The purpose of the association is to re-connect former Leeds Tykes players with future generations of the club, whilst also providing support for young Leeds and Yorkshire talent to excel through the expertise, experience and contacts of our Alumni.
The association will comprise of former players and coaches, who have represented the club for a minimum of one full season since its formation to the present day.
It will also include players that played for Roundhay and Headingley prior to the merger forming Leeds in 1992.
The inaugural Leeds Tykes Former Players Advisory Board will be chaired by Mike Shelley who played 244 games for the club supported by Stuart Lancaster, Rob Rawlinson, Carl Hogg, Tom Palmer, Phil Griffin, Nick Green, Jon Swarbrigg and Daniel Eddie.
Mike Shelley commented “I'm thrilled to be involved the Leeds Tykes Former Players Association. Some amazing people have worn the jersey over the last three decades. Bringing us together will certainly be an opportunity for some stories of the good old days with the upside of not running up any hills in Roundhay Park. Above the nostalgia and the reunions, however, I see our role as stewardship of the history and culture of the team and the ability to offer opportunity for local hard working players to represent the great city of Leeds and one day challenge the best teams in the country again.”
Membership of the Association will be administered by recently retired long serving staff member Christine Croucher contactable via the email address heritageplayers@leeds-tykes.com
Subscriptions and Fund raising will be aimed at providing our young talented players with a holistic development plan that creates potential opportunities both on & off the field
Members will receive a Leeds Tykes season ticket along with heritage certificates which will highlight players debut date and first match for the club, other benefits will include various functions planned out in a yearly calendar to include reunion dinners, social and fundraising events at prestigious venues around Leeds and Yorkshire.
It is also the club’s intention to form the Leeds Tykes Hall of Fame, this will be launched by an inaugural dinner where initial inductees will be players who have played in a 100 plus matches for the club along with coaches who have served for a minimum of 3 years.
Director of Rugby Phil Davies commented, “I’m delighted that so many of our former players have supported the idea of founding a former players association as many of them played a huge part in establishing the club during the early years and have always maintained a keen interest in the club.”
Caddick Construction is delighted to back the Former Players Association having supported the club since 1997
