Fans gather to salute the Batley Bulldogs
HUNDREDS of proud Batley Bulldogs fans gathered to salute their Northern Rail Cup winning team at their Civic Reception on Monday night.
Fans lined Commercial Street to greet the triumphant team on board an open top bus as they drove down from Mount Pleasant. The team paraded the cup which they won on Sunday July 18, beating Widnes 25-24 in a thrilling final at Blackpool's Bloomfield Road.
The supporters then moved into Batley Market Place where the team was greeted by civic dignitaries, led by the Mayor and Mayoress of Kirklees Coun Andrew and Mrs Liz Palfreeman.
The flag-waving crowds welcomed the team, the loudest cheer being reserved for captain Paul Handforth as he lifted the silver cup, still bedecked by red and white Batley Bulldogs ribbons.
Coun Palfreeman told the crowd: "This is the third time I have attended a Civic Reception for one of the rugby league clubs in Kirklees, after the Giants reached Wembley and Dewsbury going through the season unbeaten, but this is first time the team has brought home some silverware.
"We are very proud of your achievement, it is a great day for the town and the people who live and work here."
A big rugby league fan, Coun Palfreeman revealed that like everyone else who watched the game, he was on the edge of his seat willing his hometown club to victory.
He added: "In an era when football, cricket and even rugby league teams include large numbers of foreign players, it is a proud boast that all but two of the Batley Bulldogs squad came from a five mile radius of the town."
In reply the Batley Bulldogs chairman, Kevin Nicholas, joked: "The last time Batley won anything was in 1924, and I want to thank Kirklees for finding us the same bus that they used."
He continued: "Some people have supported the club for many years, including all our sponsors and I want all of you to share in this piece of history for the club and the town."
After mixing with the fans, signing autographs and posing for photographs the team, their coach Karl Harrison and the staff and directors boarded the bus again to head to Batley Irish Nash Club for the reception.
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Weather for Batley
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
