Sandbach RUFC
| Full name | Sandbach Rugby Union Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Bach | |
| Founded | 1936 (present club formed in 1956) | |
| Location | Sandbach, England | |
| Ground(s) | Bradwell Road | |
| Chairman | Robin Astles | |
| Coach(es) | Pete Allen, Scott Barrow | |
| League(s) | National League 3 Midlands | |
| 2013–14 | 10th | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
|
www | ||
Sandbach RUFC is a rugby union team based in the Cheshire town of Sandbach. It operates four Senior sides, Junior and Senior Colts and ten Mini/Junior teams.[1] The first XV plays in the fifth tier of the English league system — National League 3 Midlands. The second XV plays in the Bateman BMW Premier League with the third and fourth teams playing in the Raging Bull Division 3 South and Raging Bull Division 5 South respectively.
History
Sandbach RUFC, formally known as Old Sandbachians RUFC (after Sandbach School for Boys), was formed in 1936 but became defunct during World War II. The Club reformed in 1956 and used one of the Sandbach School's rugby pitches on which to play home games. Local premises near to the school playing fields were used as changing rooms and the Iron Grey, a local pub, was used as a base for after match hospitality. Old boys from Sandbach School were encouraged back to the game and the Club grew from strength to strength.
In 1960 the Club began admitting non-old boys and in May 1961 a piece of land on Middlewich Road which backed onto Sandbach School premises was purchased and the first Clubhouse was built. In the summer of 1980 Old Sandbachians moved from Middlewich Road to Bradwell Road where a new Clubhouse and pitches had been developed. By the start of season 1981–82 the Club had changed its name from Old Sandbachians to Sandbach Rugby Club.
Sandbach has a rich history of producing top quality players and over the past 20 years the Mini/Junior section has produced a steady stream of top flight players. In the spring of 2012, Premiership side, Sale Sharks featured five ex-Sandbach players in a Premiership game against Wasps.
In 2011, Sandbach became a CASC (Community Amateur Sports Club), reaffirming their principles of not paying players and staying true to their vision as a community based club. In 2012 the club celebrated winning the North 1 West league and with the ensuing promotion celebrated its first ever season of National League Rugby in 2012–13. Sandbach have managed to retain National League status for the past two seasons, narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day of the 2013-14 season with a bonus point victory over Longton.
In May 2014 it was announced by the club that Head Coach Simon Verbickas would leave the club to take a position at Caldy after 4 years at the club. Sandbach replaced Verbickas within weeks, with coaches Pete Allen and Scott Barrow installed as Joint Head Coaches at the club. [2]
Club Honours
- Midlands 3 West (North) champions: 2006-07
- J W Lees Cheshire Vase winners: 2007-08
- North Division 1 West champions: 2011-12
Notable former players
-
John Olver - Mark Cueto
- Will Cliff
- James Gaskell
- Tom Holmes
- Lee Imiolek
- Pete Sherratt
-
Graham McCallum - Duncan MacDonald