Long Buckby Rugby Football Club

Last updated

Long Buckby RFC
Full nameLong Buckby Rugby Football Club
UnionEast Midlands Rugby Football Union
Founded1875;150 years ago (1875)
Location Long Buckby, Northamptonshire, England
Ground(s)Station Road (Capacity: 1,000)
PresidentStephen Dickinson
League(s) Counties 2nd division, Midlands East (South)
2024-251st [1]
Official website
longbuckby.rfu.club

Long Buckby RFC, officially Long Buckby Rugby Football Club is a Rugby Union club located in Long Buckby, Northamptonshire. At 150 years old in 2025, it is the oldest Rugby Football club in the entire East Midlands region.

Contents

History

The club was founded by an unknown number of locals in 1875, and was the first football club of any kind to be founded in the village. Most of their games were originally played against clubs from Rugby and Northampton, as the recent creation of the Northampton Loop allowed them rail transport to the neighbouring towns. [2]

The first season ever recorded, in 1949-1950, the club went undefeated for all 32 games. This set a record at the time for the longest undefeated streak of any team at any level. [3]

In 1975, the club's centenary year, a new clubhouse was constructed on the western edge of the main pitch. It costed £30,000 and featured two sets of changing rooms, a kitchen, dining hall, bar, members bar and a balcony overlooking the main pitch. [4]

The club became a partner club of Northampton Saints after the professional era began in 1995.

Facilities

Clubhouse

The clubhouse from the main pitch. Long Buckby rugby ground - geograph.org.uk - 1608204.jpg
The clubhouse from the main pitch.

The clubhouse was constructed in 1975, in time for the 100th anniversary of the club, at a cost of £30,000. It contains two sets of changing rooms, a kitchen, dining hall, bar, members bar and a balcony overlooking the main pitch, as well as general storage facilities for the club. The bar is fully licensed and occasionally hosts village events. [5]

Main Pitch

The main pitch ready for an evening fixture. Long Buckby Rugby Club at Night.jpg
The main pitch ready for an evening fixture.

The main pitch is located next to the clubhouse and is the only pitch to have floodlights. Both sides of the pitch have spectator barriers and the club's enclosed car park is located just to the north.

Other Pitches

Located behind the Football Club, the two back pitches are mainly used for training, as well as for 2nd/3rd team or junior games when the first pitch is in use.

A small training grid is also located between the main pitch area and the back pitches.

Notable Players

References

  1. https://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/search-results?competition=1597&division=56581&season=2024-2025#tables
  2. One hundred up and still going strong -that's Long Buckby. Daventry, Northamptonshire: Daventry Observer. 1975.
  3. One hundred up and still going strong -that's Long Buckby. Daventry, Northamptonshire: Daventry Observer. 1975.
  4. One hundred up and still going strong -that's Long Buckby. Daventry, Northamptonshire: Daventry Observer. 1975.
  5. https://longbuckby.rfu.club/