Hornets in farewell to Debbie

ROCHDALE Hornets are saddened to hear of the passing of Debbie Nokes, the captain of the first ever women’s rugby team, Rochdale Ravens, in the borough.

Debbie followed in her brother’s footsteps, Andy ‘Nocker’ Nokes – Mayfield’s legendary prop-forward.

In 1987, Rochdale Ravens was established, the first woman’s rugby league team in Rochdale.

A group of women came together who had never playing the game before. Within this bunch there was one who stood out above all others.

Debbie Nokes was that woman.

A figurehead that led from the front, a born leader on and off the pitch.

She, like the rest of the women, had never played the game before, but she took to it as a duck to water.

From the first training camp, she was the pillar of the team, giving encouragement to the younger players and a mother figure off the pitch.

Everyone loved Debbie and always went to her if they had any problems.

She was the one that nurtured the team and led from the front.

When making the decision on captaincy, there was only one person who fitted the bill.

In the early days, games were hard, as the team lined up against established sides.

Nevertheless, the team and Debbie never took a backward step and gave their all.

The word soon got round the league that Rochdale had a star in their midst. Not being phased by opponents pinpointing her, she grew in stature and gave as good as she got.

She was soon recognised for her potential, being selected to play for Lancashire at Old Trafford against Yorkshire before the old Premiership finals. She scored a great try, too.

Off the field, you could always hear Debbie’s shouting and screaming on the terraces watching Mayfield every Saturday afternoon.

She will be sadly missed in the rugby community, but leaves a legacy of a woman who would never take a backward step and was mother figure to lots of players.