History

Bank Top Harriers A.R.L.F.C were founded in the summer of 1999 by player-manager David 'O' Flynn following discussions over a favourite tipple in the Hare and Hounds, Great Horton Road.

After mentioning the idea of a rugby league side to the then landlord Jock Geater, plans were moved forward and a sponsor was found in Leisure Management. Leisure Management agreed to cover all the initial setup costs and supplied kit, match day food and support for the next three years.

In the first season,Bank Top joined the friendly league and played eleven friendlies in total, winning two, drawing one and losing eight.

Bank Top Harriers are now considered a thriving club at the heart of the Horton Bank Top community, being hailed as a major success story for local grass roots amateur Rugby League.

Permission was granted to join Division 6 of the pennine league. They and had a relatively succesful season, finishing midtable with O Flynn been player coach. The following season, Top appointed Mick Krelle as coach however the season proved much more difficult and the Harriers at times, struggle to put a full side out although completed every fixture. The Harriers had, up to this point, been based at the Hare and Hounds in Horton Bank Top, but a change in management there led to a change of public house and a move down the road to the Crown midway through the season and after Krelle quit and the Harriers continued to struggle the season ended dissapointingly. At this point O Flynn had to step away from running the club due to career commitments and player Carl Brian was asked to step in a secretary and treasurer due to the resignation of Simon Mitchell. The decision was made to try entice MItchell in as coach, who accepted, and this in turn led to the upward curve in fortunes over the coming years. The Harriers started recruiting young eager players, some of whom had not played at open age level, but took to it extremley the well. Firstly Jason Gelder arrived, who added a real tryscoring threat in divisions 6 & 5, following him were teenagers Cameron Nelson and Dan Oldfield, along with Adam Gillard and Nathan Metcalfe. These players, added to the original lot of Mark Conway , Carl Brian, Scott Haley , Kevin Simpson, Bob Brown and Kev simpson added much more to the side and a succesful season saw the Harriers promoted to division 5 and a season of consolidation followed before a visit to Odsal in the Hudson Foster Cup in 2003, where they lost to Undercliffe.

This progression continued and good young players continue to join, such as Craig French , Mark Bailey and Kaine Mazurke. Top won division 5 at a canter in 04/05 going some 18 games unbeaten and progressing to the final of the Andrew Bennett cup beating sides in leagues above and also defeating Queensbury A in a momentous day out. This season of success saw the Harriers contraversially moved from divsion 5 to 3. Another Andy Bennett final followed, however 8 games in 3 weeks left them exhausted proir to the final and they were well beaten by the Hoyland Vikings.

Bank top also had a bash at the National Cup , beating established Yorkshire league side Crofton before a fantastic day out at National conference side Waterhead. beaten 70-6 but the Waterhead chariman going on record as us bringing the biggest away following in his 25 years involved with the club!!!

Roll on to 2008 and the Harriers find themselves riding high in Division 3, a comfortable promotion to 2 looked on the cards, however Top have let themsleves down on occasions however, they know that one more win at the time of writing will see them once again promoted. New signings such as James Barraclough have made a huge deifference and whatever happens , the Harriers will continue to thrive, grwo and develop, even though they know they are surrounded by a hot bed of established clubs in Bradford.