This Sporting Life

Date: 1963
Director: Lindsay Anderson
Production Company: Rank

Stars: Richard Harris, Rachel Roberts, Alan Badel, William Hartnell, Colin Blakely and Arthur Lowe
Location(s): Yorkshire

Region(s):

Storyline:

Drama based in Northern England featuring Harris as a rugby league player who strives to win over his widow landlady Rachel Roberts.

Additional Information:

The scenes which you have as a ‘cemetery’ were actually filmed in my home village – the marriage and graveyard scenes are St Paul’s church, Drighlington, near Bradford. The pic you have with the Clock Tower is actually on Drighlington Junior School – soon to be demolished! One of my neighbours was an extra in the Wedding scenes.  I’m not sure if some of the Rugby club scenes were actually all filmed at the Wakefield Trinity ground, I feel that some scenes were filmed at Halifax RL club but don’t quote me on that – I used to work with a guy who was an extra in the film (he played for Wakefield at that time). Dianne Hoole Dianne Hoole again, just to confirm that the stills at the Rugby Club were taken at Thrum Hall, Halifax – note the Websters (Halifax) Brewery logo on the stand roof…..this was the home of Halifax RLFC. ………the match sequences were filmed at Wakefield Trinity’s home ground Belle Vue – fyi Beverley’s brewery logo was on their roof, I don’t know if this was shown in the film.

Victor Baker advises that the pub scene was at The Dolphin on Kirkgate with then landlord Tommy Fisher. Pub now called Wakefield Pride. Steakhouse scene on Brooke St. Wakefield. (December 2018)

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If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.

We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.

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  • 14 Sep 2009

Thrum Hall, Halifax, now an ASDA store - this was the home of Halifax RLFC. Dianne Hoole. My father was an extra in the crowd scenes at Thrum Hall advises Martin Titchmarsh.

Taken from the car park of the Halifax Asda store, which now occupies the site of the former Thrum Hall Rugby League ground. The houses in the picture are in Newstead Terrace, Halifax. Our thanks to Tony Martin.

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The Locarno in Wakefield which stood on Southgate at the corner on what is now named Cathedral Walk. Roger Seaton tells us "I used to go dancing there in the 60s it was where the Ridings shopping centre is now, the little lane is still there now leading to an entrance for the shopping centre."

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A Cemetery, look at the chimney. Could be the graveyard of St Pauls Church Drighlington. The wedding scenes were filmed here (wedding, whose wedding) so perhaps the same location was used for these scenes. Geoff Brag.

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Same cemetery, the clock tower ?

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  • 07 Jun 2026

Our hero jumps off a bus to buy a newspaper. Wakefield Westgate near the three banks which are all still there. ~ Roger Seaton

Now, pic by Frank Murphey, well done that man!

The record is updated by Mark Alford.

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  • 07 Jun 2026

A street, but which? Ian Chapman advises that this is Servia Terrace in the Woodhouse area of Leeds, Yorkshire. (RL)

Mark Alford returned to the area which has been totally redeveloped . . . this is approximately where the terrace stood.

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Servia Terrace, Leeds 7 recognised by Ian Chapman. (RL)

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Ian Chapman identifies Servia Terrace in the Woodhouse area of Leeds. (RL)

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Geoff Bragg tells us Belle Vue, Wakefield Trinity's home ground which is supported by Tony Martin. Both contributors add that the stand was pulled down in the mid 1980s. Neil Hall contacted us on Twitter and confirmed that this is the Chinese Stand at Wakefield.

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  • 14 Sep 2009

Thrum Hall, Halifax.

Almost the same position as ts001. Again from the Asda car park looking at the rear of Newstead Terrace. Another one from Tony Martin.

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  • 14 Sep 2009

Thrum Hall, Halifax - note the Websters (Halifax) Brewery logo on the stand roof. Dianne provided this info.

This is taken from roughly the same position as ts001 & ts010 but looking in a different direction across the new bowling green which replaced the Rugby pitch when Asda bought the land. The chimney which appears to be growing out of Colin Blakely's head is still there. It was part of the former Riley's Toffee Works in Hopwood Lane, Halifax - now a cake factory. Information and pic by Tony Martin.

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Thrum Hall, Halifax.

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  • 14 Sep 2009

Maybe the same chimney from picture ts004, but not, we think the same as the one in picture ts011.

This was taken from the top of the main drive of the old Halifax Rugby League Club, outside their main pavilion and looking towards Halifax town centre about a mile and a half away. The chimney here (as you say, not the same one as the other photos) was in the former Ryburn Woollen Mills, Hanson Lane, Halifax. Because of the way Asda have altered things, it's very difficult to get exactly the same angle. My photo is from the supermarket car park looking past Ryburn Mills towards Halifax. Tony Martin took this as well.

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A goof, the window is in upside down, and, back to front. The horns should be at the lower part of the outside and upper window.

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The same window.

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  • Pre 2008
  • 17 Jun 2026

St. Paul's churchyard advises Dianne Hoole.

Dianne provides the comparison.

A location update from Mark Alford.

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The same churchyard.

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The same churchyard.

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Ian Chapman advises that this is Servia Terrace in the Woodhouse area of Leeds as confirmed by the Leodis photographic archive "http://www.leodis.net/" - search for Servia Terrace. The capture looks south towards Servia Road with a branch of the Yorkshire Bank on the corner. The area was bulldozed soon after and the street pattern obliterated and with Servia Terrace and Servia Road now long gone, the view today would be towards Servia Hill. . (RL)

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Dianne Hoole identifies Wakefield Trinity's home ground Belle Vue on Doncaster Road, Wakefield.

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  • 07 Jun 2026

Facing north-east at Belle Vue, Wakefield Trinity's home ground on Doncaster Road advises Dianne Hoole. The distant cooling towers belong to Wakefield power station on the banks of the River Calder. The power station opened in September 1957 and was demolished in December 1991.

Mark Alford nipped into the redeveloped ground for this comparison which includes the same properties visible on Doncaster Road.