Batley Bulldogs to go out ‘all guns blazing’ for rugby league legend John Kear at Goole Vikings
Batley Bulldogs will be wanting to make sure former boss and rugby league legend John Kear will be looking down on them “happily” when they visit Goole Vikings on Saturday, June 6 (kick off 3pm).
That is the view of current Batley head coach James Ford who revealed there is “plenty of upset” around Mount Pleasant following the very sad news that his predecessor Kear had passed away last Sunday afternoon.
The renowned and popular broadcaster and former coach of over 700 games of his beloved sport, had been travelling back north from Wembley having been part of the BBC’s commentary team for the Challenge Cup Final the previous day.
Ford told the Reporter Series: “He was a key person. I don’t think anyone would question that he was a legend of the game. He was so passionate about the game and everything that is good about it.
“I spoke to John about Batley on a number of occasions and I was very grateful that he was giving his time up to help us this year with little bits here and there. He thought the world of the club and the world of the Batley supporters, the board, the directors, the players.
“He always spoke very fondly about his time at the club. I am absolutely positive that everybody around the club will say exactly the same things about him.
“There is plenty of upset. There were plenty of them that looked up to John and players who were coached by John. I know Leaky (Alistair Leak) spoke about his time with John. It’s going to be a challenge for us.”
He added: “He coached over 700 games, so just think about how many training sessions he had, think about all his plans and how he reflected on meetings or a video.
“The experience he had was significant and he was such a good bloke to tap into, as long as you got the coffee!”
On his players putting in a performance for John Kear this coming Saturday at Goole, Ford said:
“There will be plenty of upset people so we do need to pull together. I wouldn’t want us to go out and deliver something substandard.
“We need to go out there and think about the good things he has done for the individuals at the club, me, a whole host of players, the club itself, the supporters.
“We need to go out there all guns blazing to make sure he is looking down on us and he is happy with what we are doing.”
There will be a minute’s applause ahead of kick-off on Saturday to honour John, with the Bulldogs inviting “all fans to unite in paying tribute to everything he did for our great game.”
Batley have also announced that Castleford Tigers prop forward, and former Dewsbury Rams captain, Jimmy Beckett has joined the club on an initial one-month loan deal.