Ex-winger Alan Smith recalls his father's bizarre first meeting with Syd Hynes at Leeds Rhinos' memorial service for the former player and coach.
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00:00A wonderful tribute to be played already. It felt great. How do you follow that?
00:08When I first met him, 1964, and we used to train on the old training camp,
00:15then we'd have some fun at the bar. And these kids, for once, they were just like this.
00:20And we were all sort of mesmerised. Whoa, whoa, whoa.
00:25So he was sewn into the groove with Sid. A bit of Mickey taking.
00:31And we soon realised that he was fearsome, he was funny, and a fantastic player.
00:41Especially because he was on your side.
00:44Lovely man.
00:47Early days in the A-team.
00:49I just remember the back division, where John Mack was on the left,
00:54there was Bernard Watson, there was Sid and myself.
00:57We were in the A-team, and we were just aspiring to get into.
01:01There was Geoff Frigley, there was Dick Kemmel, there was Drew Roche, there was Ronnie Cameron.
01:05Whoa, the competition was fierce.
01:08What a lovely environment Roy created for us all to get playing together.
01:13And we had that inspiration.
01:15But Sid, I'd get playing with him, and he said to me,
01:22it's made life difficult for that number four, and I'll have a field day.
01:28So you know I'd be coming in and catching him.
01:30I said, if you miss him, I'll come right back and cover for you.
01:35He never did.
01:37But he was all over the pitch, he was a clever player.
01:41And I think Drew might have said, we talked about it one day,
01:44that he'd go in and keep his eyes open.
01:47Well, on the impact, you blink.
01:49And you go, oh, Sid never seemed to blink.
01:52He'd have his eyes on him, take the ball, and he'd be sneaking down the touchline.
01:56And then we had this little moment where sometimes he'd come to the wing,
02:01and I knew what he wanted to do.
02:02But what I didn't know was, was I going to get the ball,
02:05or was I not going to get the ball.
02:07So I'd just come inside, run in, and take the defensive.
02:11He'd be sneaking down that touchline side.
02:13It was a memorable sight.
02:15And he said, when we get back, I need score size.
02:18He'd give me it back.
02:19What a character.
02:23I've got to tell you a funny story.
02:26The only time my father came to help me, he might have been 65, 66.
02:33For some reason, I couldn't drive.
02:35I think I had a pot on my arm or something.
02:37Whatever.
02:38So my father drove and picked Sid up on the way to heading me one Sunday morning,
02:45where we'd gather after a successful Saturday out here, a wonderful day,
02:49and have a bit of champagne.
02:52And we'd pick Sid up in Drillington on the way.
02:55And my dad, a farm labourer, never seen a game in his life,
03:00never seen you play.
03:01It was brilliant.
03:02And he just had to give me a lift heading me.
03:05And we'd pick Sid up.
03:07Sid gets his car.
03:09Sid gets his car.
03:11My dad's driving.
03:12I went back.
03:13I had a minivan.
03:14And I made it back.
03:16And Sid's there.
03:17It's a small car.
03:19And he's swearing.
03:21He wants to swear.
03:22He's talking in rugby languages and this, that, and the other.
03:25I've got to see my dad's eyes.
03:27I've got to keep him driving on.
03:29And he came into the dressing room.
03:31And we had a great time.
03:32And we'd go over to the club when we're by with the kids on a Sunday morning.
03:38And we'd have a great time.
03:40And then we dropped Sid off on his way home.
03:43And my dad, I think he was glad to get home, you know,
03:46after that ordeal of a man who never swore, a man who never drank,
03:52a man who never smoked, a man who, you know, a lovely man.
03:58And as he walked through the door, a stress on his face, my mother says,
04:02Oh, really?
04:04Yeah.
04:05I mean, I've had a good day.
04:07And what's, you know, I've enjoyed myself.
04:10I've never been dead in.
04:11I've never been to these.
04:13He says, I think I'll have a drink, see if it won't kill me.