Jimmy Thompson

The 1970s were perhaps the most successful period in the club’s history and the key roles of numbers eight and ten were occupied by two players who had begun their careers in other positions. Both Vince Farrar and Jimmy Thompson had the chance to develop their considerable skills before moving up to prop. Having made his debut in 1966, Jimmy had gone on to establish himself as one of the best second row forwards in the country. He was a regular international, who played for Rovers in the 1967,1973 and 1974 Wembley finals. Then aged 27, he rapidly converted himself into the highest quality prop, using the same incredible work-rate and impeccable tackling technique that had served him so well as a back-rower. For two glorious seasons the Thompson-Bridges-Farrar front-row combination took Rovers to our best ever years in the league. Featherstone finished second in 1976, and then top of the whole pile in 1977. This awesome unit was dismantled when Thompson was sold to Bradford in the summer of 1977, and Farrar joined Hull in November that year. Both went on to great things for their new clubs, Thompson winning back to back titles at Odsal, and Farrar finally gaining international recognition whilst at the Boulevard. Rovers had to pick up the pieces, and it would inevitably be more local prop-forward talent that would see them through.