Macclesfield R.U.F.C.

Last updated

Macclesfield
Macclesfield rfc logo.png
Full nameMacclesfield Rugby Union Football Club
Union Cheshire RFU
Nickname(s)Blues
Founded1874;150 years ago (1874) (present club formed in 1927;97 years ago (1927))
Location Macclesfield, Cheshire, England
Ground(s)Priory Park (Capacity: 1,250 (250 seats) [1] [2] )
ChairmanRobert Cooke
League(s) National League 2 West
2023–24Promoted from Regional 1 North West (champions)
Kit left arm thinwhiteborder.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body thin whitehoops.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm thinwhiteborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks hoops white.png
Kit socks long.svg
Team kit
Official website
www.macclesfieldrufc.co.uk

Macclesfield RUFC is a rugby union team based in the Cheshire town of Macclesfield and operates three senior sides, senior and junior colts and ten mini/junior teams. [3] The first XV currently play in the fourth tier of the English rugby union system, National League 2 West, following their promotion from Regional 1 North West at the end of the 2023–24 season. The second XV plays in the Cotton Traders Premier League and the third XV play in NOWIRUL division 3.

Contents

History

Macclesfield RUFC was formed in 1877 although the present club was formed in 1927. After playing at several venues, the club moved to its present home in 1980. Five years later they participated in the forerunner to the launch of the national league system when they participated in the Girobank North West League. Over the last 25 years Macclesfield have climbed the pyramid spending one season in National One during the 2012–13 Season before being relegated but bouncing straight back after winning promotion during 2013–14 Season. However the 2014–15 saw the Blues relegated back to National 2 at the end of the campaign. They won the old North West 1 in 1991–92, North 2 in 1994–95 and entered the old National 3 North, then the fourth tier of club rugby, in 2002, winning the league in 2009–10, by which it had been restructured as National League 2 North. [4]

Honours

Current standings

2024–25 National League 2 West table
PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDTBLBPtsQualification
1 Lougborough Students 22008324+592010Promotion place
2 Camborne 22009560+352010
3 Luctonians 22004230+12008
4 Exeter University 21107434+40107
5 Clifton 21105143+8107
6 Bournville 21016853+15217
7 Old Redcliffians 210166671206
8 Redruth 210164706206
9 Macclesfield 2101568024206
10 Taunton Titans 2101375215105
11 Cinderford 200244539123
12 Hornets 2002466317011
13 Devonport Services 2002419958101Relegation place
14 Hinckley 2002387739000
First match(es) will be played: September 2024. Source: [ citation needed ]
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sedgley Park R.U.F.C.</span> English rugby union club, based in Greater Manchester

Sedgley Park Rugby Union Football Club, the 1st XV team of which play under the name of Sedgley Tigers, is a rugby union club based in Whitefield, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, Greater Manchester. They play in the third tier of the English rugby union league hierarchy following their promotion to National League 1 from National League 2 North in 2022–23. The Tigers nickname is due to their striped kit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redruth R.F.C.</span> English rugby union club, based in Cornwall

Redruth RFC is a rugby union club from the town of Redruth, Cornwall, currently playing in the fourth tier of the English league system, National League 2 West. The club runs a number of men's teams including 1st XV, 2nd XV, Ladies XV, Colts and a Select XV as well as a number of junior teams from age 7 through to 16. They are one of the most successful club sides in Cornwall, having won the Cornwall Cup ten times and the Cornwall Super Cup three times, and are currently the second highest ranked club side behind the Cornish Pirates. Redruth enjoys a strong rivalry with neighbours Camborne, with the two clubs meeting annually on Boxing Day, in a fixture that dates back to 1928.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chester RUFC</span> English rugby union club, based in Chester

Chester Rugby Union Football Club is a rugby union club based in Chester, Cheshire. The club is governed by the Rugby Football Union and the 1st XV currently competes in the fourth tier of the English rugby union system, National League 2 North, following a level transfer from National League 2 West at the end of the 2023–24 season. The 2nd XV and 3rd XV play in the North West Intermediate Rugby Union leagues.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newport (Salop) RUFC</span> Rugby team

Newport RUFC is an English rugby team based at the Old Showground, just outside the town of Newport, Shropshire. They currently play in the National League 2 West, a fourth tier league in the English rugby union system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caldy RFC</span> Rugby union team in Wirral, England

Caldy Rugby Club is an English rugby union club which play in the RFU Championship, the second tier of English rugby, following their promotion from National League 1 at the end of 2021–22. Their home stadium is Paton Field in Thurstaston on the Wirral Peninsula.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bolton RUFC</span> Rugby team

Bolton RUFC are an amateur rugby union team who play in the North 2 West league of the English rugby union league system.

National League 2 North is one of three level four leagues in the English rugby union system and provides semi-professional competition for teams in Northern England. The remainder of England is covered by the two counterpart leagues National League 2 East and National League 2 West. The champion club is promoted to National One. Relegation is to either the Regional 1 Midlands, Regional 1 North East or Regional 1 North West, depending on their location. Sedgley Park are the current champions.

Counties 1 Southern North is a division at level 7 of the English rugby union system. When league rugby first began in 1987 it was known as Southern Counties but since 1996 the division was split into two regional leagues – Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South. Counties 1 Southern North currently sits at the seventh tier of club rugby union in England and features teams based in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The league champions at the end of each season are automatically promoted to Regional 2 South Central. Relegated teams usually drop to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon North or Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon South.

Burnley Rugby Union Football Club is a rugby union club that currently plays in the South Lancs/Cheshire 2 league following their relegation from North Lancashire/Cumbria at the end of the 2017–18 season. The club was founded in 1926 as Calder Vale Rugby Club but the 2002 - 03 season saw the name of 75 years changed to help raise Burnley's rugby profile locally and beyond. The club plays from Holden Road, the site of Belvedere and Calder Vale Sports Club in the Reedley area of Burnley. The club's motto is "Nil Nisi Optimum Sufficiet".

North 1 West is a rugby union league at the sixth level within the English league system. The league is made up of teams from north west England and the Isle of Man; principally consisting of the English counties of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside. The league was known as North Division 2 when it was first created back in 1987 and was a single division. It has since split into two regional leagues, with North West 1 and its compatriot North 1 East being the longest running versions of the division.

Lancs/Cheshire Division 1 was a regional English Rugby Union league for teams from Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire and Greater Manchester, ranked at tier 8 of the English league system. The top two clubs are promoted to North 2 West and the bottom two clubs are relegated to Lancs/Cheshire 2. Each season two teams from Lancs/Cheshire 1 are picked to take part in the RFU Senior Vase - one affiliated with the Cheshire RFU, the other with the Lancashire RFU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harrogate RUFC</span> English rugby union club, based in North Yorkshire

Harrogate Rugby Union Football Club is an English rugby union club based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The club runs four senior sides. The first team play in National League 2 North, a tier 4 league, following their promotion from Regional 1 North East at the end of the 2023–24 season. The second team, Harrogate Georgians, play in the Yorkshire RFU Merit Premiership and the third team play in the Yorkshire RFU 2 Central/North Merit League. The club also fields a ladies' team completing the four senior teams in the RFUW Championship, and eight junior teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ampthill RUFC</span> Rugby team

Ampthill Rugby Club is an English rugby union team based in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. The club runs six senior teams and the full range of junior sides. The first XV play in the RFU Championship, the second tier of the English rugby union system.

The 2013–14 National League 2 North was the fourth season of the fourth tier (north) of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced. The league system was 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and additional bonus points being awarded for scoring 4 or more tries and/or losing within 7 points of the victorious team. In terms of promotion the league champions would go straight up into National League 1 while the runners up would have a one-game playoff against the runners up from National League 2 South for the final promotion place.

North West 1 was an English Rugby Union league which was at the seventh tier of the domestic competition and was available to teams in North West England. Promoted teams moved up to North 2 West while relegated teams dropped to North West 2. The division was abolished at the end of the 1999–00 season due to RFU restructuring with teams being transferred to either North 2 West or their relevant regional leagues such as South Lancs/Cheshire 1 or North Lancs/Cumbria.

The 2015–16 National League 2 North is the seventh season of the fourth tier of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced. There was talk of this being the last season in this format due to RFU changes to tier four which were supposed to result in a restructuring of the league from two regional divisions to three for the 2016–17 season but this seems to have been put on hold due to protests from the northern clubs who stood to lose revenue from a smaller fixture list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilmslow RUFC</span> Rugby team

Wilmslow Rugby Club is an English rugby union club based in Wilmslow, Cheshire. The first XV team presently competes in North 1 West, which is a level six league within the English rugby union system. This follows their relegation from North Premier at the conclusion of the 2018–19 season.

Regional 1 North West is a level five league in the English rugby union system, with the twelve teams drawn from across North West England. The other level five leagues are Regional 1 Midlands, Regional 1 North East, Regional 1 South Central, Regional 1 South East and Regional 1 South West.

References

  1. "Cheshire FBU Response to 'Draft' Corporate Plan & IRMP 2011/2012" (PDF). Cheshire Fire Authority. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  2. "Harper hoping for a Macc makeover". The RUGBYPaper. No. 441. Rugby Paper Ltd. 26 February 2017. p. 43.
  3. Club website 'About our Club' page
  4. Club website - history page
  5. "1982 PLATE FINAL" (PDF). Cheshire RFU. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  6. "ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 13 JUNE 1994" (PDF). Cheshire RFU. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  7. Cheshire RFU archive
  8. "North Play Offs 2002–2003". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  9. "North/Mid Play off Match overview Luctonians VS Macclesfield". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
  10. "Macclesfield 57 – Penrith 15". Macclesfield Rugby. 6 April 2024.