Salford v Halifax 

What a relief it was to see Halifax back in the League after a turbulent time off the field in recent months. One of my earliest memories as a young lad watching Salford was going to Thrum Hall to watch us play Fax. I used to take my school packed lunch box with some butties in to keep me happy at half time. This particular match in the late 1980s my school Yorkshire bank book must of been in my lunch box. I’d not taken it out from school and I must of dropped it when we parked up in my dad’s blue Ford Cortina near the ground. I got a right telling off when I got home but a slice of luck happened a few days later. A lovely lady posted it back to my house after she found it on the street in Halifax. From that day on I’ve always kept an eye on the team in blue and white hoops.

Halifax are a team steeped in history. Salford won the Challenge Cup in 1938 but were beaten by Halifax the following year in 1939 at Wembley 20-3. They went through some difficult years in the 1960s and 70s and we didn’t play them that often. By the mid 80s this West Yorkshire town was absolutely booming with success. They won the First Division Championship in 1986 finishing a point above runners up Wigan. The following season a glorious run to Wembley saw Halifax beat some really good sides on their way to the Challenge Cup final where they met favourites St.Helens. In a magical final packed full of great tries and action John Pendlebury dropped a goal that proved to be the difference, he also came up with a try saving tackle. Australian fullback Graham Eadie won the Lance Todd Trophy as Halifax triumphed 19-18 in one of the greatest finals ever. 

Towards the end of the 1990s Halifax finished high up in the Super League table and competed in the playoffs. John Pendlebury coached them in 1998 to a third place League finish before they lost in the playoffs 30-37 at home to St.Helens. They were relegated from the top flight at the end of the 2003 season and haven’t returned since. 

As I write this preview on Tuesday night I’d just looked a my phone to see lots of commotion on what’s app informing me that Mike Grady was no longer Salford’s coach. It made me quite sad if I am honest. Mike has had a very difficult job on his hands building a team up in such a small space of time. It was news that I wasn’t expecting at all and I’d like to wish Mike all the best for the future in which ever path his career takes him. He’s been kind enough to speak to me after the matches in post game interviews and I’ve always found him to be a very friendly and respectful man. It will be interesting to see who the club appoint as Mike’s successor in the coming weeks. 

League home record (post Second World War).

Salford 20

Draws 0

Halifax 11

2008 Salford 24 Halifax 18

2002 Salford 26 Halifax 34

2002 Salford 14 Halifax 28

2001 Salford 30 Halifax 41

2001 Salford 34 Halifax 50

2000 Salford 27 Halifax 26

2000 Salford 20 Halifax 38

1999 Salford 20 Halifax 22

1998 Salford 16 Halifax 34

1997 Salford 37 Halifax 18

1994 Salford 12 Halifax 24

1994 Salford 34 Halifax 14

1992 Salford 27 Halifax 22

1991 Salford 34 Halifax 14

1989 Salford 22 Halifax 4

1988 Salford 36 Halifax 16

1987 Salford 16 Halifax 8

1985 Salford 22 Halifax 6

1982 Salford 20 Halifax 10

1980 Salford 41 Halifax 16

1974 Salford 37 Halifax 0

1972 Salford 25 Halifax 2

1971 Salford 33 Halifax 3 (Championship playoff)

1967 Salford 14 Halifax 3

1960 Salford 11 Halifax 17

1956 Salford 5 Halifax 6

1952 Salford 12 Halifax 7

1948 Salford 6 Halifax 5

1947 Salford 12 Halifax 5

1946 Salford 0 Halifax 23

1946 Salford 18 Halifax 3

 

They played for both.

These two historic clubs have shared some great players over the years, 

Colin Dixon, Greg Austin, Damien Gibson, Gavin Clinch, Andrew Dunemann, Luke Adamson, Luke Ambler, Simon Baldwin, Danny Arnold, Steven Bannister,

Gavin Bennion, Carl Briggs , Ryan Boyle, Peter Brown, Ryan Clayton, Jason Flowers, Danny Halliwell, Karle Hammond, Steve Hampson, Tim Hartley, Phil Hassan, David Hodgson, Graham Holroyd, John Pendlebury, Martin Moana, Nick Pinkney, Craig Randall, Ian Watson, Paul White, Colin Whitfield, Paul Highton, Ryan Lannon, Andrew Brocklehurst, Steve Tyrer and Lokeni Savellio to name a few.

A match to remember Sunday, 31st August, 1997

Salford 37 Halifax Blue Sox 18.

Sometimes in sport you recall certain matches off events that may of happened in your life at that particular time. Sometimes it’s world events and big news stories. It’s certainly the case with this Match to Remember. Waking up on the Sunday morning the whole country seemed to be in shock at the tragic death of Princess Diana. I can remember sitting in our front room asking my dad if the game would still go ahead. It certainly was a very sad time and I remember watching the funeral on the television a week or so later. Salford’s final match of the regular season did go ahead. It was a damp and grey day at the end of august. Halifax were the visitors. It was Salford’s first season in Super League and it had been a successful one. We had won the reverse fixture at Thrum Hall earlier in the year and that itself was quite a rare event to win at that ground. 

There was quite a funny moment in this game when Halifax prop Karl Harrison got a little frustrated and tried to kick for touch in a hurry. His kick failed to make touch and was a bit of a comedy moment that brought the crowd to life. 

Salford played the greasy conditions superbly. Peter Edwards who had been used to playing at hooker moved to fullback a position he as was quite familiar with from earlier in his career. A young Malcom Alker played at hooker. 

Nathan McAvoy scored a hat trick and Salford’s half backs Steve Blakeley and Mark Lee worked together to punish a tired Halifax side. Salford’s other tries came from Scott Naylor, Fata Sini and Paul Forber. Drop goal specialist Mark Lee slotted the one pointer. 

The teams that day, 

Salford, Edwards, Sini, Naylor, McAvoy, Rogers, Blakeley, Lee, Platt, Alker, Savelio, Faimalo, Cartwright, Forber.

Subs, Waring, Southern, Martin, Burgess.

Halifax, Umaga, Tuilagi, Pearson, O’Loughlin, Amone, Chester, Dean, Harrison, Rowley, Wayne Jackson, Baldwin, Michael Jackson, Moana. 

Subs, Highton, Boothroyd, Anselme.

Referee, David Campbell.

Attendance, 4,509.

Friday’s match.

Halifax have managed two wins so far this season and looked pretty impressive beating North Wales last weekend. Their other win came in February when they beat Batley 28-10. 

Salford’s last home game against Hunslet was on February 15th which seems such a long time ago. The team and supporters have clocked plenty of miles up so far this season with two trips to London and two to Cumbria. 

Halifax have kept the nucleus of their squad from last season and they have some seasoned campaigners in the side. Jacob Fairbank now in his mid 30s has played over 250 matches for the club over the last decade. Ben Crooks has played in Super League for both Hull clubs, Castleford and Leigh. Hooker Adam O’Brien has played over 200 games in Super League for Bradford and Huddersfield respectively. Alfie Johnson hails from Guildford in Surrey. He signed on loan from Warrington in 2025 and has now signed a permanent contract for 2026 with Fax.

Salford have another new name in this week’s squad, Keane Gilford came through the youth system at St.Helens and has recently played for Thatto Heath. Danny Lynch and Jack Holmes have signed permanent deals and they feature in the twenty man squad. Fin Yates could be set to return after missing last Sunday through injury. 

Safe travels and enjoy the match.

The action gets under way at 8pm.

Paul Whiteside. 

Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos and the Salford match day programme.