IN the days when it was Batley Variety Club, Louis Armstrong appeared there, so did my mate Alan Senior and Curly Chassis (Shirley Bassey to the young ones) but The Frontier, as it is now called, is to feature some even bigger singing stars – at least in bulk in some cases.
Yes, members of the Leeds Rhinos' squad are aiming to hit the high notes in an RL Factor show in aid of team-mate Matt Diskin's testimonial. I've seen a few piano players in rugby league – those who spivved about on the field – but can't remember a
single singer of quality, so this lot will be a first.
Taking centre stage in rugby league's version of The X Factor will be such rich singing talents as Rhinos' Brent Webb, Ali Lauititi, Kylie Leuluai, Willie Poching and Rob Burrow with an all-star backing chorus, plus Disko himself.
Lined up for guest star appearances are Nick Scruton (Bradford Bulls), Ewan Dowes (Hull FC), Gareth Carvell (Warrington Wolves) and possibly the next Jedward, former Wakefield Trinity forward duo Francis Stephenson and Garry Price.
Disko's RL Factor is at The Frontier on Monday, February 22. Tickets for the family show are £10 for adults and £5 for children and can be obtained from the Frontier box office (01924 442122) or at the Ticket Office at Headingley Carnegie Stadium (0871 423 1315), payment by cash or cheque made out to The Frontier.
The RL Factor, devised and staged by Hull showman Johnny Paterson and RL businessman David Howes – another codhead – attracted a capacity 1,200 audience for the Richard Horne Testimonial in Hull and nearly 700 for Eorl Crabtree at Huddersfield.
Former Dewsbury Moor favourite Matt, who has made more than 230 appearances for the Rhinos, said the family orientated show would also feature an RL Factor competition for fans as a warm-up to the players' contest.
Supporters wanting to enter the fans' event should contact 07814 937642 or david@ howesetc.co.uk before next Monday, February 8.
n You may not have noticed but there has been a fair amount of fuss about Chelsea and England captain John Terry for a reason which escapes me. When you read about all that he's got away with over the years, the latest escapade will probably be water off a duck's back so far as supporters are concerned.
Let's face it, if England win the World Cup, so far as the vast majority of fans are concerned, they could be led by Jack The Ripper or the Boston Strangler.
It's interesting to note that Wayne Rooney has been mentioned as a possible replacement as captain for JT. He's done well to change himself from a talented lad with a temper to an outstanding player.
The same applies to tennis star Andy Murray, who handled his defeat by Roger Federer in the final of the Australian Open, with a good deal of dignity and some humour.
Murray is still only 22 and looks faster since he had his haircut. He seems certain to win a major tournament at some stage. If it happens at Wimbledon this year, around the same time as football's World Cup, it might be better to leave the country for a while because the hysteria will be worse than if it snows in London.
n Rugby union's Six Nations Championship starts this weekend with the usual intense pressure on England coach Martin Johnson.
You get the feeling that only the fact he is still fondly remembered as England's World Cup-winning captain has saved him from a barrow load of stick during England's recent dire performances and time is running out.
Union are making the same mistake as rugby league in that if a player, whatever his position, isn't huge, he's lucky to get a game and that makes boring watching in both codes.
