Jeff Slevin, son of Ted Slevin by email
I have just been reading the article about Tommy Smales and the 1961/1962 season, a very successful season for Huddersfield RLFC. Part of the article infers that Ted Slevin, my father, was the hooker. The front row for that team was Ted Slevin, Don Close and Ken Noble (who went on the 1962 RL tour.) My father on a couple of occasions had gone to hooker due to injury during the game. Of course in that era there were no substitutes. He said that he always had more chance of winning the ball at No 8. Don Close of course was a hooking legend.
An important game for Huddersfield was I think May 5th 1962 the week before Wembley. This was against Wigan in the Championship Semi Final. It was also my father's testimonial season and Frank Dyson held the players back in the tunnel. He was not best pleased because my father was a simple, honourable man and did not like fuss. In the game with the likes of Mctigue, Sayer, Bolton, Ashton and Boston Huddersfield won the first 9 scrums which allowed Huddersfield to maintain pressure and they eventually won the game 13-11. He was also not very popular with the Wigan fans after that match because of course though born in Yorkshire he was brought to Wigan as a baby and lived there all his life.
That was one of his career memories.
Another one was the 1950 Championship Final against Huddersfield. Wigan were not expected to win they had 8 men on tour. On the day Huddersfield were well beaten 20-2, but no doubt the result had some bearing on Huddersfield signing him in 1951.
Of course the Wembley appearances were memorable as well. I don't think that many youngsters realise that before the M62 my father had a 5hr round trip to get to Huddersfield for games and training. All the players of that era did it. A full shift down the pit then rush off to training.
Unfortunately my father had died before it was announced that he was in the Huddersfield Hall of Fame. I did have the pleasure and honour of talking to Tommy Smales and Peter Ramsden at the inauguration April 1999. I hope that I have not rambled too much.
Take care and good luck with the heritage project.
