Around 20 years ago Stevie Graham arrived at Wharfedale coming down from Northumbria University with Simon Horsfall. Eventually he established himself as our first choice hooker, but over the years also found himself at prop or in the back row. Basically he’d play anywhere to get a game, and always added value to the team.
He then moved down the road to be player/coach at Ilkley, where he was instrumental in their promotions to leave them just 1 league below Wharfedale, where they sit today.
On his return to the Dale, he returned to the ranks as a first team player. Then when Head coach at the time James Doherty had to step down due to ill health at Christmas Steve helped guide us from a doomed position of rock bottom to just outside the relegation zone by the end of the season.
For the past 7-8 years he’s coached his son Noah’s age group from u7s through to u14s, which is where the story ends for now (hopefully). The 3 hour round trip to Wharfedale has finally become too much to sustain and having moulded his young charges into a very handy team he’s leaving, taking Noah to play at Selby RUFC 10 minutes from home, so a no brainer really. Sundays last training session proved to be an emotional affair, showing the impact Steve has had on the group. We’re lucky to have kept him as long as we have and wish Steve, Suzanna, Noah and Jonah all the best moving forward, and hope we can get him a teaching job somewhere up the Dale which would make it possible for him to return.
Meantime thank you Stevie for all your contributions to the club, and best wishes for the future.
Hedley