Alnwick RFC is an amateur rugby union club based in the town of Alnwick, Northumberland in north-east England. The club play in Regional 1 North East, a level five league in the English rugby union system and are the most northerly rugby union club in English league rugby, (Berwick RFC play in the Scottish rugby union system).[1] Alnwick regularly field three senior sides, all of which play competitive league and cup rugby. The club also has a junior section running teams from under 7's through to under 18's and a girls section.[2]
The club was originally formed on 9 December 1880, following a meeting in the Star Hotel. The name The Hotspur was adopted, a reference to the famous Alnwick knight Harry Hotspur. W.Newman was elected as the captain. Mrs Rennison of The Star Hotel offered a field on the outskirts of the town, known as Wagonway.
A Victorian supporter card depicting rugby in Alnwick from the 1880s
The first fixture was away against Jesmond on 22 October 1881. This game ended in a 0–0 draw. The first home fixture took place on 5 November 1881, Rockcliffe were the visitors and this was the first game played under rugby union laws. A large crowd attended to witness the first rugby game in the town, they were not disappointed as The Hotspur won by 1 goal and 3 touchdowns. Further fixtures were played against a Gosforth team and Rockcliffe.[3]
The Hotspur had a full fixture list for the 1882/83 season including games against Northern, Gosforth and Rockcliffe, fixtures that are still maintained today. In May 1884 a joint meeting took place between The Hotspur, Guild and other Football Clubs. During this meeting it was decided they would combine to form the Alnwick Association Football Club.[citation needed]
Fifty years then elapsed until the game of Rugby was re-introduced in the town in 1933 under the Presidency of Stan Anderson who as a Rockcliffe player, represented England in 1899. For some years the club flourished with such stalwarts as Duncan Hodgson, Robert Hoigg and Harry Green forming the nucleus. The club house was the Plough Hotel, the ground at Denwick Mill. Difficulties in getting players finally saw the game abandoned in 1937.[4]
After the Second World War, efforts were made to revive the club but without success largely because there was no regular local source of players. In 1950 the picture changed, the Duke School changed over to rugby union. There was now a ready source of players and the demand for a revival of the club grew. An open meeting was held on 12 April 1960, presided over by Bobby Robinson of Northern FC. The club was reformed and matches were played in the season 1960/61.
Alnwick's first game after reforming, 10 September 1960 Gosforth IIIa 27 - 6 Alnwick.
His Grace The Duke of Northumberland agreed to be Patron of the club whilst S.O. Williams, a patron of Llanelli Rugby Club accepted the Presidency of the club with Alan Churchill elected as captain. The club obtained the use of a field at Greensfield Moor as a pitch and accommodation for changing bathing and a clubroom was again made available at the Plough Hotel. A permanent headquarters was found when the Duke of Northumberland offered a long lease of land for use as a club ground and headquarters at Greensfield.
The 1987/88 season saw the formation of rugby union leagues in England[6] which placed Alnwick in level six league then known as North 2. The first league fixture was a home game against Davenport on 12 September 1987, the game finished 10-9 in Alnwick's favour. In the inaugural league season, the closest club to Alnwick was Aspatria over 100 miles away. North 2 was an 11 team league with only one fixture played against each club. In 1987/88 the Aspatria fixture was played at Alnwick meaning the shortest journey Alnwick made for a league game was 150 miles to visit Halifax. Alnwick remained in level six until the 2002/03 season when they were relegated to the level seven Durham & Northumberland 1. The winners of Durham & Northumberland 1 are automatically promoted, with the second placed team going into a play-off promotion game against the second place team from Yorkshire 1.[7]
The 2003/04 campaign saw Alnwick finish in second place in Durham & Northumberland 1, meaning they faced the second placed team from Yorkshire 1, Pontefract RFC in the play-off for promotion. The game saw Alnwick claw back a 10-18 deficit to claim a thrilling 25-18 victory, with 5 minutes remaining the score was 17-18 in Pontefract's favour. Alan Moses' late 40-yard drop goal and a last gasp try from Jon Snaith sealed the victory and promotion back into North 1 East, then known as North 2 East.[8] This was the first time a club from the Durham and Northumberland region had won the Durham/Northumberland 1 v Yorkshire 1 promotion playoff fixture.[9] They remained at this level for two seasons. At the end of the 2005/06 campaign Alnwick were relegated back to Durham & Northumberland 1 after finishing the North 2 East campaign in 10th position.[10]
After a four-season rebuilding period in Durham & Northumberland 1, Alnwick produced a young team, captained by the prolific try-scoring wing Andrew Shell. The 2010/11 season saw the club finish in third position in Durham & Northumberland 1. The following campaign saw Alnwick go one better and finish in second place,[11] and face Keighley RUFC, who finished second in Yorkshire 1, in a play-off for promotion. Alnwick went into half time with a 16–3 lead. The second half saw Keighley fight back to win 18–16 and seal promotion to the restructured level six league North 1 East.[12]
In 2012/13 Alnwick were promoted to North 1 East. They clinched promotion by finishing as champions of Durham & Northumberland 1 with a 10–28 victory against Medicals RFC in the final game of the season.[13]
The 2013/14 season resulted in Alnwick finishing the North 1 East campaign in 11th position and narrowly avoiding relegation back to Durham & Northumberland 1 on the final day of the season. This was the first time since Northern and Team Northumbria in the 2010-11 season, that a newly promoted club from Durham & Northumberland 1 had avoided relegation from North 1 East.
Alnwick's 2014/15 season, the second back in level six resulted in a creditable 7th-place finish. The 2014/15 campaign proved to be more comfortable for Alnwick in comparison to the 2013/14 relegation battle with more games being won than lost, some notable performances and a terrific victory against Northumberland neighbours Percy Park.[14]
2015/16 season Alnwick pipped West Hartlepool to 3rd in North 1 East after a convincing 10-43 victory at league champions Doncaster Phoenix in the last game of the season.[15]
2016/17 season Alnwick finished 4th in North 1 East where a chance at promotion faded in the last two months of the season.
The 2017/18 season finished with Alnwick as champions of North 1 East, Alnwick sealed the North 1 East title with a 10–34 victory against local rivals Morpeth, on the final day of the season. Alnwick gained promotion to the level 5 league North Premier, the highest league level the club has ever competed at.
The 2018/19 season finished with Alnwick in midtable of North Premier. Alnwick comfortably adapted to life at level 5 and were never in relegation danger. Alnwick won more games than they lost, the most impressive victory coming away against Harrogate, in the first meeting between Alnwick and the prestigious Yorkshire club.
The 2019/20 season finished with Alnwick narrowly avoiding relegation after the final table was completed using a best playing record formula. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) officially cancelled the season on 20 March 2020. At that point Alnwick were in 11th place in the table with 38 points and 5 games remaining. The best playing record formula awarded Alnwick a further 10 points from their remaining 5 games, meaning they finished 1 point above Carlisle who were relegated. Alnwick's most impressive victory came at home against champions Blaydon, in the first league win for Alnwick over the Tyneside club.
The 2021–22 season finished with Alnwick in seventh position in North Premier, the highest league position in the club's history. Four defeats from the last seven games of the season saw a likely fifth place finish slip down two positions. Alnwick responded well after the 18 month COVID-19 break in league rugby, the most impressive victory coming away against Preston Grasshoppers, in the first league meeting between Alnwick and the distinguished Lancashire club.
The RFU reorganised leagues at level 5 after the 2021-22 season and the North Premier league was discontinued. Alnwick were placed into a newly created level-5 league, Regional 1 North East, for 2022–23.
The 2022–23 season finished with Alnwick in fourth position in Regional 1 North East, the highest league position in the club's history. Away defeats against Driffield and Heath saw a possible second place finish slip down two positions. The most impressive victory coming at home against league winners Billingham.
The 2023–24 season finished with Alnwick in fifth position in Regional 1 North East. Poor away form hampered a potential promotion challenge. An impressive away victory 28-30 against runners up Heath was the highlight of a mixed league campaign.
Each season Alnwick play against local rivals Berwick, Northern and Morpeth for a trophy.
The annual Alnwick v Berwick fixture contested for the Claret Jug[16] takes place on the traditional derby date of Boxing Day. The venue for this fixture alternates between the clubs each year and often attracts the largest attendance of the season. The fixture is deemed as a special occasion by both sets of players and supporters alike, despite being local rivals the two clubs play in separate league structures meaning the clubs will never meet in a league fixture. This results in the Boxing Day clash being a fiercely contested game often settled by a single point.[17]
Alnwick v Berwick - Claret Jug. Current holders Alnwick
Alnwick v Northern - Andrew Bell Trophy. Current holders Alnwick
Alnwick v Morpeth - Bret Fuel Silver Horse. Current holders Alnwick
In the 1983/84 season Alnwick reached the Northumberland Senior Cup final for the fifth time, as in the previous 4 occasions Gosforth were the opponents. Gosforth had won the cup every year since 1970/71 season, including four victories over Alnwick in 1972/73, 1977/78, 1879/80 and 1982/83. The final took place at the Northumberland County Ground on 18 April 1984. Gosforth fielded a side including 3 Internationals, S.Bainbridge, J.Pollock and W.Breakey. Alnwick battled to a 6-4 victory over their much fancied opponents, with two penalty goals kicked by Dawson Lillie winning the cup for Alnwick.
In the 2016/17 season Alnwick reached the Northumberland Senior Cup final. They faced local rivals Morpeth in the fixture staged at Novocastrians RFC ground, Sutherland Park. Alnwick took a 6-0 lead in to half time, thanks to two long range penalty goals from James Bird. Morpeth took the lead in the 2nd half via a converted Try, leading 7-6 with 5 minutes to go in the match and a strong wind behind them. Alnwick managed to turn the ball over in the Morpeth 22 area allowing James Warcup to score a dramatic unconverted try and give Alnwick an 11-7 lead. Strong defence during the last plays of the game allowed Alnwick to hold on for the victory and lift the Northumberland Senior Cup for the first time since 1983/84.[19]
Before professionalism came in to rugby union, the winner and runner-up from each County Cup competition in England competed in the National Cup Competition, now known as the Anglo-Welsh Cup. Alnwick qualified for the 1st round of the National Cup Competition in each of the following seasons.
In July 2022, the Senior Women's team was reinstated by current co-captains Rosanna Curtis and Becky Dyson. For the first season the team faced local teams in a variety of disciplines (7s, 10's 12's and 15's) including Berwick Black Diamonds, Tynedale, and Gala.
The 2023/24 season saw the side enter in to the Allianz Inner Warrior Development League, North (North). The season saw opponents including Whitley Bay Rockcliffe Roses, Peterlee & Horden, Acklam and Jarrow. The team won the league, and entered in to the RFU National Challenge 3 league for the 2024/25 season.
Facilities
Alnwick RFC proposed new ground at Greensfield. February 1961Opening of the grandstand. September 1984Grandstand overlooking the 1st XV pitch. January 2017View of the 1st XV pitch from the clubhouse. December 2017
In 1961/62 the ground at Greensfield was drained, levelled and seeded. The club house was officially opened on 29 April 1964 by A.G.Butler, President of the Rugby Football Union.[20] Greensfield has 3 Rugby pitches. The 1st team Pitch has a small grandstand on the touchline, the stand was opened in 1984. The 1st team pitch is floodlit, the first game under floodlights was a fixture against Northumberland County President's XV on Monday 29 October 1990. The clubhouse overlooks the dead-ball area behind the posts at the north eastern end of the pitch. Greensfield is often chosen by the Northumberland Rugby Football Union to host fixtures in the County Championship. Greensfield hosted the first home fixture Northumberland played after the closure of the Northumberland County Ground in 1988.[21]
A major overhaul of facilities took place in 2012 resulting in new changing rooms being built along with a gym, improved toilets and showers, enhanced car parking, flood defense work and new advertising boards for the 1st team pitch. The project cost £240,000, which was made up from £130,000 in grants and a fundraising campaign which raised £110,000.[22]
The new facilities were officially opened by Bob Reeves, president of the Rugby Football Union, on 19 October 2013 before the North One East clash: Alnwick 14 Wheatley Hills 8.[23]
Darlington Mowden Park is a professional rugby union club, based in Darlington, County Durham, England. They currently compete in National League 1, the third division of the Rugby Football Union domestic league competition pyramid, having achieved promotion on 3 May 2014, after defeating Ampthill in the 2013–14 play-off. The club's former name, Darlington Grammar School Old Boys, was changed when they moved to Yiewsley Drive, which was located in Mowden. They relocated to The Darlington Arena, a 25,000 all-seater stadium in Darlington, purchasing the previously-vacated ground for £2 million; Yiewsley Drive had previously been sold to a housing estate company, and the Arena was previously owned by Darlington Football Club. They played their first game at the arena on 2 February 2013, in front of a crowd of over 1,000, comprehensively defeating Bromsgrove 62–7 in a National League 2 North league game.
North 1 East was a sixth tier league in the English rugby union domestic competition, formed in 1987 using the name North Division 2, involving clubs from the north of the country. There was also a division known as North East 1 that began in 1987 for clubs based in the north-east but this was a seventh tier league. North Division 2 would later split into two regional divisions, known as North 1 East and North 1 West. North 1 East was made up of teams from around the North East and Yorkshire, playing home and away matches throughout a winter season.
Northern Football Club are a rugby union club that was founded in 1875, and is based in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne. Their strip is coloured navy Blue, Red and White. They currently play in Regional 2 North, the sixth tier of the English rugby union system, having been promoted from Durham Northumberland One at the end of the 2021/2022 season. Northern field three senior teams. These are the first team, Northern Wanderers and Northern Panthers. Northern have a very large successful mini and youth rugby set-up.
North Premier was a level five league in the English rugby union system, with the fourteen teams drawn from across Northern England. The other leagues at this level were London & South East Premier, Midlands Premier and South West Premier. The RFU reorganised the level five leagues for season 2022–23, with an increase from four to six and reducing the teams in each from fourteen to twelve. The teams in this league now play in either Regional 1 North East or Regional 1 North West.
Gosforth Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team, currently playing in Durham/Northumberland 3 following the club's relegation from Durham/Northumberland 2 at the end of the 2019-20 season. The club was originally established in 1877, however in 1996 the club split in two. One half, Newcastle Gosforth went on to become the first ever professional rugby union club. Newcastle Falcons have been one of the most successful clubs in Northern England with 1 Premiership and 4 domestic cups to their name. The amateur Gosforth club was founded in the split.
Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland, formerly known as Durham/Northumberland 1 is an English amateur rugby union competition. The league consists of twelve clubs, and is the seventh tier of the English rugby union system, as one of the 16 regional leagues, though is the highest level of local rugby in the North East of England. The champions are automatically promoted to Regional 2 North, a division with a wider geographical area that also encompasses the Yorkshire region. The runners-up participate in a play-off against the runners-up from the equivalent regional league, Counties 1 Yorkshire, for promotion. The bottom two are relegated to Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland.
Keighley Rugby Union Football Club is a Rugby Union club based in Keighley, West Yorkshire, England. The club currently play in Yorkshire 1.
Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland, formerly known as Durham/Northumberland 2, is an English rugby union league at the eighth tier of the domestic competition for teams from North East England. The champions and runner-up are promoted to Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland and the bottom two clubs are relegated to Counties 3 Durham & Northumberland. Each season two teams from Durham/Northumberland 2 are picked to take part in the RFU Senior Vase - one affiliated with the Durham County RFU, the other with the Northumberland RFU. Ponteland won their fourth title in 2020 with Sunderland also promoted.
Counties 3 Durham & Northumberland, previously known as Durham/Northumberland 3, is an English rugby union league at the ninth tier of the domestic competition and is currently the basement league of club rugby in North East England. Any club in the north east wishing to join the rugby union club hierarchy must begin at the bottom so all new teams from the north east start in this division - although until 2005-06 there was relegation to the now defunct Durham/Northumberland 4. The champions and runner-up are promoted to Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland.
Novocastrians Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team that is situated in the North East of England and currently play their rugby in Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland. The club is more generally known as Novos. Novos were formed in September 1899 as Old Novocastrians Rugby Football Club by a group of former pupils of the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne. The club remained for Old Boys or members of staff of the school until 1969 when the 'Old' was dropped and the club became open to all. Novos used to regularly field seven senior sides in the 1980s and 1990s. Currently, the club fields three senior sides, two ladies' sides, a 35+ year old side and also a junior section.
The Northumberland Senior Cup is an annual rugby union competition held between the clubs of the Northumberland RFU which was first played in 1882. It is the senior county cup for the Northumberland Rugby Union, which includes Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, and Northumberland. The current holders are Alnwick who defeated Northern 31-8 in the 2024 cup final. Most finals were held at the Northumberland County Ground from 1912 up until 1988; before and after the County Ground's existence Senior Cup Finals have been played at various venues in the county.
North East 1 was an English Rugby Union league which was at the 7th tier of the domestic competition and was available to teams in North East England. Promoted teams moved up to North 2 East while relegated teams dropped to North East 2. The division was abolished at the end of the 1999–2000 season due to RFU restructuring with teams either being moved up to North 2 East or dropping down to regional leagues such as Yorkshire 1 or Durham/Northumberland 1.
Wallsend Rugby Football Club is a rugby union side based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear. The club runs senior adult and junior teams for all ages. The 1st XV senior side compete in Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland and the 2nd XV play in the Northumberland Rugby Union River Coquet league. Senior games are played on Saturday afternoons. The junior boys and girls teams train and play on Sunday mornings with ages 4+ catered for.
The Northumberland Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in the historic county of Northumberland, England and one of the constituent bodies of the national Rugby Football Union having been formed in 1880. In addition, the county has won the county championship on two occasions, and finished runners-up on a further five occasions.
The Northumberland Senior Plate is an annual rugby union competition held between the clubs of the Northumberland RFU which was first played for during the 2001-2002 season. It is the second tier county cup for the Northumberland Rugby Union, which includes Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, and Northumberland.
The RFU Intermediate Cup is a rugby union national knockout cup competition in England run by the Rugby Football Union. It is contested by teams at level 7 of the English rugby union system. While the competition is a national one, it is however split into regions until the semi-finals with the final being held at Twickenham Stadium in London. It was first contested in 1997. Presently, the RFU Intermediate Cup is the third most important club cup competition in England, behind the Premiership Rugby Cup and RFU Championship Cup.
The RFU Junior Vase is a rugby union national knockout cup competition in England run by the Rugby Football Union, which has been competed for since 1990. It is mostly contested by 1st XV teams at level 9 of the English rugby union system, although sides as low as level 12 or even outside the league system can sometimes enter. The competition is a national one, but split into regions until the national semi-finals with the final being held at Twickenham Stadium in London. Presently, the RFU Junior Vase is the fifth most important club cup competition in England, behind the Premiership Rugby Cup, RFU Championship Cup, RFU Intermediate Cup and RFU Senior Vase.
Morpeth Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club based in Morpeth, Northumberland. The 1st XV team currently plays in Regional 2 North, having previously reached the national levels of the sport for the first time in 2019–20. The club operates 3 Senior Men's sides and Colts regularly playing each weekend, plus 'Morpeth Ranters' Vets, a Senior Ladies team and 3 Girls rugby squads, as well as a full range of Age Grade rugby with teams ranging from U6 > U16.
Scarborough Rugby Union Football Club is an English rugby union club that is based in Scalby near Scarborough, North Yorkshire. The clubhouse is the UK's largest amateur clubhouse and is set within a 32-acre site with 5 senior pitches, a training pitch and 6 minis pitches. The club operates four senior men's teams, a women's team and pre-micro/micro/mini/youth rugby. The men's 1st XV currently plays in Regional 2 NE – a league at level 6 of the English rugby union system – having been promoted into the division from Yorkshire 1 via a playoff at the end of the 2017–18 season.
Regional 2 North is a level six league in the English rugby union system, with the twelve teams drawn from across North East England and Cumbria. The other level six leagues in the Northern Division are Regional 2 North East for teams in Yorkshire, Regional 2 North West for teams in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, Merseyside. It was created as a product of the 2022 Adult Competition Review.
References
↑ "Berwick RFC". www.pitchero.com/clubs/berwick. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
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