Blackpool Sea Eagles
Encyclopedia
Blackpool Sea Eagles are a rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...

 team based in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...

, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...

. They play in the North West Division
Rugby League Conference North West Division
The Rugby League Conference North West Division is a division in the Rugby League Conference for teams in the North West of England.-History:...

 of the Rugby League Conference
Rugby League Conference
The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...

.

History

Blackpool Sea Eagles RLFC were founded in 2002 by Chris Aylen and Dave Gavaghan with assistance from the Blackpool Rugby League Supporters Club. Further friendlies took place throughout the summer, all taking place at Blackpool RUFC.

Blackpool Sea Eagles became founder members of the North West Division of the Rugby League Conference
Rugby League Conference
The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...

 in 2003. They ended the league campaign with two wins both coming against local rivals Lancaster before crashing out to Gateshead Storm
Gateshead Storm
Newcastle Storm are an amateur rugby league club in the North East of England. They play in the North East Premier of the Rugby League Conference.-Newcastle Knights:...

 in the first round of the RLC Shield play-offs.

2004 saw the club compete in an expanded eight team North West Division. The Sea Eagles competed well in every match, but only finished the campaign with 1 point. Despite this disappointing league campaign the Sea Eagles reached the quarter-finals of the RLC Shield with victories over North Wales Coasters and Lancaster before losing out to Crewe Wolves
Crewe Wolves
Lymm RL are a rugby league side based in Lymm, Cheshire. They play in the North West Merit League.-History:Crewe Wolves entered the Northern Division of the Rugby League Conference in 1999 playing their first season at Crewe & Nantwich RUFC....

 37 - 20.

The club enjoyed a much better league campaign in 2005 ending the regular season with a 50% win ratio. The Sea Eagles went on to defeat four teams en route to the RLC Shield final against St Ives Roosters
St Ives Roosters
St Ives Roosters are a rugby league club from St Ives in Cambridgeshire. They were founded in 1991 as one of the first rugby league clubs in East Anglia. Currently they play in the Rugby League Conference East Division.-History:...

. The final staged at the Butts Park Arena
Butts Park Arena
Butts Park Arena is a multi-use sports stadium in Spon End, Coventry, England. It is the home ground of Coventry R.F.C., Coventry Jets, and Coventry Bears....

, Coventry saw Blackpool register a record 74 - 10 win and be crowned RLC Shield winners.

In 2006, Blackpool Sea Eagles were promoted to the RLC North Premier division. Despite the step up, Blackpool recorded seven victories and finished in fourth place, just missing out on the play- offs.

Due to a restructuring of the leagues, the 2007 season saw Blackpool rejoin the North West division. Taking this opportunity to integrate a number of younger players into the squad, the club picked up seven wins and finished the season in third place; going out of the play-offs in the first round to eventual champions Widnes Saints
Widnes Saints
Widnes Saints are a rugby league team based in Widnes, Cheshire. They play in the North West Premier Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...

.

2008 saw the club compete in a combined North West & Cheshire division. A tough season saw the Sea Eagles finish with only one victory to their name, a 20 - 18 victory over Rhyl Coasters. Despite the lack of wins, Blackpool competed well in every game, blooding a number of youngsters in the process. In 2009 the club stepped up to the newly created North West Premier. An up and down season saw the club compete well in every game, finishing the season with three victories.

In 2010, Blackpool made the decision to take a step down to the North West regional division. A strong season saw the Sea Eagles finish the regular league season with six wins and progress to the divisional grand final, where the club lost out to Mancunians RL
Mancunians RL
Mancunians RL is a rugby league club based in Manchester. They play in the North West Premier division of the Rugby League Conference. Their second team plays in the North West Merit League....

48 - 14.

External links

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