Vince Farrar

 

Vince Farrar made his debut back in 1965 and started out as a hooker, competing for a spot with first Milan Kosanovic, then Graham Harris. When he wasn’t hooking, Farrar often played at loose forward, where his handling ability was put to good use. In 1971, with Keith Bridges now hooking, the departure of Mal Dixon left a space at prop which Vince filled ably. It was hardly plain sailing for Farrar though, as he suffered a serious knee injury which cleared up only in time for the 1973 Cup final. This left the way open for the very handy Billy Harris to stake a claim, and he played 93 games between 1972 and 1975. Barry Hollis was another youngster trying to force his way into the team at the same time, and he made 86 appearances between 1969 and 1976. Farrar though remained first choice when fit, and his hard work and courage was always an inspiration to his team. By the summer of 1975 Farrar was back to full fitness, and a regular over the next three years at blindside prop alongside Bridges and erstwhile second-rower Jimmy Thompson. 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.