Bolton R.U.F.C

Bolton R.U.F.C
Full name Bolton Rugby Union Football Club
Founded 1872
Location Bolton, England
Ground(s) Avenue Street
Chairman Mark Brocklehurst
Coach(es) Nick Holmes
Captain(s) Les Towler
League(s) North_1_West
2013–2014 North Lancs & Cumbria 2nd (promoted)
Official website
www.boltonrugby.co.uk

Bolton RUFC are an amateur rugby union team who play in the North 1 West league of the English rugby union league system.

History

Bolton RUFC was first formed in 1872 and was first listed in the "Football Annual" of 1874.

It reads: "Bolton formed 1872, has 100 members, ground at Burnden which is 1 mile from Bolton station. The dressing rooms are on the ground and it plays Rugby Football. The Secretary or Manager is F H Kevan of 12 Acresfield, Bolton. The colours are Blue jerseys, socks and cap, white knickerbockers. Result of matches last season :- Won 3, Lost 3, Drew 1. Result of goals Won 5, Lost 7."

Between 1919 and 1939, Bolton had a club that boasted International players, and even the former Bolton MP Arthur Holt played for them, but World War II finally saw the demise of the game in Bolton. The start of the modern era was due to several former pupils of Hayward School, who formed a team to play on Saturdays calling themselves the 'Old Haywardians'.

Hayward School colours were used as the basis of the maroon and white hooped shirts, and the start of a second team brought the need for the more normal club type structure, with fund raising, and social activities. A brief look at the Accounts of 1969 indicated that the club had £36 and 19 shillings in the Bank.

In 1971 the club moved to a base at Bolton Wyresdale sports club, close to their council rented pitches at New House Farm. Here the club began to flourish, with up to 4 teams being put out, and good results, against a steadily improving fixture list.

By the early 1980s, with the help of Bolton Council a new ground site at Avenue Street was coming into consideration. Slowly the various elements came together and building started on 5 May 1988. Saturday 3 September 1988 saw the first competitive game played at the new purpose built facilities versus Greater Manchester Fire Service. The new club house was officially opened on Sunday 4 September 1988, with a second game versus a president's invitational XV.

Today, Bolton RUFC operate 4 senior men's teams, a large junior/mini section and support a number of local initiatives.

Club Honours

Playing Leagues

First Team - RFU North 1 West

Second Team - North West Leagues, Standish Media Services Division 1 (promoted from County Courier Services Division 2 North)

Third Team - North West Leagues, Rogerson HomeServe+ Division 4 North

Fourth Team - North West Leagues, Raging Bull Division 5 North


2013–2014 Results

First Team

Second Team

Third Team - 5th Place

Fourth Team - 5th Place


2012–2013 Results

First Team - 2nd place, earning promotion following a play-off game against Cumbrian side Silloth Tigers.

Second Team - 3rd place

Third Team - 7th place

Fourth Team - 4th place and cup runners up

Playing Strip

According to local records, Bolton Rugby Club first played in 'blue jerseys, socks and cap, white knickerbockers'. From the 1960s, Bolton have played in red and white hooped shirts, black shorts and variants of red/black/white hooped or plain red socks. Bolton's away colours are black and white hoops.

Rugby League

In 2011 Bolton RUFC experimented by venturing into the world of summer Rugby League during the Rugby Union off season. Bolton entered a mixed senior squad in the North West Merit League operated by the North West Rugby League www.northwestrl.co.uk.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, March 27, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.