Despite the seemingly strong foundations laid during the war years, Dewsbury’s fortunes were again waning – so they did as many clubs in many sports do today, sold players and signed other players to strengthen the team But the new players did not deliver the desired success on the field – newspaper reports of the day talk about a “mediocre” performance on many occasions but they were well supported still.
1948. In the first full season after the war, a new record transfer fee of £1,650 was set when Dewsbury bought fullback Bill Davies from Huddersfield. They profited when James "Jimmy" Ledgard left Dewsbury for Leigh RLFC for a record fee of £2,650 in January.
1944–47. Vic Hey was player/coach at Dewsbury and wrote favourably about his time at the club in his autobiography. He wrote about a friendly supportive town – “Four to Five thousand stalwart supporters … had waited for hours to meet their defeated heroes “at the town hall after a defeat in the championship final of 1946-47.
1950s. Dewsbury players represented Great Britain, notably Ray Pollard, but success in the league and in cup competitions was stubbornly absent.
21 December 1963, Dewsbury took on Leeds at Headingley – the first match on their new underground heated pitch.
Late 1960s. Signs of resurgence were beginning to show – a recruitment policy of selecting home grown Dewsbury born players was starting to pay dividends and the club reached the top 16 play offs and the later rounds of cup competitions.
Adapted from Dewsbury Rams - Wikipedia
More information available in “The Official History of Dewsbury Rugby League Football Club” (Scargill, Fox and Crabtree) chapters 10-12
