Lancaster RFC
Encyclopedia
Lancaster RFC was a professional rugby league club.
The club was based in Lancaster
(population approximately 46,000), a city
and the county town
of Lancashire
, England
.
The club first became members of the Northern Rugby Football Union (now Rugby Football League
) in 1897, and joined the (semi) professional ranks in the Lancashire Senior Competition in 1901-02
.
They played in the 2nd Division for the following 3 seasons.
At the end of season 1904-05
the club left the league. The club folded (or as described in news article - was ‘dissolved’) shortly afterwards.
Only limited County League information is available for the first season (1901-02
).
The club, along with Morecambe Bay neighbours Barrow, Ulverston and Millom
joined the Northern Union
in 1897, forming a 'North West Rugby League'. Around the turn of the century there were seven NU clubs in and around the city.
During the early years the club had two prominent players who gained international caps.
These were :-
1 “Gentleman” Jim Leytham
, who joined Lancaster RFC in 1897,
and
2 - John Pinch
season when they became members of the Northern Union
. During that season they played in the Lancashire Senior Competition finishing in 10th position out of 17
Only limited County League information is available for this season.
At the end of the 1901-02
season, the County Leagues elected 18 teams to join the new Division 2 (7 from Lancashire and 10 from Yorkshire and new member South Shields
) with the existing second competition scrapped. This meant that teams were excluded from the senior competitions leaving them with several options :-
a) Join the new Lancashire League or the Lancashire Combination (reserve grade)
b) Join a new Yorkshire Senior League
c) reverting to amateur status within the Northern Union
d) revert back to rugby union
e) turn to Association Football, which many clubs did
f) fold
In season 1902-03
Lancaster, being one of the fortunate clubs, joined the new 2nd Division, where they would stay for the next three seasons. In the first season in this division, (1902-03
), they finished 11th out of 18 clubs.
In the following two seasons the club managed a mid-table position of 13th out of 18 and a lowly position of 12th out of 14 in 1903-04
and 1904-05
respectively.
Lancaster dropped out of the league after the end of the season 1904-05
season.
In each of the four seasons, comparing with the results of its near neighbours, Lancaster finished below Millom and Barrow and above Morecambe in every season..
100 years later the two clubs Morecambe (being represented by Heysham Atoms ARLFC) and Lancaster agreed to play a centenary commemorative match, the winner would be presented with the “Morecambe Bay State of Origin Trophy”.
And so on Tuesday 11 May 2004, at Lancaster City AFC’s Giant Axe Stadium, Morecambe (playing in the traditional black and white hoops) beat Lancaster (in Red and white hoops) 24-15.
In 1905 the newly formed Lancaster Athletic FC played their first two matches at this stadium before moving to the Giant Axe Stadium
RL = Single Division; Pl = Games Played: W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lose; PF = Points For; PA = Points Against; Diff = Points Difference (+ or -); Pts = League Points
% Pts = A percentage system was used to determine league positions due to clubs playing varying number of fixtures and against different opponents
League points: for win = 2; for draw = 1; for loss = 0.
The club was based in Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
(population approximately 46,000), a city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
and the county town
County town
A county town is a county's administrative centre in the United Kingdom or Ireland. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
of 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...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The club first became members of the Northern Rugby Football Union (now Rugby Football League
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
) in 1897, and joined the (semi) professional ranks in the Lancashire Senior Competition in 1901-02
1901-02 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1901–02 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the seventh season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The top seven sides from both the Lancashire and the Yorkshire Senior 1900-01 competitions of the NRFU, resigned and merged into a new league in 1901-02, that was won by Broughton Rangers...
.
They played in the 2nd Division for the following 3 seasons.
At the end of season 1904-05
1904-05 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1904–05 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the tenth season of rugby league football.-Season summary:Oldham won their first Division One Championship whilst Warrington won the Challenge Cup. St...
the club left the league. The club folded (or as described in news article - was ‘dissolved’) shortly afterwards.
Only limited County League information is available for the first season (1901-02
1901-02 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1901–02 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the seventh season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The top seven sides from both the Lancashire and the Yorkshire Senior 1900-01 competitions of the NRFU, resigned and merged into a new league in 1901-02, that was won by Broughton Rangers...
).
Early Days
The original Lancaster RFC was formed in 1870.The club, along with Morecambe Bay neighbours Barrow, Ulverston and Millom
Millom RLFC
Millom RLFC is an amateur rugby league club based in the town of Millom in Cumbria. It is one of the oldest amateur rugby league club in the world, having been founded in 1873....
joined the Northern Union
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
in 1897, forming a 'North West Rugby League'. Around the turn of the century there were seven NU clubs in and around the city.
During the early years the club had two prominent players who gained international caps.
These were :-
1 “Gentleman” Jim Leytham
Jim Leytham
James "Jim" Leytham was an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1890s, 1900s and '10s who at representative level played for Great Britain, England, and Lancashire, and at club level for Lancaster, and Wigan, playing at , i.e...
, who joined Lancaster RFC in 1897,
and
2 - John Pinch
John Pinch (rugby)
John Pinch was a rugby union footballer of the 1890s who at representative level played for England, and at club level for Lancaster, playing in the Forwards, e.g. Front row, Lock, or Back row...
Northern Union
Lancaster joined the ranks of the (semi) professionals for the start of the 1901-021901-02 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1901–02 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the seventh season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The top seven sides from both the Lancashire and the Yorkshire Senior 1900-01 competitions of the NRFU, resigned and merged into a new league in 1901-02, that was won by Broughton Rangers...
season when they became members of the Northern Union
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
. During that season they played in the Lancashire Senior Competition finishing in 10th position out of 17
Only limited County League information is available for this season.
At the end of the 1901-02
1901-02 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1901–02 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the seventh season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The top seven sides from both the Lancashire and the Yorkshire Senior 1900-01 competitions of the NRFU, resigned and merged into a new league in 1901-02, that was won by Broughton Rangers...
season, the County Leagues elected 18 teams to join the new Division 2 (7 from Lancashire and 10 from Yorkshire and new member South Shields
South Shields (Rugby League)
South Shields was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in South Shields South Shields was a (semi) professional rugby league club.The club was based in South Shields South Shields was a (semi) professional rugby league club.The club was based in South Shields (known locally as just...
) with the existing second competition scrapped. This meant that teams were excluded from the senior competitions leaving them with several options :-
a) Join the new Lancashire League or the Lancashire Combination (reserve grade)
b) Join a new Yorkshire Senior League
c) reverting to amateur status within the Northern Union
d) revert back to rugby union
e) turn to Association Football, which many clubs did
f) fold
In season 1902-03
1902-03 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1902–03 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the eighth season of rugby league football.-Season summary:League Champions: HalifaxChallenge Cup Winners: Halifax 2nd Division Champions: Keighley...
Lancaster, being one of the fortunate clubs, joined the new 2nd Division, where they would stay for the next three seasons. In the first season in this division, (1902-03
1902-03 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1902–03 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the eighth season of rugby league football.-Season summary:League Champions: HalifaxChallenge Cup Winners: Halifax 2nd Division Champions: Keighley...
), they finished 11th out of 18 clubs.
In the following two seasons the club managed a mid-table position of 13th out of 18 and a lowly position of 12th out of 14 in 1903-04
1903-04 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1903–04 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the ninth season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The League Champions were Bradford and the Challenge Cup Winners were Halifax....
and 1904-05
1904-05 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1904–05 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the tenth season of rugby league football.-Season summary:Oldham won their first Division One Championship whilst Warrington won the Challenge Cup. St...
respectively.
Lancaster dropped out of the league after the end of the season 1904-05
1904-05 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1904–05 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the tenth season of rugby league football.-Season summary:Oldham won their first Division One Championship whilst Warrington won the Challenge Cup. St...
season.
In each of the four seasons, comparing with the results of its near neighbours, Lancaster finished below Millom and Barrow and above Morecambe in every season..
Centenary Match
In 1904, Morecambe and Lancaster, very close neighbours, were drawn against each other in the first round of the Rugby League Challenge Cup.100 years later the two clubs Morecambe (being represented by Heysham Atoms ARLFC) and Lancaster agreed to play a centenary commemorative match, the winner would be presented with the “Morecambe Bay State of Origin Trophy”.
And so on Tuesday 11 May 2004, at Lancaster City AFC’s Giant Axe Stadium, Morecambe (playing in the traditional black and white hoops) beat Lancaster (in Red and white hoops) 24-15.
Stadium
Lancaster played at Quay Meadow, which was located behind the buildings on St Georges QuayIn 1905 the newly formed Lancaster Athletic FC played their first two matches at this stadium before moving to the Giant Axe Stadium
Club League Record
The League positions for Lancaster for the 3 years in which they played (semi) professional Rugby League are given in the following table :-| Season | Competition | Pos | Team Name | Pl | W | D | L | PW | PA | Diff | Pts | % Pts | No of teams in league | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901-02 1901-02 Northern Rugby Football Union season The 1901–02 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the seventh season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The top seven sides from both the Lancashire and the Yorkshire Senior 1900-01 competitions of the NRFU, resigned and merged into a new league in 1901-02, that was won by Broughton Rangers... |
Lancs Sen Comp | 10 | Lancaster | 17 | 13 | ||||||||||
| Only limited County League information is available for this season. | |||||||||||||||
| 1902-03 1902-03 Northern Rugby Football Union season The 1902–03 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the eighth season of rugby league football.-Season summary:League Champions: HalifaxChallenge Cup Winners: Halifax 2nd Division Champions: Keighley... |
2nd Div | 11 | Lancaster | 34 | 13 | 4 | 17 | 123 | 214 | -91 | 30 | 18 | |||
| 1903-04 1903-04 Northern Rugby Football Union season The 1903–04 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the ninth season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The League Champions were Bradford and the Challenge Cup Winners were Halifax.... |
2nd Div | 13 | Lancaster | 32 | 8 | 2 | 24 | 129 | 291 | -162 | 18 | 17 | |||
| 1904-05 1904-05 Northern Rugby Football Union season The 1904–05 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the tenth season of rugby league football.-Season summary:Oldham won their first Division One Championship whilst Warrington won the Challenge Cup. St... |
2nd Div | 12 | Lancaster | 26 | 8 | 1 | 17 | 106 | 257 | -151 | 17 | 14 | |||
RL = Single Division; Pl = Games Played: W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lose; PF = Points For; PA = Points Against; Diff = Points Difference (+ or -); Pts = League Points
% Pts = A percentage system was used to determine league positions due to clubs playing varying number of fixtures and against different opponents
League points: for win = 2; for draw = 1; for loss = 0.
Several fixtures & results
The following are just a few of Lancaster fixtures during the three seasons (and other times) in which they played (semi) professional Rugby League| Season | Date | Competition | Opponent | Venue | H/A | Result | Score | Att | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1898-99 | Sat 15-10-1898 | Friendly | St Helens | Quay Meadows | H | Won | 8-2 | |||
| 1899-00 | Sat 23-09-1899 | Friendly | St Helens | Knowsley Road Knowsley Road Knowsley Road was a stadium located in Eccleston, St Helens, Merseyside. It was the home of St Helens RLFC from 1890 until its closure in 2010. St Helens Town FC played their home fixtures at Knowsley Road from 2002 until 2010. For a period, the venue also hosted Liverpool FC Reserves... |
A | Lost | 3-17 | |||
| 1899-00 | Sat 14-04-1900 | Friendly | St Helens | Quay Meadows | H | Lost | 8-15 | |||
| 1901-02 | Sat 14-09-1901 | Lancs Sen Comp | St Helens | Knowsley Road Knowsley Road Knowsley Road was a stadium located in Eccleston, St Helens, Merseyside. It was the home of St Helens RLFC from 1890 until its closure in 2010. St Helens Town FC played their home fixtures at Knowsley Road from 2002 until 2010. For a period, the venue also hosted Liverpool FC Reserves... |
A | Lost | 0-4 | |||
| 1901-02 | Sat 28-09-1901 | Lancs Sen Comp | Wigan Wigan Warriors Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011.... |
Springfield Park Springfield Park (Wigan) Springfield Park was a multi-purpose stadium in Wigan, England. It was the home ground of Wigan Athletic F.C. until the club moved to the new JJB Stadium after the 1999 season. At its largest, the stadium held 40,000... |
A | Lost | 0-11 | 3 | ||
| 1901-02 | Sat 26-10-1901 | Lancs Sen Comp | St Helens | Quay Meadows | H | Won | 17-4 | |||
| 1901-02 | Sat 23-11-1901 | Lancs Sen Comp | Wigan Wigan Warriors Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011.... |
Quay Meadows | H | Lost | 2-5 | |||
| 1901-02 | 14-12-1901 | Lancs Sen Comp | Widnes Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward... |
Lowerhouse Lane Halton Stadium The Stobart Stadium Halton is a rugby league stadium in Widnes, England. The Widnes Vikings play their home games there as do Everton Reserves... |
A | Lost | 5-29 | 0 | 2 | |
| 1901-02 | 09-04-1902 | Lancs Sen Comp | Widnes Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward... |
Quay Meadows | H | Lost | 0-5 | 0 | ||
| 1903-04 | Sat 26-12-1903 | L OBJ | St Helens | Quay Meadows | H | Won | 10-3 | |||
| 1903-04 | Sat 12-03-1904 | CC R1 | Morecambe Morecambe (Rugby League) Morecambe was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Morecambe , a resort town within the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. Together with adjoining small port of Heysham the population is approx. 51,000.... |
Quay Meadows | H | Draw | 0-0 | 4 | < ref name=TotalRLMisc/> | |
| 1903-04 | Wed 16-03-1904 | CC R1 Replay | Morecambe Morecambe (Rugby League) Morecambe was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Morecambe , a resort town within the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. Together with adjoining small port of Heysham the population is approx. 51,000.... |
Moss Lane | A | Won | 13-4 | 4 | ||
| 1903-04 | Sat 19-03-1904 | CC R2 | Keighley Keighley Cougars Keighley Cougars are a professional rugby league club from Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. As of 2012 they will play in Co-operative Championship having won the Co-operative Championship 1 play off final 32-12 against Workington... |
Quay Meadows | H | Lost | 0-8 | |||
| 1903-04 | Wed 13-04-1904 | 2nd Div | St Helens | Quay Meadows | H | Lost | 2-12 | |||
| 1903-04 | Sat 23-04-1904 | 2nd Div | St Helens | Knowsley Road Knowsley Road Knowsley Road was a stadium located in Eccleston, St Helens, Merseyside. It was the home of St Helens RLFC from 1890 until its closure in 2010. St Helens Town FC played their home fixtures at Knowsley Road from 2002 until 2010. For a period, the venue also hosted Liverpool FC Reserves... |
A | Lost | 2-35 |
See also
British rugby league systemBritish rugby league system
The British rugby league system is based on four separate structures: the professional leagues administered by the Rugby Football League, the reserve leagues, the amateur leagues administered by British Amateur Rugby League Association and the Rugby League Conference.There is no system of automatic...
Cumberland League
Cumberland League
The Cumberland League is a series of rugby league divisions in the traditional county of Cumberland.The league is run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association . Teams from the Cumberland league can apply for election to the National Conference League if they meet minimum...
Rugby league county leagues
Rugby league county leagues
The Yorkshire League and the Lancashire League formed two sections of the Rugby Football League Championship for much of its history. Initially, the 22 clubs that broke away in 1895 played in one combined league, however the following season saw the addition of many clubs, and the League was split...
1901-02 Northern Rugby Football Union season
1901-02 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1901–02 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the seventh season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The top seven sides from both the Lancashire and the Yorkshire Senior 1900-01 competitions of the NRFU, resigned and merged into a new league in 1901-02, that was won by Broughton Rangers...
1902-03 Northern Rugby Football Union season
1902-03 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1902–03 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the eighth season of rugby league football.-Season summary:League Champions: HalifaxChallenge Cup Winners: Halifax 2nd Division Champions: Keighley...
1903-04 Northern Rugby Football Union season
1903-04 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1903–04 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the ninth season of rugby league football.-Season summary:The League Champions were Bradford and the Challenge Cup Winners were Halifax....
1904-05 Northern Rugby Football Union season
1904-05 Northern Rugby Football Union season
The 1904–05 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the tenth season of rugby league football.-Season summary:Oldham won their first Division One Championship whilst Warrington won the Challenge Cup. St...
Samuel "Sam" Houghton
Samuel Houghton
Samuel "Sam" Houghton was a rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1890s who at representative level played for England, and Cheshire, and at club level for Runcorn, and Birkenhead Wanderers, playing at Fullback, i.e. number 15...
John Pinch
John Pinch (rugby)
John Pinch was a rugby union footballer of the 1890s who at representative level played for England, and at club level for Lancaster, playing in the Forwards, e.g. Front row, Lock, or Back row...
List of defunct rugby league clubs
External links
- 1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season at wigan.rlfans.com
- Hull&Proud Fixtures & Results 1896/1897
- Widnes Vikings - One team, one passion Season In Review - 1896-97
- Saints Heritage Society
- Folly Field
- Preview of centenary match
- Heysham Atoms ARLFC
- Jim Lytham
- ”Gentleman” Jim LaythamJim LeythamJames "Jim" Leytham was an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1890s, 1900s and '10s who at representative level played for Great Britain, England, and Lancashire, and at club level for Lancaster, and Wigan, playing at , i.e...
- John PinchJohn Pinch (rugby)John Pinch was a rugby union footballer of the 1890s who at representative level played for England, and at club level for Lancaster, playing in the Forwards, e.g. Front row, Lock, or Back row...