Heckmondwike (Rugby League)

Heckmondwike was a semi-professional rugby league club based in Heckmondwike in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England.

The club played semi-professional rugby league for a total of 4 seasons and spent each of the seasons in the Yorkshire Senior Competition. They first became members of the Northern Rugby Football Union (now Rugby Football League in 1896–97 and stayed for three seasons until 1898–99. After a two-year break, they returned to the Northern Rugby Football Union (now Rugby Football League in 1901–02 for a further single season

At the end of season 1901–02 the club left the league.

Heckmondwike FC was formed as a rugby football club some time before 1895. They converted from the rugby union to rugby league in the summer of 1896, in time for the 1896–97 season.

During the early years the club had three prominent players who gained international caps: Richard "Dicky" Lockwood, Donald Jowett, and John William "Willie" or "J. W." Sutcliffe.

They joined the ranks of the semi-professionals when they became members of the Northern Union in its second season 1896–97 and played in the Yorkshire Senior Competition, which was effectively Division 2 (East). At the end of this first season, 1896–97, Heckmondwike finished in bottom place out of the 16 clubs..

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