Rugby legend returns to Headingley Stadium to relive former glories

 Lofthouse Grange and Lodge resident and Leeds Rhinos legend, John Sykes recently visited Headingley Stadium in Leeds for a VIP tour. The stadium where he once played for the legendary team and later went on to coach the squad for many unforgettable years. It was a true homecoming for one of the club's finest!

John's love for rugby began as a young boy at school, and it quickly grew into a lifelong passion. Over the years, he dedicated himself fully to the sport. After learning about his incredible journey on the pitch, the team at Lofthouse set out on a mission to take John back to the club where so many of his cherished memories were made.

The care home where John has lived for over two years reached out to the club directly, and they were met with a warm welcome from none other than Gary Hetherington, the CEO of Leeds Rhinos and a long-time friend of John. It’s safe to say these two go way back - Gary not only played for the Rhinos but was also coached by John in the 70s!

John was accompanied by his daughter, Catherine and two Activity Coordinators and Rhinos fans from the home, Donna and Carol, who played a big part in arranging the visit.

 Donna said: ‘We wanted to bring John back to his old club as we knew this would be a lovely memory for him to relive. He watches all the Rhinos matches on TV and likes to share stories from his time there so it was a no brainer.’

The afternoon kicked off with an unforgettable tour of the Hall of Fame, filled with the names of past players stretching all the way back to 1870. As we wandered through the rows of names and saw some familiar faces, John couldn’t help but beam with pride.

When we reached the section dedicated to the 1960s and 70s, things took a heartwarming turn. There it was - John Sykes, the 961st player to join the Rhinos, proudly displayed on the wall! It took a moment for John to process, but the smile on his face said it all. There he was, immortalised on the club's Wall of Fame!

John was over the moon to relive some of his greatest moments and memories as he stepped back into the stadium. His daughter, Catherine, shared her thoughts on the day, saying, "Today was truly special for both of us. My dad played for the Rhinos and later coached the team for many years. Seeing the pictures and names of players we both knew was really moving. Although the stadium has changed a lot, I still have such fond memories of my brother and me kicking the ball around while Dad was coaching his team.

Carol added: “It wasn't just a special day for the Sykes family, but a special day for us. We got to see and appreciate some of John's life accomplishments in person and walk down memory lane with him and his daughter.”

John concluded: I loved seeing the stadium and can't wait to visit when the season starts again and watch a live game.

A huge thank you to Gary Hetherington and the Leeds Rhinos team for allowing us to experience such an unforgettable visit. We had an amazing time, and we’re already looking forward to coming back to catch a live game as soon as the season kicks off!

Lofthouse Grange & Lodge Care Home in West Yorkshire is a welcoming, modern home offering a range of care services. It is split into two unique communities: Lofthouse Grange, providing 24-hour residential care, and Lofthouse Lodge, which specialises in exceptional dementia care. The dedicated team regularly organises amazing trips and activities for residents – check out their recent visit to Bridlington here! For more details, feel free to visit the home page on our website or give them a call at 01924 822272.