Methley Perceverance played in the Yorkshire League during the 1920’s and were league winners on two occasions during that decade.
Yorkshire League Final Table 1923-1924
P W D L F A Pts
1 Methley Perseverance 34 24 6 4 84 24 54
2 Frickley Colliery 34 22 8 4 96 41 52
3 Bradford Park Avenue* 34 22 5 7 96 38 49
4 Monckton Athletic 34 17 8 9 71 41 42
5 Altofts West Riding Colliery 34 17 5 12 67 47 39
6 Halifax Town* 34 16 6 12 65 56 38
7 Brodsworth Main 34 15 7 12 62 65 37
8 Leeds Harehills 34 15 5 14 51 54 35
9 Wakefield City 34 15 5 14 51 54 35
10 Castleford & Allerton 34 13 7 14 51 52 33
11 Harrogate 34 14 3 17 69 73 31
12 York City* 34 10 9 15 36 58 29
13 Bentley Colliery 34 10 8 16 46 56 28
14 Fryston Colliery 34 10 6 18 40 60 26
15 Wombwell* 34 10 6 18 46 77 26
16 Selby Town 34 10 4 20 68 81 24
17 Yorkshire Amateurs 34 8 4 22 50 99 20
18 Rothwell Athletic 34 6 3 25 28 106 15
Bradford Park Avenue, Halifax Town, Leeds Harehills, Rothwell Athletic, Wombwell and Yorkshire Amateur all left the League. Frickley Colliery also pulled their first team out of the competition to join the Midland League, but continued their membership of the Yorkshire League through their reserves. The admission of Bridlington Town, Bullcroft Main, Goole Town and Leeds City meant a return to a membership total of 16 clubs.
Season 1924/25 saw Brodsworth win the league with Methley Perceverance coming in eigth with 28 points. Bentley Colliery, Bullcroft Main and Frickley Colliery Reserves left the league. A reduced league of 15 clubs was made up with the introduction of Scarborough Penguins, and Selby Olympia
1925/26 and Methley took the league title again in this general strike year winning 20 of their games pipping Selby Town on points difference. Castleford Town and Scarborough now joined for the next season, the league losing another colliery side when Fryston left.
1926/27 was a poor season with the side coming in a lowly 14th, one place below Altofts. The league were to lose Leeds City, Monckton Athletic and Scarborough.
1927/28 – another poor season for Methley who at 12th in the league were second to bottom winning only two matches and were unable to fulfil all their commitments missing 4 fixtures. The league were to lose Castleford & Allerton, Scarborough Penguins and Wakefield City. However it was brought back to full strength with the introduction of Bradford City Reserves, Hull City ‘A’, Pontefract Borough, Scarborough Reserves, Bradford PA and Halifax Town.
A recovery in form got the side to 6th position in 1928/29, Bradford PA taking the honours. They, as winners took on the ‘Rest of the League’ and were victorious by 8 goals to 4. Departures at the end of this season were Bradford PAvenue who went to play in the Midland League, Castleford Town and Pontefract Borough.
Huddersfield Town ‘A’ and Leeds United ‘A’ joined the league but the future of Methley Perceverance is somewhat of a mystery. They were listed to play the following season but did not compete. – Mystery solved thanks to correspondent Michael Gallagher (May 2007) who has been researching the history of Selby Town FC. Michael informs me that Huddersfield Town ‘A’ took over the Methley fixtures, or, Methley Perceverance became Huddersfield Town ‘A’.
I am indebted to Roger Hopkin of Middleton, Wakefield and formerly of Scarborough for the above and additional information which will be published at different times.
Methley Perseverance FA Cup History
1921/22 Extra Prelim. Round Home 5 – 1 Horsforth
Prelim. Round Home 1 – 1 Castleford & Allerton Utd
Replay Away 0 – 2
1925/26 Extra Prelim. Round Home 4 – 2 South Kirkby Colliery
Prelim. Round Away 0 – 8 Wombwell
1926/27 Extra Prelim. Round Away 2 – 7 Mexborough
1927/28 Prelim. Round Away 3 – 2 Monckton Athletic
Qual. Round 1 Away 3 – 2 Cudworth Village
Qual. Round 2 Away 0 – 1 Denaby Utd
1928/29 Prel. Round Home 3 – 0 Horsforth
Qual. Round 1 Away 1 – 1 Frickley Colliery
Replay Home 2 – 1
Qual. Round 2 Away 2 – 2 Denaby Utd
Replay Home 2 – 2
2nd Replay Neutral 2 – 3
1929/30 Extra Prelim. Round Away 4 – 2 Horsforth
Qual. Round 1 Home 2 – 7 Mexborough
Once again thanks to Alan Hodgson of Birstall who was kind enough to provide this information from his own research.