fevnut's musings 2025/#03: Amateurs in the Challenge Cup Special

Preamble

This weekend takes us into the Challenge Cup, and, when the semi-professional clubs join the winners from the previous round, there are always some interesting ties. But first we wanted to have a bit of a beef about the use of the term ‘community club’ to replace the age-old description of ‘amateur club’. WHY?

Does it mean that if you are a professional club then you are not a community club? Nonsense. The term community implies a strong bond between the club and their local community. We can think of a load of professional clubs that are real community clubs and we believe the strongest relationship in rugby league between a club and its community is right here at Featherstone. Featherstone Rovers is not an amateur club, but it is most certainly a COMMUNITY CLUB.

 

Amateur Teams in Challenge Cup

There is a rich history of participation by amateur clubs, and although it’s rare, we do see the occasional defeat of professional clubs by their amateur opponents.

Just in the ‘summer era’ (since 1996) it has happened thirty-three times, although in fourteen of those the beaten teams no longer exist in the professional ranks.

If you look at the table below you will see that nine amateur clubs (including Featherstone Lions) are in there twice and the top prize goes to Wath Brow who have gained three victories. On the other side of the coin, there are seven clubs that have lost to amateur sides twice, Workington, three times, and London Skolars on four occasions.

Featherstone Rovers against Amateur Teams

In earlier days there were far fewer (if any) amateur teams taking part in the Challenge Cup. The first time that Fev were drawn against an amateur team wasn’t until 1954 when we defeated Stanningley in the third round. Since then, there have been sixteen ties between Fev and amateur teams and we’re proud to say that Fev have won every time.

In 2004 Fev recorded their record points and winning margin beating Castleford 96-0. Pity it was Lock Lane and not Tigers! Before anyone tries to remind us that in 2020 Fev scored 102 points against Valencia Huracanes that was not an official match and so doesn’t count in the records.

The closest game was against Skirlaugh in 2006 when Fev only managed to win by 22 points. We have to remember that was a season when Fev were down in National League Two.

There were two other official matches in which Fev played and defeated amateur teams. Once in the Yorkshire Cup and the other was in the John Player Trophy.

We told you that Featherstone Rovers had never been beaten by an amateur team but there was a match involving Fev in which the amateur team did win! Sounds like nonsense but we will explain. Fev turned professional in 1921, voted into the Northern Rugby League because of their very strong record as amateurs. In the 1906 Challenge Cup Featherstone defeated amateur sides Otley in the qualifying round and then despatched Brookland in Round 1. For the 2nd round we were drawn at home to the mighty Widnes and pulled off a huge shock by not only winning but also by the margin of victory: 23-2!

 

The Challenge Cup timetable

We think the decision to start the season with 3 rounds at fortnightly intervals in January and February was crazy! It’s the most probable time of the year for heavy snow and if repeated in the future could end up in chaos if we get a period of up to a month when no games can be played.

Added to that, the amateur teams are required to play against strong professional opponents well before their league season begins in late March.

We also don’t like the fact that the rounds being so close together has led to draws being made before the previous round has been played. Much more exciting playing your match and then, if you win, listening with bated breath to hear who you have got in the next round.

The third round draw this year was ridiculous with several occurrences in which up to four teams were attached to one ball coming out of hat (or rather bowl).

This weekend’s second round games has four fixtures involving just amateur teams so at least four of them get through to the third round. Three of those have been drawn against St. Helens, Leeds Rhinos and Hull FC whereas Blackbrook or Ince Rose Bridge face equally daunting opposition at Fev!

They would all say that they relish the challenge and how much they are looking forward to it but I bet there are some who would have a little bit of fear at the prospect of being tackled by the likes of Mikolaj Oledzki, John Asiata or Alex Walmsley or having to try and tackle Ryan Hall, Konrad Hurrell or Zak Hardaker.

The flags above represent all the nations that, under current rugby league rules, members of the 2025 Fev squad have played for, or are eligible to play for.