|
Marlborough RFC - History
|
|
The history of rugby at Marlborough has been a chequered one since the game was first played there in the 19th century, but with the re-forming in 1967 of an organised setup known officially as the Marlborough Rugby Union Football Club, the sport has been established on firm and permanent footing in the town. The revived club was started as a result of the enthusiasm of Bill Bingham and Martin Trigg, who were determined to see rugby played again on the Common after the demise in 1938. The team was made up of ex-pupils and masters of the schools of Marlborough. There were also several ex-servicemen playing for the team in that first season. During 1966 the first match was played between the club and the Sundowners, the opposition being made up from the patrons of the Sun Inn. This match was designed to be a prelude to the 1967 season and sought to generate support for rugby in the town. Following the match a fund raising event of cheese and wine was held in the Town Hall. The revived club beat the Sundowners by 3pts-nil, the victory resulting from a penalty goal in front of the posts after scrum-half Roger Swanton fed a crooked ball in the scrum. During 1967 the club played six fixtures only. In 1968-69 a full fixture list was established catering for two teams. Club colours were amber shirts and black shorts, recently changed to black and amber. The original base was the Sun Inn, followed by the Crosskeys, then the Crown, the cricket pavilion on Elcot Lane and finally its present home on the Common. In November 1990 the club was given permission to build a clubhouse next to the Common so the teams can play, change and entertain all in one place. It has taken 25 years to persuade the Councils of the need for such an amenity. Raising sufficient funds for such a project was the major problem. However hard the club tried to raise funds, the project appeared quite beyond their capability. The advent of the Lottery funding changed the whole vision. The club was able to accumulate £50,000 of it's own funds which was used to gain the correct professional advice to obtain a grant from the Lottery and the Foundation for Sports & Arts. Kennet District Council awarded the Club a grant in support of the other grants of £60,000 which was the final figure necessary for the club to place the contract for building the new clubhouse on the Common. Chris West-Oram of Associated Building Consultants was appointed Project Manager and M2M Builders won the contract to build the Clubhouse. Building commenced in July 1999 and the club gained occupation in January 2000. The new clubhouse was formally opened by the Immediate Past President of the Rugby Union, Peter Trunkfield in April 2000. Previous to 1967 a small rugby club was established in the 1930s and played up to the start of the Second World War. Their base then was also the Sun Inn. They played on a field at the top of Savernake Hill and showered behind the Inn. The team then was mainly made up of masters and pupils of Marlborough College. The jerseys they wore were royal blue. In 1933-34 the team moved to play on the Common where it still hosts its matches today. Marlborough was originally represented in the rugby world as early as 1867. The title in those days was the Marlborough Nomads and in fact the team is still nomadic in that it has to move between sites in order to play. The Nomads originated at the local Public School, and was a founder member of the English Rugby Union. On January 26, 1871, 32 people represented 21 clubs at the Old Pall Mall Restaurant in London, and formed the English Rugby Union, whose headquarters is now at Twickenham. Marlborough Nomads were one of those founder clubs. The name Nomads came from the fact that they had no actual base and played most of their games in London. In 1911 Roslyn Park RFC invited the Old Boys of Marlborough to join them so the Marlborough Club went out of existence. Today the club plays in Dorset & Wiltshire 2 North and is in the process of re-establishing a 2nd XV. The club also has a thriving junior section that is increasing in size every season. Marlborough Rugby Club has enjoyed a long connection with the local community and has undoubtedly been an asset to the town. |