Now playing in LHF Healthplan National One, Batley Bulldogs were founder members of the Northern Union in 1895 - five years after Batley Cricket, Athletic and Football Club was formed playing out of the Mount Pleasant ground which is still the club's home today.
Now playing in LHF Healthplan National One, Batley Bulldogs were founder members of the Northern Union in 1895 - five years after Batley Cricket, Athletic and Football Club was formed playing out of the Mount Pleasant ground which is still the club's
home today.
Batley, known as the Gallant Youths, were the first winners of the Northern Union Challenge Cup, beating St Helens 10-3 in the 1986-97 final at Headingley.
They retained the Cup the following year and won it again in 1900-01. Batley won the Yorkshire in 1912-13, were Yorkshire League winners in 1898-99 and 1923-24 and were crowned champions for the only time that same season.
Since then their lone piece of silverware has been the short-lived Trans-Pennine Cup, in 1998.
Arguably the club's greatest player was Wharton 'Wattie' Davies, who set club records for most appearance, goals, tries and points between 1907-1912.
Recent heroes include Australian half-back Glen Tomlinson, who broke Davies' career tries record, Great Britain duo Roy Powell and Carl Gibson and current half-back Barry Eaton - who holds the world record for most consecutive successful goal kicks.
