letter in courier. : Sat May 16, 2009 12:57 pm
good letter in todays courier....
Include sport in Halifax museum
Published Date: 15 May 2009
PO BOX 827
Halifax
HX1 9GB
I write in support of the Halifax Civic Trust's proposal that a museum covering the history of the local area should be built.
Far too many of us take for granted the interesting history which lies behind Halifax as we know it today, and it is therefore important for the townsfolk to have a facility available which can illustrate the town's remarkable past.
As a life-long Halifax Town supporter and fan of local sport in general, I feel it is vital that there is a substantial area in any such museum, covering the professional and amateur sporting history of the town. Some people may scoff at the suggestion that we have a rich sporting history, but for a town of our size we have much to be proud of.
Although the Shaymen have plied their trade for the main, at least until recently, in the lower reaches of the Football League, there have been plenty of high profile victories and reasons to be proud.
These include a victory in 1971 over Manchester United in the Watney Cup competition, where Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best all featured. Then there was, of course, the 1980 FA Cup giant-killing act over their Manchester rivals when Malcolm Allison's City lost 1-0 at The Shay.
More recently Halifax RLFC have begun to put some pride back into local sport following some disappointing years for both clubs where off-field events have dominated. 'Fax can perhaps boast a more prestigious history having being crowned kings of their sport twice whilst also winning the Challenge Cup on five occasions. Some people of course care little about sport in and around the Halifax area but what cannot be ignored is that there are long standing and deep-rooted bonds between these clubs and the town they represent.
There is little doubt that sport is a fantastic vehicle to engage people who otherwise might slip through the net in a wide range of areas, particularly health, education, social inclusion and inequality.
And that is why it is important to embrace in any potential new museum the sporting history which many people in Halifax are proud of.
We would therefore encourage Calderdale Council to work with the Civic Trust to move forward this proposal, of which as an organisation we are happy to get involved with and support.
Gavin Butler
Chair Halifax Town Supporters' Trust
