Broughton Park RUFC
Encyclopedia
Broughton Park RUFC, is one of the oldest rugby union
clubs in England and was established in 1882, just one year after the Lancashire County Rugby Union was founded and eleven years after the formation of the national Rugby Football Union
.
based rugby club, after Broughton RUFC
(1862) and Broughton Rangers
(1877). The club was overshadowed in terms of international representation by its two neighbours for the first decade of its existence. In 1919, just after the First World War, it started to make a mark on the national scene with A M Crook becoming both the Lancashire Union president and also being eleced to the presidency of the Rugby Football Union
. J E Kidd was elected Lancashire preseident in 1930 and it was not until the 1960s that Broughton once again came to the fore. The glory days of the club were in the 1960’s and 1970’s and at one point they fielded four internationals on the pitch. In this period they also had two more Lancashire presidents and in 1981 in John Burgess they had a preseident of the Rugby Football Union
. Broughton Park were never able to recapture the heights of this period, and in the professional era have not managed to reach the top flight.
, Manchester.
Presidents of the Rugby Football Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
clubs in England and was established in 1882, just one year after the Lancashire County Rugby Union was founded and eleven years after the formation of the national Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
.
History
Broughton Park was established in 1882 and despite this early beginning was the third BroughtonBroughton, Greater Manchester
Broughton is an inner city area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the east bank of the River Irwell and A56 road, in the northeastern part of the City of Salford, north-northwest of Manchester city centre and south of Prestwich. Broughton consists of Broughton Park, Higher...
based rugby club, after Broughton RUFC
Broughton RUFC
Broughton Rugby Union Football Club is a rugby union club based in Salford, Greater Manchester, which at the time of the club's founding in 1869 was in Lancashire, England. Its home venue is the Broughton Cricket & Rugby Club pitch on Yew Street...
(1862) and Broughton Rangers
Broughton Rangers
Broughton Rangers was a British rugby football, and subsequently a rugby league club. It was based in Broughton, Salford.-History:Broughton Rangers was founded in 1877 as Broughton and added Rangers for its second season...
(1877). The club was overshadowed in terms of international representation by its two neighbours for the first decade of its existence. In 1919, just after the First World War, it started to make a mark on the national scene with A M Crook becoming both the Lancashire Union president and also being eleced to the presidency of the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
. J E Kidd was elected Lancashire preseident in 1930 and it was not until the 1960s that Broughton once again came to the fore. The glory days of the club were in the 1960’s and 1970’s and at one point they fielded four internationals on the pitch. In this period they also had two more Lancashire presidents and in 1981 in John Burgess they had a preseident of the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
. Broughton Park were never able to recapture the heights of this period, and in the professional era have not managed to reach the top flight.
Ground
The club has had a number of different grounds in its time, mainly in the Salford/Prestwich areas, but also in the south of Manchester. Since 2004 its present new facility is at Hough End in Chorlton-cum-HardyChorlton-cum-Hardy
Chorlton-cum-Hardy is a suburban area of the city of Manchester, England. It is known locally as Chorlton. It is situated about four miles southwest of Manchester city centre. Pronunciation varies: and are both common....
, Manchester.
Representation
Originally the club had only one senior side, but now fields five senior sides and supported by one Colts (U19), four youth (U13-U17) and four mini (U8-U12) teams; a total involvement of some 320 players each week. Broughton Park R.F.C. is the City of Manchester's highest placed representative in the Rugby Union Leagues.International honours
- Tony NearyTony NearyAnthony "Tony" Neary is a former England international rugby union player. He represented England at U18's basketball as well as rugby. He attended De La Salle College, Salford and Liverpool University before qualifying as a solicitor....
, former England Captain, and British LionBritish and Irish LionsThe British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
. - Kevin O'BrienKevin O'Brien (rugby union)Kevin O'Brien is a former rugby union international who represented Ireland from 1980 to 1981.-Rugby union career:O'Brien played club rugby for Broughton Park and made his international debut on 19 January 1980 at Twickenham in the England vs Ireland match that was won by England 24-9. He later...
, Ireland, Barbarians and Rest of the World team. - Barry JacksonBarry Jackson (rugby union)Barry Jackson a rugby union international who represented England in 1970.-Family:Barry Jackson is married to Hilda Jackson, whom he has two children with; a boy and a girl. He also has six grandchildren, four girls and two boys. He is now living, content with his life, in Northern England where...
, Captain of Lancashire and England International. - Mike LeadbetterMike LeadbetterMike Leadbetter was a rugby union international who represented England in 1970.-Early life:Mike Leadbetter was born on July 25, 1946 in Southport. Mike was the elder of two brothers, and his family is one with deep roots in the Southport area, predating the construction of Southport itself...
, England International. - Tony BondTony Bond (rugby union)Tony Bond , is a former rugby union international who represented England from 1978 to 1982.-Rugby union career:Bond started his rugby career playing for Broughton Park and moved to Sale during the 1977-78 season...
, England Under 23 caps and full England International. - Bert 'HB' ToftHenry ToftHerbert Toft, known as H B Toft, Henry Toft or Bert Toft, was a rugby union international who represented England from 1936 to 1939. He also captained his country.-Early life:...
, England Captain, Lancashire. - Dan ScarbroughDan ScarbroughDan Scarbrough is a rugby union player who plays on the wing or full back for Racing Métro.He was National Division One leading try scorer with Wakefield for two seasons before moving to Leeds Tykes where he continued his try scoring exploits, finishing second in the 2001/2002 list of Zurich...
, England International
Other notable former players
- Alan Shuker, England Trialist, Barbarians and President of Lancashire RFU.
- Ron Greenall and Peter Barratt, England Trialists.
- John Burgess, England Coach and former President of the Rugby Football Union.
- Simon Verbickas, North of England U21 and England U21.
- Andy O'Grady, North of England U21.
- Jimmy Wilde, England Colts and a Barbarian
- Jim Sydall, in the North team which beat the All Blacks 20 points to 9 at Otley in November 1979.
- John Russell, England Colts
- Andy Taylor, England Colts
- Gary Jones, England Colts
- David Tait England Schools U17 International 2003.
- Jason Duffy England Schools U18 International 2003.
- Simon McIntyre England U18 International 2009.
- Bill Bevan and Glyn Parry, - co-founders of Manchester Schools Rugby Football Union
Presidents of Lancashire RFU
- 1919/23 A M Crook
- 1930/32 J E Kidd
- 1963/64 V G Funduklian
- 1970/71 A Shuker
- 1981/82 J Burgess
- 1985/86 W G Bevan
- 1986/87 Dr J E Ryner
Presidents of the Rugby Football UnionRugby Football UnionThe Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
- 1919/23 A M Crook
- 1981/82 J Burgess