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Club legend Callaghan inducted into York RLFC Hall of Fame

Darren Callaghan has been inducted into the York RLFC Hall of Fame. <i>(Image: Archive)</i>
Darren Callaghan has been inducted into the York RLFC Hall of Fame. (Image: Archive)

CLUB legend Darren Callaghan has been inducted into the York RLFC Hall of Fame.

A product of community side York Acorn, he made a total of 137 appearances and received the heritage number 1388.

He has been chosen as the latest Hall of Fame member by a committee consisting of Knights Supporters Society (KSS) members, former players and journalists, and will be inducted at the club’s Hall of Fame dinner at Merchant Adventurers’ Hall on Friday, January 17.


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Callaghan was named on the bench for one game for the then-York Wasps in 1996, going on to become a regular in 1999 and 2000.

He then became one of the first players to sign for the York City Knights when the club formed out of the ashes of York Wasps in 2002. He remained there from 2003 to 2005 and was a part of the National League 2 promotion-winning side.

Initially starting at half-back, he later moved into the centres and second row, scoring a total of 41 tries, 10 goals and five drop-goals.

Callaghan then returned to Acorn, helping them achieve promotion to the National Conference League Premier Division for the first time in 2008.

Callaghan made over a century of appearances for the club. (Image: York RLFC)

“He had full commitment,” said former teammate and fellow Hall of Fame inductee Mark Cain. “It meant everything to him as a player.

"It's a pleasure to have him on board. I'm chuffed to bits for him, he deserves it. He still continues to put that energy into community rugby now."

Callaghan was told of his induction whilst giving a talk to the current Knights squad alongside Cain at a pre-season training session at the beginning of last month.

Shocked by the news, he was visibly moved, saying: "blooming heck, I didn't expect that! I won't say much as I'll get emotional!"

The York RLFC Hall of Fame was launched in 2013 by the KSS to celebrate the storied history of rugby league in York following the club’s formation in 1868.

Cain and Garry Atkins were last year’s inductees, with a current contingent of 26 Hall of Fame members also including club legends Geoff Pryce, Graham Steadman and Willie Hargreaves.