradford Northern for 20 years. Charlie Ebbage told Stuart Duffy all about their choices and had this to say about Keith.
"He is undoubtedly the finest defensive Full Back ever to wear the club colours. He could shepherd a player exactly where he wanted him and close down all his options. He started many an attack, his running from deep setting up so many tries and he was a superb Goal Kicker. It just had to be Keith. He played so many games for the club and was a great servant."
On the wings we have our fair share of potentials. Mike Lamb from Leeds, Tongan Tevita Vaikona, South African, David Barends, the Welshmen, Gerald Cordle and 'Hot Stepper' Phil Ford, Les Gant and Dave Redfearn , Semi-Final hero Jon Scales, Richard Francis but the panel went for a legend who was the son of a legend, Eric Batten and New Zealander, Jack McLean whose 63 tries in a season is not likely to be challenged. Here's Charlie Ebbage
" 'The Man of Granite.' Eric had no fear with the ball in his hands. He only saw the try line. If he couldn't go round a man he would go through him or jump over him. One of the real characters of the game. And Jack McLean, you couldn't possibly leave him out, very fast for such a big man."
Centre is a position where quality abounds. Some of the greatest players in the game have been centres and Bradford has had its share of 'Greats'. Whilst Stan Brogden was probably not the complete player in his time at Birch Lane, he certainly went on to become on of the all time greats. Jack Kitching from Thornton Grammar School, Ian Brooke, who did so much to help the club when it reformed, Dave Stockwell, Graeme Bradley who helped put the Bulls on the map, Paul Loughlin from St Helens, Dave Redfearn, Steve McGowan, Roger Simpson, one of the most popular of all players, Danny Peacock, who fought so hard to come back, Mick Withers and Scott Naylor, mustn't forget Bernard Watson but the final choice couldn't be bettered. Ernest Ward and Paul Newlove. What a pair! Charlie Ebbage again:
"Paul is so big, so strong, he can win a game with just one moment of brilliance and the perfect foil for Ernest. Ernest Ward was quite simply the 'Centre Supreme'. He could read a game like a book and had the knack of knowing just what his opponent was going to do. He timed his passes to perfection and was a real 'Wingers' Centre.
Stand Off Half. Pace, guile, skill are all paramount in the ideal No 6 and Bradford have had some crackers over the years.
Mick Blacker and Ian Slater, Robbie Paul and his brother Henry, Ellery Hanley, Nigel Stephenson from Dewsbury and Johnny Woolford, lightning fast John Woods who didn't stay very long but made his mark, all played there with some aplomb. It was a tough call and Henry Paul came very close before the panel selected Welshman Willie Davies, hero of the three Wembley trips at the back end of the 1940's
"Willie was unbelievable. He could run straight at a man and with a shimmer of his hips he would split the defence. Jack Kitching told me that when Willie gave you the ball all you needed to do was run because the gap was always there." Said Charlie Ebbage.
Jack in the Box, Willo the Wisp, Mercurial Magician. Just some of the phrases used to describe many a Scrum Half. Plenty of candidates for our No7 jersey. Donald Ward, brother of Ernest, Len Haley, a great clubman, Barry Seabourne, Bak Diabira, GB Tourist Alan Redfearn, honest and reliable Dean Carroll, Paul Harkin, surely the best short kicking game in the history of the sport, and the unlucky Terry Holmes. The panel went for a man from Featherstone; a mixture of everything needed in a scrum half, Tommy Smales. Charlie Ebbage again.
"Tommy was very smart round the base of the scrum with the hands of a magician. Very elusive and a masterful football brain."