Keighley RUFC
Encyclopedia
Keighley RUFC is a Rugby Union
club based in Keighley
, West Yorkshire
. The club currently play in Yorkshire 1.
R.U.F.C. (or the Keighlians Old Boys R.U.F.C. as it was originally named) was formed by a group of old boys of Keighley Grammar School in 1920. It’s name was first changed to Keighlians R.U.F.C. and later to Keighley R.U.F.C.
In the early years matches were played at a variety of venues in and around the town before a more permanent playing area was secured on council land near to the gas works at Thwaites. In addition for many years we had a social club in Lord Street in the town centre.
Our facilities at Thwaites were improved gradually over the years ( surviving a near catastrophic fire in the 1960s) until finally we moved to our present address at Utley in 1986 when Keighley played against Yorkshire
to oficialy open the new ground. Among the Yorkshire team that day was former Keighley Colts player Martin Whitcombe
who made a try scoring debut for the county against the club where he learnt to play rugby. Yorkshire went on that year to win the County Championship final at Twickenham
.
The club is justly proud of its progress and development and we now have playing facilities and a club house which stand comparison with most.
Many outstanding players and impressive sides have been produced over the years but the pinnacle of the club’s achievements was in the 1947/8 season when it won both the Yorkshire Shield and Yorkshire Cup competitions, beating Sheffield
by 17 points to 0 in the Shield final at Otley
and Otley by 14 points to 6 in the Cup final at Skipton
. It is almost certain that this unprecedented feat will never again be equalled.
We field three senior sides on Saturdays and an under 19’s side on Sundays. In addition we were one of the pioneers of mini rugby in Yorkshire in 1967 and now have a thriving and much admired junior section for all age groups from 7 years to 17 years.
With the formation of leagues in 1987, we began life alongside Wharfedale
and Rotherham
in league North East One, where we remained until reconstruction of leagues in 2000 placed us in Yorkshire league One. This is generally acknowledged to be one of the most competitive leagues at level seven in the country. After relegation in 2001 we returned to Yorkshire league One in 2003/4 as league Two champions and have remained there since.
Keighley RUFC has produced several players who have gone on to have out standing rugby careers in both Rugby Union & Rugby League
.
List of English rugby union teams
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club based in Keighley
Keighley
Keighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
. The club currently play in Yorkshire 1.
History
KeighleyKeighley
Keighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
R.U.F.C. (or the Keighlians Old Boys R.U.F.C. as it was originally named) was formed by a group of old boys of Keighley Grammar School in 1920. It’s name was first changed to Keighlians R.U.F.C. and later to Keighley R.U.F.C.
In the early years matches were played at a variety of venues in and around the town before a more permanent playing area was secured on council land near to the gas works at Thwaites. In addition for many years we had a social club in Lord Street in the town centre.
Our facilities at Thwaites were improved gradually over the years ( surviving a near catastrophic fire in the 1960s) until finally we moved to our present address at Utley in 1986 when Keighley played against Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
to oficialy open the new ground. Among the Yorkshire team that day was former Keighley Colts player Martin Whitcombe
Martin Whitcombe
Martin Alun Whitcombe is a former Rugby Union Footballer of the 80's and 90's.He learnt to play rugby at Keighley RUFC and went on to have a long playing career for Leicester Tigers, Bedford RFC, Sale FC, and Leeds Tykes, at prop i.e. 1 or 3...
who made a try scoring debut for the county against the club where he learnt to play rugby. Yorkshire went on that year to win the County Championship final at Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
.
The club is justly proud of its progress and development and we now have playing facilities and a club house which stand comparison with most.
Many outstanding players and impressive sides have been produced over the years but the pinnacle of the club’s achievements was in the 1947/8 season when it won both the Yorkshire Shield and Yorkshire Cup competitions, beating Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
by 17 points to 0 in the Shield final at Otley
Otley
-Transport:The main roads through the town are the A660 to the south east, which connects Otley to Bramhope, Adel and Leeds city centre, and the A65 to the west, which goes to Ilkley and Skipton. The A6038 heads to Guiseley, Shipley and Bradford, connecting with the A65...
and Otley by 14 points to 6 in the Cup final at Skipton
Skipton
Skipton is a market town and civil parish within the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is located along the course of both the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the River Aire, on the south side of the Yorkshire Dales, northwest of Bradford and west of York...
. It is almost certain that this unprecedented feat will never again be equalled.
We field three senior sides on Saturdays and an under 19’s side on Sundays. In addition we were one of the pioneers of mini rugby in Yorkshire in 1967 and now have a thriving and much admired junior section for all age groups from 7 years to 17 years.
With the formation of leagues in 1987, we began life alongside Wharfedale
Wharfedale
Wharfedale is one of the Yorkshire Dales in England. It is the valley of the River Wharfe. Towns and villages in Wharfedale include Buckden, Kettlewell, Conistone, Grassington, Hebden, Ilkley, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Otley, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Arthington, Collingham, and Wetherby...
and Rotherham
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
in league North East One, where we remained until reconstruction of leagues in 2000 placed us in Yorkshire league One. This is generally acknowledged to be one of the most competitive leagues at level seven in the country. After relegation in 2001 we returned to Yorkshire league One in 2003/4 as league Two champions and have remained there since.
Keighley RUFC has produced several players who have gone on to have out standing rugby careers in both Rugby Union & 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...
.
Notable Former Players
- Neil Marklew
- Gary Moorby
- Tom RockTom RockTom Rock is a rugby union footballer who plays for London Welsh. His regular position is at full-back. He made his Tykes debut against London Irish on 8 September 2002....
- Andy RockAndy RockAndy Rock is a rugby union footballer for Leeds Tykes. His usual position is at centre.-External links:*...
- Peter Roe (rugby league)
- Frank Whitcombe JrFrank Whitcombe JrFrank William Whitcombe was a Rugby Union footballer of the 1950s, '60s and '70s who played Rugby Union for Bradford RFC, Keighley RUFC and Army Rugby Union, playing at Prop, i.e...
- Martin WhitcombeMartin WhitcombeMartin Alun Whitcombe is a former Rugby Union Footballer of the 80's and 90's.He learnt to play rugby at Keighley RUFC and went on to have a long playing career for Leicester Tigers, Bedford RFC, Sale FC, and Leeds Tykes, at prop i.e. 1 or 3...
- David JeanesDavid JeanesHorace David Jeanes is an English former rugby union and professional Rugby League World Cup winning footballer who at club level has played rugby union for Wakefield RFC, and at representative level has played rugby league for Great Britain, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Wakefield...
External links
List of English rugby union teams