History 1 of 3

1. History 1


Updated Article for Miller Homes League webpage - Jan 2010

Wirral RFC – Founded 1936

Wirral RFC is based at the Memorial Ground on the Wirral between Bromborough and Neston. It boasts 4 senior teams playing in South Lancs Cheshire 1 and the Miller Homes leagues along with a Vets team who play the odd game. It is supported by a very large Minis & Junior section with all ages catered for from U7’s up to Senior Colts – some 300 plus players.

History
The Club was founded in 1936 with Old Boy’s from Wirral Grammar School the first game was against the School, which the School won 11 points to 9. Before the war the School rugby teams played in maroon shirts with grey collars and the founder members of Old Wirralians’ decided on the now famous maroon and white hoops to cement their old ties with the School.

The Club prospered quickly with a second team the following season but the outbreak of war saw most players joining the Forces. However, with the help of the School and under the guidance of the legendary 'Dippy Howarth’ we kept going right through the war, the only Old Boys side in the area to do so.
After the war the Club leased ground facilities at the old Hooton Park Golf Club and in 1968 the Old Wirralians’ Association Memorial Ground was opened at Clatterbridge by our most famous rugby Old Boy, Air Commodore R. H. G. Weighill. Since that date the Club has continued to progress with six senior sides, an under-21‘s, Colts’ and Junior Colts’ sides and a flourishing Mini Rugby Section.

All the achievements made possible by the early Wirralians have been most ably carried on year in and year out by their successors and perhaps one of the greatest gifts inherited from our School rugby playing days is that players came from School and stayed to administer the Club when their playing days were over. Our immediate Past President for 15 years, Keith Nichol, was a member of the very first side in 1936 and a signatory on the famous ball on display at School.

Current & Previous Honours
The club has many notable victories over many years the most recent one in the 2008-2009 season with the 1st XV wining the Cheshire Vase beating Chester 20-10 in a thrilling final.
Other achievements have been the Junior Colts winning the Halbro Colts league in 2008, the 1st XV gaining promotion in 2002 and the 1st XV winning the North West Division 2 league in 1986.
Last season also saw wins for the Junior Colts and U13’s in the international rugby tournament held at Arras RUFC in Northern France.
The current 1st XV are sitting on top of the South Lancs Cheshire 1 league after 15 weeks of the season and our 2nd XV are sitting 5th in the Miller Homes Division 2 league and the 3rd XV are in 8th position in the Miller Homes Division 3 West league.
The 4th XV are currently playing in the Merseyside Merit table, sitting in 4th place. In the 2008-09 season they won the league with three games to spare.

The 2nd XV last season reached the Halbro Cup Final losing to a far stronger Fylde team. In what were ideal conditions in May at Birkenhead Park the team played some expansive rugby. Fylde ran out winners 14-32.
They were also voted the Halbro Team of the Year in the 2008-2009 season.

Off Field Events
The club holds many functions throughout the year but the ones that attract old and new members alike are the Past Players Lunch, held each Spring and the Club Dinner held every May.

Last year the Past Players lunch attracted over 90 past players who enjoyed a great lunch and friendship before watching the 1st XV beat local rivals Hoylake 48-7 in a fantastic game of rugby with some great tries scored by the Wirral players.

In April of this year the club are holding a Festival of Entertainment starting with a Wirral Grammar School Show Case on the 15th April and culminating with the Cheshire Junior and Plate Finals Day on Sunday 25th April. Other events that will held during this period are a Sportsman’s Dinner; a Black Tie Ball; The Club Dinner and a Beer Festival.

The club also received its RFU Seal of Approval and Clubmark accreditation. On the 26th September 2009, Peter Rhodes, President of Cheshire RFU presented the club with the certificates that indicate that we have achieved the RFU Seal of Approval and Sport England Clubmark accreditation.

The club continues to have strong links with Wirral Grammar School along with other local schools, promoting a strong ethos of Community Rugby across the Wirral in what is a friendly, family oriented club. Additionally, Wirral caters for all levels of senior rugby from the fiercely competitive 1st XV to the social rugby of the 4th XV and you can be assured of a friendly welcome at the Memorial Ground, whether you are a player, supporter, or official.