Tribute to former Bramley legend RL Graham Idle

VaselineJune 24, 2024

1 4 minutes read

Tribute to former Bramley legend RL Graham Idle

of Paul Abraham

Following the sad news of Graham Idle’s passing, below is a reminder of a true Bramley legend and an extraordinary human being, respected by team-mates, opponents and fans of all clubs.

After shining in the amateur game at Leeds, Bramley was quick to sign Graham in 1969.

No-one could have predicted when he made his debut as a substitute for scrum-half Horsman in a 9-22 home defeat against Keighley that Graham would end his career after 740 professional games over 24 and nine years clubs later.

After three more substitute appearances, Graham started for the first time against Dewsbury in December when he played on the right wing in a 14-5 win. He finished his first season with 10 appearances, as well as 7 from the substitutes’ bench, playing on both wings, full-back and forward.

The 1970–71 season saw Graham establish himself as a first-team regular and he finished the season with 32 starts and three substitute appearances, again playing at full-back, left centre, second rower and loose forward.

He scored the first two tries in a 35-2 thrashing of Hunslet at the famous Parkside pitch and then added another try during a 13-5 home win against Blackpool Borough.

The following season saw a try in a 27-11 win at McClaren Field and one in an 11-46 defeat at Wilderspool against a Warrington side.

Apart from one game at fullback in a 7-18 home defeat against Bradford Northern, Graham has now made his second choice jersey, finishing with 26 appearances and 10 off the bench in a season in which Bramley defeated on red. hot favorites Bradford Northern in the second round of the RL Challenge Cup in front of a record McClaren Field attendance before losing at home to Warrington in the quarter-finals.

Bramley started the 1972–73 season by winning their first four games, including Graham scoring a try in a 13–10 home win against Batley.

A try in the impressive 13-9 home win against Wakefield Trinity was followed later in the season with Bramley’s only try in a 7-13 defeat at York. This season represented a golden era for the club as they secured a place in the following season’s new Premier Division finishing in the top 16 to cement their place.

Two milestones were reached by Graham this season when he made his 100th appearance in the amber and black in a 24-17 win at Barrow and then his 100th starting appearance in the struggling 7-7 at Whitehaven.

The 73-74 season would go down in Bramley history as their most successful in the professional game as they lifted the BBC Floodlit Trophy for their first piece of silverware in 94 years of existence.

They beat Wakefield away, Castleford and St Helens at home, then traveled to cup kings Widnes and achieved a historic victory in the final as well as reaching the semi-final of the John Player Trophy.

Another highlight was the 17-13 victory on Good Friday at Headingley to secure their place in the First Division next season.

Throughout the incredible season, Graham was one of the first names on the team sheet and played in 41 of the 42 games played with the first team, only missing the 20-12 home win on 15 September against Hull in first round of the John Player Trophy. .

Graham netted five times during the season, including two in two games in December against Whitehaven at Home in a 21-12 win, which was followed by a shock 16-14 win at Hull Kingston Rovers.

Other tries scored were away at Whitehaven (won 19-12) and at home to Leigh (won 41-20) and Hull KR (lost 10-27). Had Graham played for a ‘big name’ club then he would surely have been selected for Great Britain’s tour of Australia at the end of the season, especially after his appearances for the Yorkshire county.

The following season saw Bramley relegated in a disappointing season after the previous season’s highs.

Graham, as always, was a shining light throughout the season with his colossal tackles and 34 appearances in a season which brought him tries at home to Hull in the JP Trophy (won 15-6) in away to Featherstone (lost 14-26) and in home wins against Bradford Northern (21-5) and Rochdale Hornets (16-6).

The final game of the season, an 8–23 defeat away at Warrington on 16 April, was to be Graham’s 201st and final appearance for Bramley before receiving a club record transfer fee Bramley, as Wakefield signed Bramley’s favorite and took him back. in the first division where it deserves to be.

While Bramley fans were sad to see him go, they hoped he would finally get the recognition and honors he deserved for his loyalty and tireless efforts for the club.

But that was not the end of his Bramley career as he returned to play in the final nine games of the 1986–87 season, making his return in the 1–5 defeat at home to Rochdale on 1 March. Graham brought the curtain down on his Bramley career when he played in the play-off defeat at Swinton on 26 April.

Graham appeared in the 1979 RL Challenge Cup final for Wakefield when they lost to Widnes, and then a move to Bradford earned him a championship winners’ medal and two Yorkshire Cup runners-up medals. He is fifth on the list for the most Rugby League appearances in a career and continues to be highly respected in the sport of Rugby League. A true legend not just for Bramley but in Rugby League.