Head Coach: Mark Aston
Amazingly, this is Mark Aston’s 21st season as head coach of Sheffield Eagles! He started the re-born club in 2000 and is still the coach, although he stood down and was only Chief Executive in 2006 but then took over the coaching again in 2007. When you add in his playing career he has been at Sheffield ever since 1985 with just one break for a little over a year when he was at Featherstone. A dynamic scrumhalf as a player he won the Lance Todd Trophy in 1998 when he led Eagles to that amazing win over Wigan at Wembley. He also played five times for Great Britain. Mark Aston was the head coach of the Ireland international team from 2011 to 2018.
Captain: Matt James
Matt James is now in his fifth year as the Sheffield Eagles captain. He can play at second row or nowadays, more usually, at prop. Matt is a Welsh international although back in 2005 he played in the England U18 side. His club career started with Bradford Bulls and included spells with Barrow Raiders, Halifax and Harlequins RL before joining Featherstone in 2013. After 3 years at Rovers he moved to Sheffield.
Star Man: Anthony Thackeray
Experienced halfback, Anthony Thackeray, joined Sheffield in 2019 from Fev. His career began with Hull FC in 2007. During that year he had loan spells with York and Castleford, joining Castleford in 2008 and while at Cas he played 6 matches at loan for Fev. In 2009 he moved to Widnes and in 2011 he went again on loan to York. He then spent two years each at Halifax and Dewsbury before signing for Fev in 2016. He is currently Sheffield’s joint leading try scorer with 4 tries in 6 matches but his main contribution is undoubtedly leading the team around the park.
The Fev Connection
Looking through Fev players before the Summer Era, there aren’t that many who also played for Sheffield but that is hardly surprising as Sheffield only started as a professional club in 1984. However, from that small number, one name really stands out. Over 300 appearances for Fev, one of our Hall of Famers, member of the 1973 Challenge Cup winning team, member of the team that won the Championship in 1976/77 and Fev coach in 1981/82. He joined Hull when he left Fev after the 1977/78 season. He finished at Hull after 2 seasons but got his boots out again to captain Sheffield Eagles in their first season. It is, of course, the late, great, Vince Farrar.
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