The County side that went down to Yorkshire in the 1896 series at South Shields, they were to turn the tables a year of two later. Result Durham 3 (Penalty for Durham,  A.J. Troup – Tudhoe) Yorkshire 15

Several of the players in the image later “went North” joining  the “Fifteen Bobbers” by signing for the Northern Union and thereby severing all links with the Union Code.  Jimmy Parker from West joined Bramley while Pat Tunney of Tudhoe signed for Salford and enjoyed an outstanding career including an “England” appearance. He eventually joining Broughton Rangers (and had a trial with Manchester United!). The game would have taken place on the Shields Club ground at Mowbray Road in. 

 The Old Dunelmian players on this image are all members of a club that was only founded less than a year earlier. In December 1895. G C Kerr, an Old Boy of Durham School returned to teach at School and formed he Old Boys club. He himself went on to play for Scotland on 8 occasions.  

 On the formation of the Northern Rugby League in 1901, the League invited any Rugby Union County Cup holders at that time, to join the new Competition. Among them was Leicester, who declined, and South Shields who accepted and joined in 1901/02,, hoping that the Northern Union would do as much for South Shields town as membership of the Football League, had done for Sunderland, they were to be disappointed.

 An unusual club name in the side is Sherburn House, a colliery side from east of Durham City, Tom Burt eventually signed for Hartlepool Rovers.  And a final note, Durham playing in Maroon and White broad hoops instead of the traditional Maroon - just one of many changes at this time, which does not appear to have lasted long. All other known pics of the XV show them in Maroon only, in addition, the pectoral cross of St Cuthbert which adornred jerseys prior to this time is replaced by the Arms of Bishop Hatfield, the County reverted to Maroon jerseys but retained the badge which were also the Arms of the County Council.

1. R.F.(Bob) Oakes (Rovers)

2. R.W.(Bob) Poole (Rovers)

3. J.E.Jimmy Parker (West)

4. A. Stephenson (Tudhoe)

5. W.Guy ,(Tudhoe)

6. James.J.Gowans, (Captain - Westoe, Cambridge Unin & Scotland)

7. C.Y.Adamson (Durham City)

8. A.J.Troupe (Tudhoe)

Date (of image) : 7/9/1896

Donor : Durham County RFU

Creator : Unknown

Part of the "Durham County RFU" collection