Yesterday (15th Feb 2025) marked a very special day for the Club as we welcomed a particularly privileged group of players, namely those who have played in a Yorkshire Shield winning Team. We have had many many great players at the Club but from them all it is only a relatively small and select group who can claim the title of “Yorkshire Shield Winner”.

Having played in two losing Finals in 1970 and 1972, Selby finally claimed their first triumph in 1974 with Mick Pearce as Captain, a formidable set of forwards and an exciting three quarter line. A dour battle in atrocious conditions at Morley saw Selby win by 9 points to 6 against Bradford Salem courtesy of 2 penalties by Ian Wilson and 1 from Arthur Adamson.

The second Shield win came 8 years later when Arthur Adamson captained the side to victory at Ionians old ground at Elloughton, standing in as skipper for the unfortunate Richard Longthorp who was sidelined by injury. Selby’s forwards again dominated and a final score of 15 points to 3 against Driffield barely reflected Selby’s superiority. Scorers on the day were Number 8 Ivor Elcock who crossed for the solitary try with Arthur Adamson adding 2 penalties and Boo adding a penalty and a conversion.

The last time we won the Shield was some 30 years ago before League Rugby became the be all and end all (for better or worse?). Our opponents that day were Beverley in a game played at York, again in difficult conditions. Selby’s all round game on the day proved too much for Beverley as Selby secured a very comfortable 32-18 victory with tries from Taff Smith (2), Jamie Pocklington, Toby Pemberton and Andy Holmes to go with 3 successful kicks from Boo.

The response to yesterday’s gathering has been really positive but there will be time to remember the Shield Winners no longer with us, Brian “The Bear” Durkin, David Hatfield, Les Moore, Gary Wakes and Ivor Elcock and those like Andy Jarvis and Jerome Murden who would have loved to have attended but are unfortunately unable to do so due to ongoing health issues.

There was plenty to talk about as everybody who played or watched any of the games had their own special recollections of what were 3 magnificent occasions, whether it was from the game itself, the immediate post match celebrations or events that transpired as a result of exuberant evening festivities (Ronnie Tyson being the only person drunker than me at a Birthday Party, the Streak down Gowthorpe to the C&A or the amount of Champagne consumed in the bath??).

There was a presentation to Shield Winners of mementoes of the afternoon’s gathering prior to the 1st XV League match against Sandal and we are very grateful to Peter Pemberton and Richard Mustill for their generous sponsorship. I would also like to add my personal thanks to Toby Pemberton and Arthur Adamson for their help in making this occasion possible.

Ray Adamson