Twenty-two Northern English teams from both sides of the Pennines broke away from the Rugby Football Union to create and compete in their own competition.

However clubs from the largely working-class areas of Northern England believed that their players should be compensated for time taken off work as a result of playing rugby.

It was put forth in an RFU meeting that broken time payments should be allowed, but the motion was voted down and all clubs were required to prove their amateurism or face expulsion from the Union.

On Thursday, 29 August 1895 delegates from twelve Yorkshire and nine Lancashire clubs met at The George Hotel in Huddersfield to discuss their dispute with the RFU over compensating players.

In addition to the overall Northern Union championship, these games' results also counted towards final placings in the separate county competitions.

The points system for the Northern Union's rugby was as follows: Broken time payments: The new Northern Union competition kicked off on Saturday, 7 September 1895 and, before it had got properly started (before the second weekend's fixtures), there was a move to change the rules of the game to further the interest of spectators and to make rugby that was distinctively different from that authorised by the RFU.

Manningham needed travel to Hunslet and win in order to beat Halifax by a single point and claim the first Northern Union title.

A large following travelled with the team and the road adjacent to the ground was crowded with various vehicles flying banners, flags and even Chinese umbrellas in Manningham's claret and amber colours.