Former Fax players Kelley and Graydon have died

Former Halifax RLFC players Stuart Kelley and Jim Graydon have died.
By Tom Scargill
Published 27th Apr 2020, 12:09 BST
Stuart Kelley, sixth from the left on the back row, during his Halifax daysStuart Kelley, sixth from the left on the back row, during his Halifax days
Stuart Kelley, sixth from the left on the back row, during his Halifax days

Former Halifax RLFC skipper Kelley has died in Wakefield of coronavirus, having been in poor health for some time. He was aged 78.

He was one of several players of the time to join Halifax from Dewsbury junior side Shaw Cross, making his first team debut in December 1962.

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Signed as a loose forward, he went on to play in all the forward positions, but it was as a hooker that he made most of his 144 first team appearances. He scored 10 tries.

He won a Championship medal in 1965, when he figured in all the play-off matches up to the Final at Swinton, when he missed out to Dave Harrison.

He was a rough, tough, uncompromising player, popular with his team-mates, and became club captain in season 1969-70, which turned out to be his last.

He then moved on to his home-town club Wakefield Trinity.

Graydon, thought to be the oldest former Halifax player, passed away last week aged 91.

He represented the club in season 1946-47 before moving on to Keighley. He later became a long-serving member of the Halifax Past Players Association, where

he was Secretary for many years.

Related topics:HalifaxWakefieldDewsbury

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