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History
A Very Brief History of Bolton Rugby Union Football Club
BRUFC was first formed in 1872 (ie 7 years before Bolton Wanderers) 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."
Bolton Rugby Union Football Club
A Brief History
Article by R D Pemberton
Looking back at the history of Bolton R.U.F.C it could be covered by the old saying “All life is there” as the efforts of a dedicated band of enthusiasts fought to give the game of Rugby to a sometimes unwilling Bolton.
In the very early years, between the wars, Bolton had a club that boasted International players, and even the former Bolton MP Arthur Holt played for them, but World War Two finally saw the demise of the game in Bolton.
The start of the modern era was due to the enterprise of some former pupils of Hayward School, who, as ex-scouts, formed a team to play on Saturdays, calling themselves “Old Haywardians”. This was now the late 60’s, with one team, against usually lower sides of any club that would play them, and using the Morris Dancers pub as a home. The lack of a player base brought lots of people with a wide variety of skills and abilities to the fledgling club, and results, while not spectacular were encouraging. The 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.
The move to the Bolton Wyresdale sports club in 1971 was another sound venture for the growing club, taking it to shared premises, with a well used bar, and close to the council rented pitches at New House Farm. Here under the leadership of the uncompromising, but skilful Pat Murphy the club began to flourish, with sometimes 4 sides being put out, and good results, against a steadily improving fixture list. Many of the present day club stalwarts joined at this time, giving another impetus to rugby in Bolton.
The move away from Bolton Wyresdale was not taken lightly. Bolton Council were helpful in indicating a possible new site for a ground, coupled with the “interesting” state of the New House Farm pitches, caused lots of debate. None of the people who gathered upstairs at the Queen Anne at Little Lever in June 1974 will forget the almost Churchillian remarks of Chairman Pete Kenyon urging the club forward, to its own facilities. The unanimous decision to form Bolton R.U.F.C. did not get progress in motion immediately, but the club set about doing the spade-work of planning, fund raising, and most of all playing rugby. The move to the Volunteer at Darcy Lever was another base to build from. The state of the pitches at Newhouse were never far away in conversation, as the club fought their way into the fixture lists of existing clubs, with open exciting rugby, hard but fair, and a good after match atmosphere.
By the early 80’s the new ground site at Avenue St was coming into consideration, and Chairman Dave Pepper led the small group that drew up the plans, and looked at the costs for the actual clubhouse. Slowly the various elements came together. The negotiation with the breweries, the endless “book sales”, sponsored events and disco’s eventually just about covered the initial cost, and building started on the 5th May 1988. Trouble with the pitches caused much heartache early on, but as the improvements to the ground and enlargement ten years on to the clubhouse have kept the club up to standard. Now with the advent of the Lottery, a further extension with more changing rooms is near fruition the prospects are getting better for Bolton.
13/Jan/01
Bolton Rugby Union Football Club
Recent History
Article by L J Towler
When I joined Bolton RUFC in July 1977, my first pre-season training session took place on the grassy Rugby pitches of New House Farm. From there we adjourned to the Queen Anne in Little Lever where I was introduced to the likes of ‘Middy’ and ‘Blez’ – a couple of likeable rogues. I was even interviewed for the Club newsletter – The Lion Hunt – because I could ‘play a bit’. It was all downhill from there ! ! !
New House Farm – some of the best council pitches in Bolton. Only because there was grass on them all year round. Here you could find the best top quality Lancashire mud, ankle deep and it was only the middle of October ! And then I went on a 3-handed pub crawl to raise funds, well, I’m sorry Middy and Blez, but I would have undone the knot (can’t say any more).
Fund-raising, for what ? From the mid-70’s there had been whisperings and then open talk of pitches being available on land reclaimed from an old mill site at Mortfield. Eventually plans were drawn, and Sunday mornings were spent stone-picking on the barren mud-flats at Avenue Street. Where’s all the grass ? We dreamed that one day this bleak (as it always was on Sunday mornings) area would one day, somehow, be transformed from a giant mud puddle to a rugby pitch.
Legal matters dragged on and on, as they do, and for a long time it looked as if the dream would remain so for a very long time. Book sales, sponsored bike rides, bottle draws – the money had to be raised somehow.
Then in early June 1988 at the AGM, the Chairman announces:
The First Team has won the League, undefeated (cheers and more cheers)
The deal is done, the documents are signed, work commences in a fortnight (deadly hush)
This is the quickest AGM on record
Everyone just wanted to talk about what, how, when, the enthusiasm was infectious . . .
Later that summer, the builders presented the club with an empty shell.
Members and non-members plumbed, wired, plastered, drank the free beer and got plastered, hammered, sawed and painted.
On 1st September, the Thursday before the first game of the season it suddenly occurred to us that maybe we should put the rugby posts up !
Unfortunately the steel tubing still had to be welded, painted and erected.
Have you ever tried to put eight 44 foot posts into holes in the ground working, with the only illumination being from car headlights ?
Saturday, 3rd September 1988, a final mow of the lines and the white lines are painted. A victory for the 1stXV playing against GM Fire Service.
Sunday 9th October 1988, the Official opening
The 1st XV beats the Presidents Invitation XV (made up of captains of opposition teams) and Mike Slemen (Liverpool and England) declares the Club open for business.
It all seemed worthwhile now and this was just the beginning.
1989 – Major drainage works had to be undertaken as the pitches reverted to mud.
1995 – The Clubhouse is extended by another 80%
Existing Club room is doubled in size
Two double changing rooms are added
Extra showers and storage areas added
10 Years on
Junior Rugby
- not all age groups yet, but we have six teams and over 100 Juniors
- 6 boys have represented Lancashire
Senior Rugby
- we have a floodlit training area
- third pitch added
- 4 teams most weekends
- 1 former player has played Premier Division rugby and represented England
Website
- opened for business November 1999
League Champions
- season 1999/2000, North Lancs One
The Clubhouse is also used by other community groups
- HQ of Bolton Sub Aqua Club
- HQ of Lancashire Wolverines American Football Team
- Weight Watchers
- Aerobics
- 2 x Rounders Teams
- Local Schools
- Bolton Metro Leisure Services
19th Jan 2001
Bolton Rugby Union Football Club
The 21st Century
Ladies Rugby
- started January 2000
Lottery Bid submitted November 2000
- for Clubhouse extension, a players lounge, additional changing facilities and weights room
Extra floodlights January 2001
- 2 extra columns
2002 - 2 storey extension incorporating 2 self-contained changing room (with showers & WC), Refs room, Gym/Weights room, additional beer cellar storage, Members lounge, extended kitchen, access Lift
2003 - Club appoints full-time Rugby Development Officer (Sportsmatch)
2003 - 3rd team enters NW Intermediate Leagues
2004 - Womens Team enters League for first time
2004 - 2nd and 4th team enter NW Intermediate Leagues
2004/05 season - Junior section grows to 180+
2005 - RFU Seal of Approval granted
2005 - Inaugural season of Bolton RUFC Emerging Schools Competition
10/Oct/2005
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