Funeral date set for former Hunslet and Castleford ‘great’ Dennis Hartley

Hartley, one of the last surviving members of the Hunslet side that lost 20-16 to Wigan in 1965 Challenge Cup final at Wembley, died five days ago, aged 83, after a long battle against Alzheimer’s disease.

He will be laid to rest at Pontefract Crematorium, Wakefield Road, Pontefract at 3pm on Thursday, November 28.

A wake and celebration of Hartley’s life will be held afterwards at the Roundhill Club, Roundhill Road, Castleford.

Hartley began his career with Doncaster before signing for Hunslet in January, 1961.

After five years at Parkside he moved to Castleford in September 1966 for a £4,750 fee. He went on to win back-to-back Challenge Cup medals in 1969 and 1970. He was also a member of the Great Britain team that won the Ashes, in Australia, in 1970, a feat the Lions have not achieved since.

Hartley was a try scorer in the decisive 21-17 third Test triumph and was later named in both Hunslet’s and Castleford’s Hall of Fame

Only six members of Hunslet’s 17-man squad for the 1965 Challenge Cup final still survive.

They are stand-off Brian Gabbitas, who shared the Lance Todd Trophy with Wigan full-back Ray Ashby; Welsh right winger John Griffiths, who had a touchdown disallowed which, if given, could have changed the course of the match, left winger Barry Lee and second-row Bill Ramsey.

Half-back Ray Abbey and forward Colin Taylor were also in the squad.

The players who have departed are full-back Billy Langton, who kicked five goals at Wembley, centres Geoff Shelton and Alan Preece, scrum-half Alan Marchant, props Hartley and Ken Eyre, hooker Bernard Prior and second-row Geoff Gunney, together with loose forward Fred Ward who was also the side’s captain and player-coach.

Arthur Render and Billy Baldwinson were named as non-playing substitutes.

The 1964-65 season was the first in which rugby league allowed the use of substitutes, but only in the event of an injury in the first half.