Bull Masters - Jeff Grayshon MBE
That it was Jeff's ambition to play in a Challenge Cup Final is well documented but that he lost at the semi final hurdle FIVE times is perhaps not so well known. Not that Jeff had any shortage of honours in a career that lasted for well over 20 years.
It was as a young Second Row Forward that Jeff made his name with the Dewsbury side that shocked the Rugby League world in 1973 with a Championship Final victory over Leeds at Odsal. The Dewsbury side that day was undoubtedly the finest in the club's history and included Mick and Nigel Stephenson, Alan Agar, Dick Lowe and Harry Beverley. It was whilst with Dewsbury that he suffered the first two semi final defeats, ironically against Bradford, in 1973 and against Warrington the following year.
As the Dewsbury side began to break up Jeff found himself at Odsal as a vital member of Peter Fox's side that won back-to-back Championships at the turn of the decade. Jeff's superb ball handling skills were the cornerstone of the Bradford's play. He was a great team player and an obvious choice as captain and he led the side with great aplomb.
Peter Fox moved to Leeds in 1985 and it was no surprise that Jeff, who was playing the best rugby of career, followed his mentor to Headingley. Signing on the morning of the Great Britain v Australia Test Match Harry Jepson, the Leeds Football Chairman, said that Jeff's signing was one of the most significant in the history of the Leeds club. Jeff quickly established himself as the pack leader at Headingley and formed a tremendous Front Row with David Ward and Keith Rayne.
Another disappointing loss in a semi final, this time against Hull KR following a replay, saw the end of Jeff's Wembley Challenge and when Fox was dismissed from Headingley and ended up back at Featherstone Jeff was an early signing and gave sterling service to the club, leading the pack and helping a very young Featherstone side reach maturity.
His former Captain at Leeds, David Ward took him to Batley where his career ended 26 years after it began with an appearance record of 776, putting him fourth on the all time list behind Jim Sullivan, Gus Risman and Neil Fox and including 13 Gt. Britain caps.
Jeff was a great ball handler blessed with all the skills needed in the game at that time and an inspirational leader. There is no doubt that he played his best rugby at Odsal under Peter Fox who built the great Northern side of that period around him. He is fondly remembered by all Bradford fans and was fittingly named in the Bulls Millennium Masters team.