Tom Halliday is a welder by day but scored for his hometown club in their first professional game as they caused a Challenge Cup shock at London Broncos
Welder Tom Halliday turned up the heat to help shape an historic day for Goole Vikings.
The winger, 29, scored the first try for the country’s newest professional club as they caused a Betfred Challenge Cup shock at London Broncos.
He hails from the East Yorkshire town and fittingly got in on the action in the part-timers’ maiden game.
League One Goole only formed a few months ago, springing from an amateur club to answer the RFL’s latest call for expansion.
But, coached by ex-Hull, Wigan and England prop Scott Taylor, they have now already set up a mouthwatering fourth round Cup clash with Super League Wakefield Trinity.
Vikings bounced back from 10-0 down to win 17-10 at London, who were in the top-flight themselves as recently as last year.
Veteran ex-Leeds, Wakefield and England second-row Brett Ferres, who featured in the unfolding drama, said: “It was really fitting that Tom scored our first try.
“I played with him for the last two years at Doncaster.
“He’s a really proud Goole lad. He literally speaks of himself in the third person as Tom Halliday of Goole!
“It’s been a bit of a joke between all of us for a while now.
“But when it came about with Goole getting into League One, he was really keen to get on board and push it forward.
“For a local boy now to be in the history books as the first player to score in a competitive game for the town and the club, it is really special.”
Ferres is 38 but almost a young buck in Taylor’s side.
Ex-Hull KR hooker Andy Ellis, 40, came off the bench to play a massive part in Goole’s comeback.
Ferres said: “And [winger] Misi Taulapapa was 43 on Saturday so that was a nice birthday pressie for him.
“He was with me at Donny as well – I brought a few with me!
“With a team like we have, people laugh about the older guys going around again.
“But, the likes of Andy and Misi, it typifies that you need that experience as well.
“At key times of the game, older heads have done it a million times. You saw that with what we got from Andy at nine.
“Jeylan Hodgson was outstanding starting for us with his effort areas – and then we had Andy’s cool head come on to control it and boss things.
“It was a great day and a big reward for everyone involved in the club and Goole itself.”
They are joined in the last 32 by three amateur clubs who now, remarkably, have two weeks to prepare for ties against Super League heavyweights.
York Acorn face Hull FC, West Hull take on St Helens, and Wests Warriors of London will play Leeds Rhinos.
Ince Rose Bridge are the other community club to progress and they will face Championship outfit Featherstone Rovers.
