29 August 1895. At the famous meeting at the Geroge Hotel Dewsbury were represented by C Holdsworth. The resolution was passed "That the clubs here represented decide to form a Northern Rugby Football Union, and pledge themselves to push forward, without delay, the establishment on the principle of payment for broken time only." All the clubs present, with the exception of Dewsbury, handed in their resignation from the English Rugby Union. C Holdsworth requested permission to consult further, so Dewsbury were given five days to decide what they would do.
2 September 1985. At a special meeting convened at the King's Arms Hotel, Market Place, Dewsbury elected to remain in the Senior Competition.
3 September 1895. At a meeting of the Emergency Sub-committee the Dewsbury delegate Mr. Holdsworth presented a telegram - a surprise to most - saying "Dewsbury Club decided last night not to join the Northern Union. Letter following -- Holdsworth."
A local journalist reported that 'there wasn't a single supporter who wouldn't say "Let us have the Northern Union and the sooner the better". Dewsbury marginally improved their position in the league to 10th but the next season they were back at the bottom.
Because Dewsbury stayed with the Rugby Union, Runcorn, (formed 1876), took their place in the new Northern Union.
At this time Dewsbury were sporting blue and white.
21 April 1898. The poor showings in the Rugby Union competition in the following seasons led to Dewsbury reconsidering their future again. A historic meeting was held at the Black Bull public house to consider the possibility of forming a new Northern Union club. The question was discussed at some length and over £100 in donations was promised. Ironically it was local rivals Batley who helped Dewsbury gain election to the Northern Union. They were fully supportive of Dewsbury's bid and obviously looked forward to rekindling the rivalry, as well as their pockets, with the derby matches and also to thank the old Dewsbury supporters who had switched their support to Batley's Mount Pleasant ground during the two or three preceding seasons.
5 May 1898. At a meeting at the parish church school, it was announced that members of the committee had met with Mr Lipscomb, agent to Lord Savile, and had signed an agreement to lease the Crown Flatt estate as from 1 July 1898.
June 1898. Red, amber, and black were adopted as club's colours.
3 September 1898. In their first Northern Union Yorkshire No 2 (Junior) competition match Dewsbury lost 3 – 16 to Normanton. The first home game took place the very next Saturday with visitors Kinsley winning 13–5. In effect, whilst playing the new code, Dewsbury were not yet full members of Northern Union.
17th June 1901. A Northern Union (Rugby League) meeting accepted applications for membership from Leeds, York, Wakefield Trinity, Manningham, Dewsbury, Holbeck, Bramley, Keighley, Normanton, Castleford, Hull KR, Morecambe, St Helens, Barrow, Widnes, South Shields, Millom, Rochdale Hornets, Stockport, Birkenhead and Lancaster to join the Yorkshire / Lancashire Senior competitions.
1901/02. The Lancashire and Yorkshire leagues were combined to form a second division. Dewsbury was one of the new teams to join the second division.
7 September 1901. Dewsbury beat Sowerby Bridge 3 – 0 at home, in the Senior competition in their first Northern Rugby League match.
December 1904. Huddersfield and Dewsbury met for a 3-3 draw, behind locked doors because the community of Dewsbury had suffered from an outbreak of smallpox. Just a handful of games into the season, Bramley refused to travel to face Dewsbury, despite the home side offering an isolation tent for the travelling party. The Northern Union forced Bramley to pay £7 to Dewsbury in compensation, with Rochdale being slapped with a £20 fine for the same offence. Dewsbury were able to travel to face Castleford and York, but disappointing attendances due to the pandemic worsened their cause. There were genuine fears the club would fold, but for the League Management Committee maintaining that clubs would be fined for not playing at Dewsbury. The club then returned to action, after a month without a game, against Barrow and went on to win 17 games in a row. They were Second Division champions, losing only four games.
Adapted from Dewsbury Rams - Wikipedia
More information available in “The Official History of Dewsbury Rugby League Football Club” (Scargill, Fox and Crabtree) chapters 2-5
