Tommy Smales RIP : Mon Oct 30, 2017 9:17 am  

Can we spare a thought for the great Tommy Smales who sadly passed away recently. As a boy I can remember he was the first really top class player we signed after our reformation in the 60's. A great leader and organiser on the field who created a fantastic partnership with Dave Stockwell at half back and turned him from a relatively unknown into a top class stand off. I have fond memories of this great player and our thoughts are with his family at this sad time. RIP Tommy.

[Bullseye]

Re: Tommy Smales RIP : Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:19 am  

Was before my time but no doubt he was one of our best. RIP.

Re: Tommy Smales RIP : Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:02 am  

Tommy Smales and Dave Stockwell were part of the team that hooked me on the game and Bradford Northern.

My first game of rugby league involved Tommy Smales at scrum half. I will never forget those days as part of my childhood.

In effect - that era is why I remain a Bulls fan today - it gets in your bloodstream.

RIP Tommy lad - legend.

Re: Tommy Smales RIP : Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:47 am  

He also formed a great partnership with our loose forward at the time Johnny Rae. At a Scrum he would shoot round the back and pretend to pick the Ball up and carry on running down the blind side with an imaginary ball attracting defenders to him, meanwhile Johnny Rae had picked up the ball and often had a free run to the line. Great memories of a great player RIP Tommy.

[Bullseye]

Re: Tommy Smales RIP : Mon Oct 30, 2017 12:11 pm  

ifallwerelikemumby wrote:

He also formed a great partnership with our loose forward at the time Johnny Rae. At a Scrum he would shoot round the back and pretend to pick the Ball up and carry on running down the blind side with an imaginary ball attracting defenders to him, meanwhile Johnny Rae had picked up the ball and often had a free run to the line. Great memories of a great player RIP Tommy.

I remember that move being done to great effect later by Deryck Fox and Peter Smith at Fev. Wonder if it would still work?

Re: Tommy Smales RIP : Mon Oct 30, 2017 1:06 pm  

ifallwerelikemumby wrote:

He also formed a great partnership with our loose forward at the time Johnny Rae. At a Scrum he would shoot round the back and pretend to pick the Ball up and carry on running down the blind side with an imaginary ball attracting defenders to him, meanwhile Johnny Rae had picked up the ball and often had a free run to the line. Great memories of a great player RIP Tommy.

I remember that move so clearly. The first time I saw it done, not only did it fool the defenders, it fooled most of the speccies as well. We were all following Tommy, and when he finally stopped running, having taken most of the opposition with him, there was Johnnie Rae, on his own, under the sticks. Crafty wasn't the word for Tommy. I used to like Rae as well, even though he did resemble Bambi on Ice when he ran! R.I.P Tommy.

[Bulliac]

Re: Tommy Smales RIP : Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:12 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

I remember that move being done to great effect later by Deryck Fox and Peter Smith at Fev. Wonder if it would still work?

Even tommy wouldn't have got away with that move with our refs. As he pretended to pick up the ball our refs would most likely give a knock on....

Great player was Tommy Smales. Getting a former GB player just after reforming was a great boost to the club back in '64 and he didn't let us down. Classy player. RIP Tommy.

Re: Tommy Smales RIP : Mon Oct 30, 2017 9:46 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

I remember that move being done to great effect later by Deryck Fox and Peter Smith at Fev. Wonder if it would still work?

Yup...it would. Like the imaginary wild passes Johnny Walford (did not) made. Bulls hit baffles brains. Even today!

RIP and a silent handclap to another RL legend.

Re: Tommy Smales RIP : Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:20 pm  

One other memory. As a teenager I watched Northern play Keighley at Lawkholme. Scrums were still contested and feeding was ( often but not always) penalised. Keighley's hooker was winning the scrums.
So what does Tommy do - makes sure one of his teammates distracts the ref who looks away momentarily . He dummies the ball into the scrum , shoots to the back , pretends to pick up the ball and passes to ( I think) Stockwell.
Cue laughter from Bradford fans , anger from Keighley supporters and complete bemusement from the Keighley front row.
A trick to be repeated sometime later by a young Bak Diabira.
RIP to one of our legends

Re: Tommy Smales RIP : Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:59 pm  

Did folk in Keighley notice that one? Sounds a bit quick for them! Tongue in cheek of course! Cannot keep good men down. http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... ing_black/

Did folk in Keighley notice that one? Sounds a bit quick for them! Tongue in cheek of course! Cannot keep good men down. http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... ing_black/