Back (L-R): Bob Arnott, Brian Ayre, Fred Robinson, Peter Draper (behind), George Pearson, Lance Potter, Dave Scanlon, Eric Tapsell, Dave Higgins, Collin Brown. Front (L-R): Ernie Clark, Harry Pearson, Bill Hewitt, Keith Havery, Jim Pearson. Photo supplied by Collin Brown.
For the first time in 28 years Whitley Warriors will be beginning life in a new league. Announcing that they intend to move to the SNL for 2025-26 took many by surprise while for others it is a welcome return to face some familiar opponents.
Going full circle the Warriors have returned home in many ways. Back in 1966 the club joined the Northern League which was predominantly made up of Scottish sides with just Whitley and Durham Wasps representing England. Back then, like now, it was a nine team competition with Glasgow based teams Paisley Mohawks, Paisley Vikings and Glasgow Dynamos joining Murrayfield Racers, Fife Flyers, Ayr Bruins and Perth Blackhawks alongside the Warriors and Wasps. The Northern League quickly became recognised as the premier club competition in the country and was ranked higher than its Southern equivalent. Whitley finished 5th first time out just missing out on a playoff berth.
The 1967-68 season saw a slimmed down league with Paisley Vikings, Perth Blackhawks and Ayr Bruins all pulling out of the competition. To make up for the loss of fixtures an Autumn Cup was introduced with Whitley facing each team home and away but ultimately finishing last. They would then face the same sides again in the Northern League, where a fourth place finish saw them qualify for the playoffs, also known as the Spring Cup. Whitley made the final where they lost to powerhouse Paisley Mohawks 12-9 on aggregate, having drawn the home leg 7-7 at Hillheads. Paisley completed a Grand Slam of Northern League, Autumn Cup, Spring Cup and Icy Smith Cup (Ice Hockey’s FA Cup equivalent) to go along with the regular season title from the previous campaign.
The same six sides made up the 1968-69 season with the Mohawks completing a hat trick of Northern League titles. Whitley climbed to third in both the regular season and the Autumn Cup. But by now a familiar foe was starting to rise – Murrayfield Racers claimed three of the four trophies up for grabs that season before adding the Northern League title the following year.
In what was an expanded campaign with four new sides entering the competition, Whitley iced a reserve side called the Bandits, as did Murrayfield with their Edinburgh Royals side. Ayr Bruins made a return after two seasons away while Dundee Rockets also made their bow. Warriors finished third in both the Northern League and the Autumn Cup, with the Bandits finishing ninth in both competitions. Warriors exited both the Icy Smith Cup and Spring Cup at the semi final stage. Racers reclaimed the Icy Smith and Autumn Cups with Glasgow Dynamos claiming the Spring Cup.
The 1970-71 season saw the Bandits and Royals leave the competition, along with the Paisley Mohawks, whose East Lane rink closed down. Racers clinched the grand slam with Whitley finishing fifth in the Autumn Cup, third in the Northern League and reaching the semi finals of the Icy Smith Cup and Spring Cup.
The following year saw Whitley claim their first piece of silverware when they lifted the Autumn Cup just ahead of Murrayfield, who went on to win the other three trophies. Warriors finished third in the Northern League with Paisley Mohawks returning after a year away, but now playing out of Glasgow’s Crossmyloof rink.
It was Ayr Bruins’ turn to sit out the following season after their Beresford Terrace Rink closed down ahead of the 1972-73 campaign. Whitley finished third in the Northern League behind winners Dundee Rockets and perennial contenders Murrayfield. They finished runners up to Fife Flyers in the Autumn Cup but incredibly beat the Racers to claim the Icy Smith Cup for the first time. Dundee clinched the Spring Cup to make it a league and playoff double.
By 1973-74 Whitley were the team to beat, they won the Northern League ahead of the Rockets before going on to retain the Icy Smith Cup. However the Rockets would be crowned Spring Cup winners, denying the Warriors the chance of a trophy treble.
Warriors held on to their Northern League crown for 1974-75, in what was an 8 team competition, with Ayr Bruins returning having secured a new home rink at Limekiln Road. Warriors finished runners up to Murrayfield in the Autumn Cup with the Racers also claiming the Icy Smith Cup. Fife Flyers won the Spring Cup.
The eight team format continued for the next couple of years. Murrayfield won the Northern League with Ayr Bruins claiming the Icy Smith Cup. But the emerging team in 1975-76 were Fife Flyers. Having won both the Autumn and Spring Cups they went on to land the Grand Slam the following season, the Kirkcaldy-based side won a second straight Northern League title in 1977-78, finishing just ahead of Whitley. The Flyers also retained the Icy Smith Cup but had to settle for runners-up spots to Murrayfield in both the Autumn and Spring Cups. That year also saw the end of both Paisley Mohawks and Dundee Rockers participation in the competition. But in Billingham Bombers, a third English side were added.
Murrayfield Racers clinched another Grand Slam in 1978-79, before further changes were introduced for the following campaign. Sunderland Chiefs entered the league, meaning there were now four north east sides taking part in the nine team competition. Aviemore Blackhawks were the other newcomers as the Racers dominated once again with a second straight Grand Slam. They would be the team to beat again in 1980-81, minus Sunderland Chiefs who opted not to compete.
The final season of the Northern League took place in 1981-82. Whitley could only manage a sixth place finish and so missed out on the playoffs. Dundee Rockets had returned and were now the side to beat as the teams headed into a new era while Durham Wasps, very much in the Warriors shadow during the 1960s and 1970s, claimed the Autumn Cup.
In all there were 16 seasons of the Northern League. Only five sides took park in every campaign; Durham, Fife, Glasgow, Murrayfield and Whitley.
Murrayfield Racers were by far and away the most successful side winning thirty trophies! They claimed both the Autumn Cup and Northern League on seven occasions with the Icy Smith Cup and Spring Cup making their way to the Racers trophy cabinet eight times. Incredibly they clinched three Grand Slams during that era too.
Fife Flyers were the second most successful side winning 10 trophies, including a Grand Slam. Paisley Mohawks, had a very successful first stint, winning six trophies and three Northern League titles during the first four seasons. After a year away the Mohawks moved from Paisley to Glasgow and their six season second stint wasn’t nearly as successful.
Despite Dundee Rockets missing out on the first four seasons of the Northern League, as well as taking another four year sojourn in the late 1970s, the Tayside club still managed to win five trophies, including the Northern League title twice.
Although never being crowned Northern League champions, both Glasgow Dynamos and Ayr Bruins won the Icy Smith Cup with Glasgow also claiming a Spring Cup (playoffs), while the rinks in Aviemore and Perth have long since gone.
As for Whitley? Well they won five trophies: two Northern League titles, two Icy Smith Cups and an Autumn Cup.