Harry Varley

Profile

Harry Varley was the captain of the Oldham team in the first season of the Northern Union, after the breakaway of 1895. He was a stand off half who won an England cap at Rugby Union, when playing for the Liversedge club. He was also capped by Yorkshire county and added similar Lancashire honours after crossing the Pennines. The rules of the time allowed a player to represent the county of his club.

After two seasons under the new code, Harry retired to become the club trainer and under his watchful eye the club became the first Lancashire team to win the Challenge Cup when defeating Hunslet in the 1899 final at Fallowfield. As a mark of appreciation the players all “chipped in” to have a special medal struck for Harry, which bore the Oldham coat of arms, with an inscription relevant to the Cup success.

In August 1899, Harry left Watersheddings under amicable circumstances to take up a position with the Leeds club, for whom he was persuaded to come out of retirement as a player.

Career Games

Opposition Venue Date Competition
Hunslet v Oldham Away September 14, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Tyldesley Home September 21, 1895 Northern Union
Halifax v Oldham Away September 28, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Batley Home October 5, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Wakefield Trinity Home October 7, 1895 Northern Union
Hull FC v Oldham Away October 12, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Bradford Home October 19, 1895 Northern Union
Widnes v Oldham Away October 26, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Manningham Home November 2, 1895 Northern Union
Leigh v Oldham Away November 9, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Stockport Home November 16, 1895 Northern Union
Warrington v Oldham Away November 23, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home November 30, 1895 Northern Union
Liversedge v Oldham Away December 10, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v St Helens Home December 14, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Wigan Home December 21, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home December 25, 1895 Northern Union
Leeds v Oldham Away December 26, 1895 Northern Union
Oldham v Warrington Home December 28, 1895 Northern Union
Brighouse Rangers v Oldham Away January 1, 1896 Northern Union
Runcorn v Oldham Away January 4, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Huddersfield Home January 11, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Hunslet Home January 18, 1896 Northern Union
Tyldesley v Oldham Away January 25, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Halifax Home February 1, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Widnes Home February 15, 1896 Northern Union
Bradford v Oldham Away February 18, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Hull FC Home February 22, 1896 Northern Union
Manningham v Oldham Away March 7, 1896 Northern Union
Stockport v Oldham Away March 14, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home March 21, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Leeds Home March 28, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Runcorn Home April 11, 1896 Northern Union
Oldham v Leigh Home April 13, 1896 Northern Union
St Helens v Oldham Away April 18, 1896 Northern Union
Wakefield Trinity v Oldham Away April 22, 1896 Northern Union
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away April 25, 1896 Northern Union
Runcorn v Oldham Neutral April 29, 1896 Northern Union
Werneth v Oldham Away April 30, 1896 Friendly
Manningham v Oldham Away September 5, 1896 Friendly
Salford v Oldham Away September 12, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v St Helens Home October 3, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Widnes Home October 10, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Wigan v Oldham Away October 24, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Leigh Home October 31, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Morecambe v Oldham Away November 7, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away November 14, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Runcorn Home November 28, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Leigh v Oldham Away December 12, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Salford Home December 19, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Stockport Home December 25, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home December 26, 1896 Lancashire Senior Competition
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away January 2, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Swinton Home January 9, 1897 Friendly
Oldham v Morecambe Home January 16, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home January 23, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Widnes v Oldham Away February 6, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Wigan Home February 13, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Warrington Home February 20, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Runcorn v Oldham Away February 27, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Oldham v Swinton Home March 2, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Tyldesley v Oldham Away March 13, 1897 Lancashire Senior Competition
Bradford v Oldham Away March 20, 1897 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home March 27, 1897 Friendly
Bradford v Oldham Away March 12, 1898 Friendly
Oldham v Seaton Home November 5, 1898 Friendly