Thirty-six years ago, Steven Mullaney, a schoolboy Rugby League player, thrilled television viewers across the country by scoring a superb solo try as Wakefield Schools defeated St Helens 17-0 in the traditional Year 7 Boys curtain-raiser at Wembley, before the 1986 Challenge Cup Final.
Tragically, Steven died in a road traffic accident the following year. As a tribute to him, the English Schools’ Year 7 Boys (under 12s) game, was renamed the The Steven Mullaney Memorial Game.
Since then, generations of young players have carried on his joy of playing Rugby League by taking part in this special fixture, which has become an integral part of our Champion Schools Finals. It is a very special occasion for Steven’s family. His father Terry says “It means everything to the family, it’s such a great honour that the RFL still choose to remember Steven for the game he played back in ’86. It’s always a proud day for us, we look forward to it immensely every year and it’s great to see this game and the other finals returning to the calendar after missing the last 2 years.
It’s a great honour for the whole family to attend the game and present the trophies. To see these kids coming through and award them with their medals is a great thrill for myself, his mum Denise and our daughter, Lauren. They are such talented lads as well, hopefully some of them will go on to make it as international players in the future.
One of our Grandson’s Jack has just been awarded a Scholarship at Huddersfield Giants and both have always played the game. They know all about Uncle Steven and are
definitely following in his footsteps. We’re Rugby League people through and through. To be quite honest, words can’t describe how much it means to us”.
The showcase fixture will return from it’s enforced break this year and make it’s debut at Magic Weekend, as Bridgewater High School from Warrington and Castleford Academy face off on the St James’ Park turf.
Many young players who have represented their school in the Steven Mullaney Memorial Game have gone on to make their mark on both the professional and international stage. Among those are Mike Ford, Denis Betts, Phil Clarke, Chev Walker, Kevin Sinfield and Ryan Hampshire. Keep an eye out for the stars of all of the finals making their mark across Super League and Women’s Super League in a few years time.
