Gateshead Thunder
Encyclopedia
Gateshead Thunder is a professional rugby league
club based in Gateshead
, Tyne and Wear
in England
. They currently play in the Championship 1
competition, the third tier of rugby league in the United Kingdom. They play their home matches at Gateshead International Stadium
, known as the "Thunderdome" in rugby league circles.
Gateshead Thunder was founded in 1999, and is the only professional rugby league club in the North East of England. Their reserves play in the Rugby League Conference National Division
under the name Gateshead Lightning. The club have won one championship during their run, in 2008.
, a South Shields
team joined at the turn of the century and in 1938, Newcastle moved south of the River Tyne
and played a season of matches at the White City Sports Stadium but did not rejoin the league after World War II
. Several other teams have come and gone in the intervening years.
The Charity Shield
match and several full and junior internationals were held at the International Stadium from the 1980s and over the next two decades. An academy team, the Gateshead Mets, was formed, which played against the academy teams of professional clubs.
ahead of Swansea and Cardiff. A competition was held to determine the name for this club, and Gateshead Thunder was born with Shaun McRae
as head coach.
Despite early season problems in attracting fans to a new summer sport, by the end of the season the average gate had risen to 3,895. Gateshead finished in sixth place – just two points outside the play-offs. They had beaten St Helens RLFC home and away and beaten Wigan Warriors
'on the road' in Edinburgh
at Tynecastle
. Matt Daylight was the joint leading try scorer in Super League and winger Ian Herron was one of the deadliest goal-kickers in the top flight.
Gateshead Thunder claimed to have lost £700,000 during their one year in existence and on Monday 15 November 1999 the board announced they would merge the club with Hull Sharks, accepting a £1.25 million fee from Super League Europe to do so. The Association of Premiership Clubs blocked proposals for the newly merged company to enter a separate Hull-based team in the Northern Ford Premiership http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/attempted-revival-of-don-valley-club-hits-the-buffers-741474.html and so the new club would be called Hull and play all its home games in Hull. This was widely seen as a takeover simply to allow Hull to remain in Super League.
The fans of the Gateshead club set up a campaigning organisation, Thunder Storm, to fight the "merger". Although this proved unsuccessful, it was the catalyst for a new Gateshead Thunder to be formed. The new Gateshead Thunder was accepted back to play in the Northern Ford Premiership on 2 August 2000 with a similar bid from Bramley
being rejected. The new board had the stated objective of winning back Gateshead's place in Super League back within five years.
. The first official game was on 3 December 2000 with an 18–0 defeat to Hull Kingston Rovers
. They finished third bottom under coach Andy Kelly with back to back wins over Hunslet
and York
were the only league successes and a win over amateurs Wigan St. Judes in the Challenge Cup
.
Financial problems were again to trouble the club. A bold plan for the 2002 season failed, and when only one draw, 12–12 against Featherstone Rovers
, was recorded after the first two months Thunder were forced to cut their losses. Andy Kelly and the club's 15 Yorkshire-based players, were released as Thunder went into administration with spiralling debts.
and Swinton
, Thunder Mark III lost every game to finish bottom of the table.
2003 saw eight Australia
ns added to the squad, along with Bill Ryan as a coaching adviser. After just eight games of the season, Kicks Leisure withdrew their sponsorship, chairman Steve Worsnop left the club and coach Rob Jones refused to work with the club's first team following a dispute with the remaining contract players. Thunder had debts which were reportedly in excess of £50,000.
A panel of supporters, including committee members of Thunder Storm took over the running of the club in the interim period. This management committee was successful in persuading the Rugby Football League
(RFL) to allow Gateshead Thunder to enter National League Two. A business case based on the funding provided by the members' club, lottery and matchday income was accepted by the governing body but was still £8–10,000 short of the minimum needed to run the club for the rest of the season, and a series of fundraising efforts were organised to fund the shortfall.
at Gateshead RUFC's ground; the International Stadium being unavailable. Fundraising efforts and sponsorship from local companies meant that by the end of the 2003 season Gateshead finished the year in the black, with all debts paid. On the field, however, the situation deteriorated: coach Paul Fletcher resigned after a defeat by London Skolars
.
The board appointed Seamus McCallion
as head coach. The former Durham Cricket
Chairman and head of Century FM, Bill Midgley, joined the board.
2005 saw the arrival of Dean Thomas as head coach at Gateshead. Dean was able to strengthen the squad, bringing a multi-national flavour to Tyneside rugby as he recruited players from Australia, the West Indies, Fiji and elsewhere. The strategy paid off, and Thomas guided Thunder into the play-offs, before they eventually went out to Workington Town. Off the field, the club underwent a restructuring, with new investment coming from Essex
-based financier Neil MacPherson. The club returned to the status of a limited company, with three directors. After two stalled attempts, it was agreed that Gateshead Thunder would be allowed to use Newcastle Falcons
' Kingston Park
stadium for a game against York
. They also played a game at the venue in both 2006 and 2007, and the club stated that they hoped in future to be able to play one game a year at Kingston Park. Dean Thomas guided Gateshead into the play-offs for two seasons running. He left the club at the end of the 2006 season and was replaced by former Castleford
coach, Australian Dave Woods.
had been sacked following alleged financial misdemeanours. Assistant Coach Chris Hood temporarily took over the coaching duties, and was later appointed permanently. However after a struggling start to the season which saw Gateshead near the bottom of the Championship, Thunder appointed Steve McCormack
as Head Coach with Chris Hood returning to his role as Assistant Head Coach.
McCormack guided Thunder to being the last non-Super League
team competing in the 2009 Challenge Cup
. Victories against Halifax
, Widnes
, Leigh
and Toulouse
gave Thunder a chance of completing the 'great escape'. They reached the quarter-finals, playing against St Helens but lost 66–6. Gateshead Thunder secured their Championship status at the expense of Leigh
with an away win against Doncaster 0–56 in the final match of the regular season.
However, Gateshead Thunder’s chairman Steve Garside wound up Gateshead and Newcastle Rugby Ltd which ran the club. Thunder Rugby Limited were formed as Gateshead’s new parent company and the club became a community club with a community board. Following this breach of the insolvency rules, Gateshead were relegated to Championship One and were given a six-point deduction for the 2010 season.
However the Rugby Football League
(RFL) Board made the judgment to reinstate Leigh Centurions
after Gateshead Thunder’s chairman Steve Garside wound up the company that ran the old Gateshead Thunder club; ‘Gateshead and Newcastle Rugby Ltd’.
At a specially-convened meeting of the RFL Board of Directors, Gateshead’s new parent company; ‘Thunder Rugby Ltd’, were given permission by the RFL to prepare to enter the 2010 in Co-operative Championship One
The new club would start the 2010 season with the penalty minus six points, to reflect the RFL’s grim view of financial mismanagement.
RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood is quoted as saying:
2010 saw Gateshead Thunder pick themselves up from the off-field turmoil the club had experienced in 2009 and start again in a lower league.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
club based in Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
, Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. They currently play in the Championship 1
Championship 1
Championship 1, known as The Co-operative Championship 1 due to sponsorship by The Co-operative Group, is a rugby league competition based in the United Kingdom. It acts as the country's third-tier competition behind the Championship, with which it has a system of promotion and relegation. It is...
competition, the third tier of rugby league in the United Kingdom. They play their home matches at Gateshead International Stadium
Gateshead International Stadium
Gateshead International Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. The stadium is primarily set up for athletics, with a running track, but it is home to Gateshead Thunder rugby league club, Gateshead Senators American Football and Gateshead FC. It has also held a...
, known as the "Thunderdome" in rugby league circles.
Gateshead Thunder was founded in 1999, and is the only professional rugby league club in the North East of England. Their reserves play in the Rugby League Conference National Division
Rugby League Conference National Division
The Rugby League Conference National Division is the highest division in the Rugby League Conference. Between 2003 and 2006, it was known as National League Three.-National League Three:...
under the name Gateshead Lightning. The club have won one championship during their run, in 2008.
Early rugby league on Tyneside
There have been several Tyneside-based rugby league teams over the years. Wallsend RFC flirted with the code in the early years of the Northern UnionRugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
, a South Shields
South Shields
South Shields is a coastal town in Tyne and Wear, England, located at the mouth of the River Tyne to Tyne Dock, and about downstream from Newcastle upon Tyne...
team joined at the turn of the century and in 1938, Newcastle moved south of the River Tyne
River Tyne
The River Tyne is a river in North East England in Great Britain. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers: the North Tyne and the South Tyne. These two rivers converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Waters'.The North Tyne rises on the...
and played a season of matches at the White City Sports Stadium but did not rejoin the league after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Several other teams have come and gone in the intervening years.
The Charity Shield
Rugby League Charity Shield (Great Britain)
The Rugby League Charity Shield was a trophy for British rugby league clubs that was held as a one-off match at the beginning of a new season. It was modelled on English football's Charity Shield, and was held between 1985 and 1995. Normally the team that had won last season's championship would...
match and several full and junior internationals were held at the International Stadium from the 1980s and over the next two decades. An academy team, the Gateshead Mets, was formed, which played against the academy teams of professional clubs.
Super League
Mid-way through the 1998 season, Gateshead was granted a franchise in the Super LeagueSuper League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
ahead of Swansea and Cardiff. A competition was held to determine the name for this club, and Gateshead Thunder was born with Shaun McRae
Shaun McRae
Shaun McRae is a rugby league coach, who is currently the director of rugby at hull fc after a spell with the Salford City Reds.-Career:...
as head coach.
Despite early season problems in attracting fans to a new summer sport, by the end of the season the average gate had risen to 3,895. Gateshead finished in sixth place – just two points outside the play-offs. They had beaten St Helens RLFC home and away and beaten Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
'on the road' in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
at Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
. Matt Daylight was the joint leading try scorer in Super League and winger Ian Herron was one of the deadliest goal-kickers in the top flight.
Gateshead Thunder claimed to have lost £700,000 during their one year in existence and on Monday 15 November 1999 the board announced they would merge the club with Hull Sharks, accepting a £1.25 million fee from Super League Europe to do so. The Association of Premiership Clubs blocked proposals for the newly merged company to enter a separate Hull-based team in the Northern Ford Premiership http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/attempted-revival-of-don-valley-club-hits-the-buffers-741474.html and so the new club would be called Hull and play all its home games in Hull. This was widely seen as a takeover simply to allow Hull to remain in Super League.
The fans of the Gateshead club set up a campaigning organisation, Thunder Storm, to fight the "merger". Although this proved unsuccessful, it was the catalyst for a new Gateshead Thunder to be formed. The new Gateshead Thunder was accepted back to play in the Northern Ford Premiership on 2 August 2000 with a similar bid from Bramley
Bramley Buffaloes
Bramley Buffaloes is a rugby league club from the Bramley area of West Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. Previously known simply as Bramley RLFC, the club is a famous name in rugby league, having existed prior to the formation of the Northern Union in 1895...
being rejected. The new board had the stated objective of winning back Gateshead's place in Super League back within five years.
Second squad
The new Thunder's first game was a friendly for the "Tolent Cup" against another club that had been threatened with merger, Sheffield EaglesSheffield Eagles
Sheffield Eagles RLFC are an English rugby league club based in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Their home games are played at Bramall Lane after leaving Don Valley Stadium in late 2009....
. The first official game was on 3 December 2000 with an 18–0 defeat to Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
. They finished third bottom under coach Andy Kelly with back to back wins over Hunslet
Hunslet Hawks
Hunslet Hawks is a professional rugby league club based in Hunslet, West Yorkshire, England. The club, sometimes known as 'the Parksiders' after their former stadium, are currently champions of Championship One.-History:-Early years:...
and York
York City Knights
York City Knights Rugby League Club is a British professional rugby league club hailing from York. They play at the Huntington Stadium, situated to the north of York city centre...
were the only league successes and a win over amateurs Wigan St. Judes in the Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
.
Financial problems were again to trouble the club. A bold plan for the 2002 season failed, and when only one draw, 12–12 against Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...
, was recorded after the first two months Thunder were forced to cut their losses. Andy Kelly and the club's 15 Yorkshire-based players, were released as Thunder went into administration with spiralling debts.
Third squad
Club sponsor Mike Jeffels took over the club through his Kicks Leisure organisation. Former Bradley coach Paul Fletcher was brought in, taking over a young, inexperienced and predominantly locally produced side. Although they came close to victory against KeighleyKeighley Cougars
Keighley Cougars are a professional rugby league club from Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. As of 2012 they will play in Co-operative Championship having won the Co-operative Championship 1 play off final 32-12 against Workington...
and Swinton
Swinton Lions
Swinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:...
, Thunder Mark III lost every game to finish bottom of the table.
2003 saw eight Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
ns added to the squad, along with Bill Ryan as a coaching adviser. After just eight games of the season, Kicks Leisure withdrew their sponsorship, chairman Steve Worsnop left the club and coach Rob Jones refused to work with the club's first team following a dispute with the remaining contract players. Thunder had debts which were reportedly in excess of £50,000.
A panel of supporters, including committee members of Thunder Storm took over the running of the club in the interim period. This management committee was successful in persuading the Rugby Football League
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
(RFL) to allow Gateshead Thunder to enter National League Two. A business case based on the funding provided by the members' club, lottery and matchday income was accepted by the governing body but was still £8–10,000 short of the minimum needed to run the club for the rest of the season, and a series of fundraising efforts were organised to fund the shortfall.
Fourth squad
The new era of Thunder Mark IV came with the Arriva Trains Cup victory over Workington TownWorkington Town
Workington Town is a professional rugby league club playing in Workington in West Cumbria. They play in the Championship 1. Their stadium is called Derwent Park, which they share with Workington Comets, a speedway team....
at Gateshead RUFC's ground; the International Stadium being unavailable. Fundraising efforts and sponsorship from local companies meant that by the end of the 2003 season Gateshead finished the year in the black, with all debts paid. On the field, however, the situation deteriorated: coach Paul Fletcher resigned after a defeat by London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...
.
The board appointed Seamus McCallion
Seamus McCallion
Seamus McCallion is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s who at club level has played for Halifax, Leeds, and Bramley Buffaloes, playing at , i.e. number 9.-International honours:...
as head coach. The former Durham Cricket
Durham County Cricket Club
Durham County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Durham. Its limited overs team is called the Durham Dynamos. Their kit colours are blue with yellow trim and the shirt sponsor was...
Chairman and head of Century FM, Bill Midgley, joined the board.
2005 saw the arrival of Dean Thomas as head coach at Gateshead. Dean was able to strengthen the squad, bringing a multi-national flavour to Tyneside rugby as he recruited players from Australia, the West Indies, Fiji and elsewhere. The strategy paid off, and Thomas guided Thunder into the play-offs, before they eventually went out to Workington Town. Off the field, the club underwent a restructuring, with new investment coming from Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
-based financier Neil MacPherson. The club returned to the status of a limited company, with three directors. After two stalled attempts, it was agreed that Gateshead Thunder would be allowed to use Newcastle Falcons
Newcastle Falcons
The Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in...
' Kingston Park
Kingston Park
Kingston Park is a suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne, about north west of the city centre. It is home to several large retailers, the largest being one of Tesco's flagship stores—at 11,055 square metres which is also the largest supermarket in the UK...
stadium for a game against York
York City Knights
York City Knights Rugby League Club is a British professional rugby league club hailing from York. They play at the Huntington Stadium, situated to the north of York city centre...
. They also played a game at the venue in both 2006 and 2007, and the club stated that they hoped in future to be able to play one game a year at Kingston Park. Dean Thomas guided Gateshead into the play-offs for two seasons running. He left the club at the end of the 2006 season and was replaced by former Castleford
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
coach, Australian Dave Woods.
2008 National League Two Champions
The 2008 season saw Gateshead wildly exceed expectations, going unbeaten for much of the year and winning promotion to National League One for the 2009 season as champions. It was strongly rumoured that the club would be relocating to Kingston Park, Newcastle on a permanent basis from 2009 onwards; a name change was also mooted. However the club have since confirmed that they will be continuing to play at Gateshead International Stadium for the foreseeable future, and launched a new logo which effectively confirmed that a name change was also off the agenda.2009 Co-Operative Championship
Thunder's plans for the 2009 season were disrupted when it was announced that Dave WoodsDave Woods
Dave Woods is a British sports commentator. He covers rugby league and football for the BBC as well as occasional freelance work for Five. Woods is the main man on the Super League Show and occasionally covers Premier League games for Match of the Day outside the rugby league season. He has...
had been sacked following alleged financial misdemeanours. Assistant Coach Chris Hood temporarily took over the coaching duties, and was later appointed permanently. However after a struggling start to the season which saw Gateshead near the bottom of the Championship, Thunder appointed Steve McCormack
Steve McCormack
Steve McCormack is the former head coach of National League One club Widnes. He is currently head coach of Scotland RL and SwintonHis first coaching appointment had been at Salford, who made him the youngest coach in Super League at the age of just 28 in 2001 but was sacked just 10 months later.He...
as Head Coach with Chris Hood returning to his role as Assistant Head Coach.
McCormack guided Thunder to being the last non-Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
team competing in the 2009 Challenge Cup
2009 Challenge Cup
The 2009 Carnegie Challenge Cup began in January 2009. The Challenge Cup is the most prestigious knock-out competition in European rugby league. Teams from England, Scotland, Wales, France and Russia are included in the tournament....
. Victories against Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
, Widnes
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
, Leigh
Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...
and Toulouse
Toulouse Olympique
Toulouse Olympique are a French professional rugby league team from Toulouse, in the southwest of France. They were founded on 22 October, in 1937 two years after the founding of the French Rugby League Federation. Between 1995 and 2002 the club were known as Spacers de Toulouse, due to links with...
gave Thunder a chance of completing the 'great escape'. They reached the quarter-finals, playing against St Helens but lost 66–6. Gateshead Thunder secured their Championship status at the expense of Leigh
Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...
with an away win against Doncaster 0–56 in the final match of the regular season.
However, Gateshead Thunder’s chairman Steve Garside wound up Gateshead and Newcastle Rugby Ltd which ran the club. Thunder Rugby Limited were formed as Gateshead’s new parent company and the club became a community club with a community board. Following this breach of the insolvency rules, Gateshead were relegated to Championship One and were given a six-point deduction for the 2010 season.
2010 Co-Operative Championship 1
Thunder finished second to bottom of the 2009 Co-operative Championship season on 32 points but Leigh were to be relegated on points-scoring difference.However the Rugby Football League
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
(RFL) Board made the judgment to reinstate Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...
after Gateshead Thunder’s chairman Steve Garside wound up the company that ran the old Gateshead Thunder club; ‘Gateshead and Newcastle Rugby Ltd’.
At a specially-convened meeting of the RFL Board of Directors, Gateshead’s new parent company; ‘Thunder Rugby Ltd’, were given permission by the RFL to prepare to enter the 2010 in Co-operative Championship One
The new club would start the 2010 season with the penalty minus six points, to reflect the RFL’s grim view of financial mismanagement.
RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood is quoted as saying:
“It was clear that Gateshead were in no position to continue as they were and the Board felt it was right and proper for the new club to start life in Co-operative Championship One.”
“The decision to impose a six-point tariff reflects how seriously the Board regards the events at Gateshead.”
2010 saw Gateshead Thunder pick themselves up from the off-field turmoil the club had experienced in 2009 and start again in a lower league.
2011 squad
No | Nat | |Player | Position | Former Club | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wayne Green | Full Back | |||
2 | Craig Olugbode | Wing | |||
3 | Tom Wilson | Centre | Keighley Cougars Keighley Cougars Keighley Cougars are a professional rugby league club from Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. As of 2012 they will play in Co-operative Championship having won the Co-operative Championship 1 play off final 32-12 against Workington... |
||
4 | Josh Stoker | Centre | |||
5 | Dan O'Sullivan | Wing | |||
6 | James Clarkson | Stand Off | |||
7 | Ryan Clarke | Half Back | |||
8 | Jason Payne | Prop | |||
9 | Tom Hodgson | Hooker | |||
10 | Stephen Welton Stephen Welton Stephen Welton is an English rugby league player who represents Gateshead Thunder and has played for the England Community Lions under-18 squad. He has also represented his country at U21 level. Welton is originally from Cramlington but now lives in Whitley Bay. He is 18 years... |
Prop | |||
11 | Gary Sargent | Second Row | |||
12 | Michael Ward | Second Row | |||
13 | Mike Kelly | Loose Forward | |||
14 | Reece Young | Hooker | |||
15 | Andy Morris | Prop | Swinton Lions Swinton Lions Swinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:... |
||
16 | Robin Peers | Centre | |||
17 | Joseph Brown | Second Row | |||
18 | David Norman | Wing | |||
19 | Sam Crowther Sam Crowther Sam Crowther is an English Rugby League player, currently playing for Featherstone Rovers in the Rugby Football League Co-operative Championship.... |
Prop | |||
20 | Nick Staveley | Loose Forward | |||
21 | |||||
22 | Chris Parker Chris Parker (rugby league) Christopher Parker is a rugby league player for Gateshead Thunder. A prop forward, he is signed to the club till the end of the 2011 season.He started his rugby career at Blaydon RUFC at 15 years old... |
Half Back | |||
23 | Jamie Love | Hooker | |||
24 | Barry Walker | Centre | |||
25 | Mark Walker | Wing | |||
26 | Connor Condron | Prop | |||
27 | James Hall | Stand Off | |||
28 | Gareth Barron | Half Back | |||
29 | David Cash | Prop | |||
30 | Jimmy Atkinson | Loose Forward | |||
31 | Will Bate | Hooker | |||
32 | Ade Aderiye | Prop |
Player records
- Correct to end of 2005 season.
- Most tries in a match: 5 by Andy Walker vs London SkolarsLondon SkolarsLondon Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...
22 June 2003 - Most goals in a match: 11 by Ian HerronIan HerronIan Herron is a former rugby league player.While attending James Cook High School, Herron played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1988....
vs Wakefield TrinityWakefield Trinity WildcatsWakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
5 September 1999 - Most points in a match: 26 by Ian Herron vs Wakefield Trinity 5 September 1999
- Most tries in a season: 25 by Matt DaylightMatt DaylightMatt Daylight is a former rugby league player. He played club football for Gateshead Thunder in the European Super League competition. He also had a stint with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and played in the Australian Super League competition for the Adelaide Rams.Daylight was also selected as a...
, 1999 - Most goals in a season: 105 by Ian Herron , 1999
- Most points in a season: 246 by Chris Birch, 2005
- Most career tries: 36 by Kevin NeighbourKevin NeighbourKevin Neighbour is a rugby league player for Gateshead Thunder. His position is prop, centre or wing. Neighbour spent 2007 with Shellharbour Marlins in Australia. He works as a PE teacher at Burnside Business and Enterprise College.-References:...
, 2001-date - Most career goals: 137 by Paul Thorman, 2000–2004
- Most career points: 365 by Paul Thorman, 2000–2004
- Most career appearances: 115 by Steve Bradley, 1999-date
Team records
- Biggest victory: 66–6 vs Wakefield TrinityWakefield Trinity WildcatsWakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
5 September 1999 - Worst Defeat: 132–0 at BlackpoolBlackpool PanthersBlackpool & The Fylde Panthers RLFC was an English professional rugby league club based in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. They played at Woodlands Memorial Ground owned by Fylde rugby union club...
, 16 May 2010 - Highest attendance: 6,631 vs Bradford NorthernBradford BullsBradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
, 16 May 1999
Former players
- Russell AitkenRussell AitkenRussell Aitken is an Australian professional rugby league footballer with the AS Carcassonne rugby league club in France....
- Richard Allwood circa-1999
- Sean Allwood circa-1999
- Deon BirdDeon BirdDeon Bird is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who at club level has played for Paris Saint-Germain, Adelaide Rams, Gateshead Thunder, Hull, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Widnes Vikings, and Castleford Tigers, playing at , i.e. number 3 or 4.-External...
circa-1999 - Ryan Bailey
- Matt BarronMatt BarronMatt Barron is Wales international rugby league player for the Gateshead Thunder in the National League One. He plays as a second-row or as a prop....
- David BatesDavid Bates (rugby league)David Bates is a professional rugby league footballer who at representative level has played for Ireland, and at club level for Warrington Wolves, Castleford Tigers, Gateshead Thunder, Halifax, and York City Knights, playing at , i.e...
- Luke BranighanLuke BranighanLuke Branighan is an Australian professional rugby league player for English club Halifax in the Co-operative Championship. He primarily plays at halfback...
- Tabua CakacakaTabua CakacakaTabua Cakacaka is a professional rugby league player. His position is prop/second row . He left Fiji at the age of 17 years when he was scouted by the South Sydney Rabbitohs...
- Brian Carney circa-1999
- Garreth CarvellGarreth CarvellGarreth Carvell is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays for Warrington Wolves of Super League. His position is prop-forward...
circa-1999 - Steve Collins circa-1999
- Sam CrowtherSam CrowtherSam Crowther is an English Rugby League player, currently playing for Featherstone Rovers in the Rugby Football League Co-operative Championship....
- Matthew Daylight circa-1999
- Scott DysonScott DysonScott Dyson is a professional rugby league footballer who at representative level has played for Ireland, and at club level for Gateshead Thunder.-International honours:Scott Dyson won a cap for Ireland while at Gateshead Thunder 2001 1-cap ....
- Luke Felsch circa-1999
- Paul FranzePaul FranzePaul Franze is an Australian rugby league player for the Gateshead Thunder. He previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Penrith Panthers in the Australian National Rugby League and for the Castleford Tigers in the European Super League, as well as a rugby union player for the...
- Brett Green circa-1999
- Tony GrimaldiTony GrimaldiTony Grimaldi is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for the Canterbury Bulldogs, a club in the National Rugby League. Despite recently announcing an extension of his contract until 2007 Tony was forced to announce his retirement from rugby...
circa-1999 - Brett GroganBrett GroganBrett Grogan was a rugby league footballer of the '90s and '00s. He played for the Newcastle Knights from 1994 to 1998, the Gateshead Thunder in 1999 and finally the Northern Eagles in 2000.-External links:...
circa-1999 - Andrew HendersonAndrew Henderson (rugby league)Andrew Henderson is an English Professional rugby league footballer for Sheffield Eagles. A Scotland international representative hooker, he previously played for Gateshead Thunder, Castleford Tigers, Balmain Tigers, Salford and Barrow.Henderson began his professional career in England in 2001...
- Ian HerronIan HerronIan Herron is a former rugby league player.While attending James Cook High School, Herron played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1988....
circa-1999 - Andrew Hick circa-1999
- Mick Jenkins circa-1999
- Kris KahlerKris KahlerKris Kahler is an Australian professional rugby league footballer. He plays for the Gold Coast Titans in the National Rugby League competition...
- Danny LeeDanny Lee (rugby league)Danny Lee is an Australian former rugby league footballer. He played most of his football at prop and was a member of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks NRL team from 1988 to 1998...
circa-1999 - Wade LiddellWade LiddellWade Liddell born 1 June 1979 is a rugby league player for the Easts Tigers in the Queensland Cup. He plays as a full-back. He is a Scotland international...
- Adam Maher circa-1999
- David MaidenDavid MaidenDavid Maiden is a former rugby league player.Maiden was a Scotland international and played at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.-External links:**...
circa-1999 - Danny McAllister circa-1999
- David MycoeDavid MycoeDavid Mycoe is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who at club level has played for Sheffield Eagles, Wakefield Trinity, Dewsbury Rams, Gateshead Thunder, and Hunslet Hawks, playing at , i.e. number 6.-External links:...
- Kevin NeighbourKevin NeighbourKevin Neighbour is a rugby league player for Gateshead Thunder. His position is prop, centre or wing. Neighbour spent 2007 with Shellharbour Marlins in Australia. He works as a PE teacher at Burnside Business and Enterprise College.-References:...
- Steve O'NeillSteve O'Neill (rugby league)Steve O'Neill is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s who at representative level has played for England, and at club level for Widnes, Wigan, and Gateshead Thunder, playing at , i.e number 8 or 10....
circa-1999
- Chris ParkerChris Parker (rugby league)Christopher Parker is a rugby league player for Gateshead Thunder. A prop forward, he is signed to the club till the end of the 2011 season.He started his rugby career at Blaydon RUFC at 15 years old...
- Willie PetersWillie PetersWillie Peters is a halfback who played for South Sydney Rabbitohs i. He has also played for the St George Illawarra Dragons as well as in England for the Widnes Vikings, where he was unable to save them from relegation in 2005. Because of his Greek background, he is eligible to represent the...
circa-1999 - Damien ReidDamien ReidDamien Reid is a professional rugby league footballer, who at representative level has played for Scotland, and at club level for Gateshead Thunder, Barrow Raiders, Castleford Tigers, Widnes Vikings, and Rochdale Hornets, playing at , i.e. number 3 or 4....
- Will RobinsonWill Robinson (rugby league)Will Robinson is a Australian rugby league player who played professionally in England and Australia.-Playing career:Robinson started his career with the Balmain Tigers in 1990, debuting against Newcastle. In 1992 Robinson played for the Australian Aboriginies in the 1992 Pacific Cup. He was named...
circa-1999 - Stewart SandersonStewart SandersonStewart Antony Sanderson is an English rugby league winger and hooker who currently plays for Gateshead Thunder in the National League Two.-Playing career:...
- Benjamin "Ben" Sammut circa-1999
- Craig Simon circa-1999
- Netani SukaNetani SukaNetani Suka is a rugby league player who currently plays for the Wentworthville Magpies in the Bundaberg Red Cup. He plays in the second-row. He is a Fijian international...
- Kerrod WaltersKerrod WaltersKerrod Walters is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative hooker, he played most of his club football with the Brisbane Broncos, with whom he won the 1992 and 1993 NSWRL Premierships...
circa-1999 - Craig Wilson circa-1999
- Nick YoungquestNick YoungquestNick Youngquest is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Castleford Tigers club of Europe's Super League. He previously played for Crusaders RL, Gateshead Thunder, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, St George Illawarra Dragons, Penrith Panthers and Bulldogs...