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Cockermouth RUFC has a long and eventful history.
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Formed in 1878, Cockermouth beat Keswick by a try and a goal at Sandair in their first everhome match on 22nd November 1879. In 1885 the club left the cricket ground and played at Broomfield, then Lowfield and Townhead where a tent had to be erected for every match. From 1896 the club used the Ship Inn as its headquaters and in 1907 moved to Laithwaite where a grandstand was erected although the clubs headquaters was at the Railway Hotel.
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In 1911 Cockermouth were suspended by Cumberland RFU for alleged professionalism since when the club has chosen to remain as an amatuer club.
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From 1919 Cockermouth's players changed in the wash house at the Appletree Inn and later at the Tithe Barn before the building of a clubhouse and Grandstand at Laithwaite in 1953.
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Cumbria (Cumberland) Cup Winners - 1934, 1939, 1956, 1966, 1975, 1976.
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International Honours - G.R. Morgan, A.B.W. Risman & S. Holmes.
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1974/5 was the clubs most successful season to date, winning the County Cup, the Shield, the Shield League and the Under 21 Trophy.
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September 1st 1985 saw Cockermouth host Kirkby Lonsdale in the first ever English Rugby Union League match, with Gordon Salkeld scoring the first try, when the Rugby Union formed National and Regional Leagues, the precursors to what have now become the National and Premier Leagues.
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The Cumbria Cup Final of 1988 deserves special mention as the Cockermouth team fielded a father and two sons (John, Paul & Sean Cusack) and in the following season the club were promoted to North-West Division 1.
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In 1991 Cockermouth started Mini & Junior Rugby, an activity which continues today on Sunday mornings with over 180 young players from all age groups.
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Five Cockermouth players (P. Cusack, M. Lowther, N. McDowell, G. Atkinson & S. Holmes) all played for Cumbria and in the following season three players (P. Cusack, S. Cusack & P. Hancock) were in the Cumbria side that beat Somerset to become English County Champions.
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The present clubhouse was opened on 12th September 1999 on the site of Cockermouths' former Grammar School.
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Besides Rugby Union Grasmoor Sports Centre is also home to Cockermouth Company of Archers and Cockermouth Tennis Club. Our facilities are used by Cumbria Rugby Union and host County Finals and occasional student internationals as well as Cockermouth Rugby League and the Dance Academy. Cockermouth Football club and several over 35’s football teams use our football pitch. Throughout the year a wide variety of local clubs and organisations use the clubhouse for meetings, functions and training events and during the summer the grounds are used for various sporting activities. The clubhouse also hosts private functions.
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The complete story of the club is being researched by Jack Storey and will be available shortly.
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If you can provide any information or stories that might help, please contact Jack via the club.
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