6 September 1994. The club played their first home game at the new, £1.5 million stadium (often erroneously called New Crown Flatt) in front of a full house against Barrow; Dewsbury scoring 12 tries. Dewsbury finished 7th that season in the 16-team second division with the likes of Eddie Rombo and Les Holliday wowing the fans at their new home under coach Norman Smith.
Attendance increased at new stadium – the crowd numbered an average of 1859 (increase of 493 over previous year and highest for 10 years) as the Dewsbury supporters and away supporters experienced the new stadium.
Smith was replaced towards the end of that season by Tony Fisher whose time in charge of the first team will be remembered for the recruitment of several South African players. Having coached the national side during the 1995 World Cup, Fisher brought Jaco Booysen, Kobus Van Deventer, Tim Fourie, Guy Coombe and Pierre Van Wyk to Dewsbury. Despite the hype surrounding their arrival, the imports failed to make a lasting impression at the club and returned home the following year.
1995/96. Dewsbury signed Dave Watson on a match-by-match basis. In September, a dispute over Darren Roger’s transfer was adjudicated by a League tribunal who ordered Salford to pay £30,000 to Dewsbury plus £5,000 after 15 first team matches.
The season was a disappointment (Dewsbury finished 11/11 in the first division), but the change to summer rugby and Super League meant there was no relegation.
November 1995. The state of Dewsbury’s finances was publicised -revealing a £330,000 tax debt. Behind the scenes discussions were ongoing to save the club.
Early 1996 an independent company formed to save Dewsbury (debts were eventually reported as being over £900,000).
The trio of South Africans at the club – Pierre Van Wyk, Kobus van Deventer and Jaco Booyson left because of club’s uncertain future. Dewsbury went on to make further cost savings – sacking both coach Tony Fisher and Chief Executive Ken Davis.
The new company brought Neil Kelly in as coach for the summer era and encouragingly, Dewsbury reported a £4,000 profit in the first year after handing over to the new management consortium. This positivity was also reflected in January 1996 when Dewsbury players went full-time – a clear commitment to development of a super-league side.
