Burnley Rugby Club
Encyclopedia
Burnley Rugby Club is a rugby union
club that currently plays in the North Lancs 1 league (the 8th tier of the English rugby union system
). The club was founded in 1926 as Calder Vale Rugby Club but the 2002 - 03 season saw the name of 75 years changed to help raise Burnley's rugby profile locally and beyond. The club plays from Holden Road, the site of Belvedere and Calder Vale Sports Club in the Reedley area of Burnley
. The club coach is former Sale Sharks
player Getty Schinkel.
The club's motto is "Nil Nisi Optimum Sufficiet" (which the true Burnleyite would translate as: "Nowt But Best Will Do").
Calder Vale Rugby Club played their first match against a Blackburn XV on Saturday November 29, 1926 at Cockshot Farm, Simonstone. It was won 19 - 3. [5 tries and a drop goal worth 4 points]
In 1985, the first experimental RFU league structure -the Girobank League- was set up in the North West of England and Calder Vale was involved.
In 2006 a memorable tour took place to China with matches played in Hong Kong and Ghanzou. Included in this trip was an extra event in the shape of a typhoon!
In the 2007 - 08 season Burnley won the league play-off against Netherall 20 - 0 and promotion was won to the North Lancs/Cumbria league.
The start of the 2008 - 09 season saw the award of the RFU's Seal of Approval to the Club which was presented at a pre-match lunch by Burnley's then M.P. Kitty Ussher
.
Also in 2008, the club was shocked to learn of the untimely death of Fred Picton-Turbervill at his home in South Africa
. He captained 1st XV from 1984 to 1986 and played for the club until 1992.
Despite finishing last in the North Lancs/Cumbria league in 2009 Burnley were not relegated.
Burnley currently field three senior sides, with the 1st XV currently competing in the North Lancs 1 league, and the 2nd and 3rd XVs playing in the Salford University League, along with a thriving junior section with teams at most age groups from under 7s right through to under 16s. The club keeps strong community ties and works with local schools, colleges and community groups.
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...
club that currently plays in the North Lancs 1 league (the 8th tier of the English rugby union system
English rugby union system
England has a comprehensive league structure in place, including national fully professional leagues to amateur regional leagues.The format and competitiveness of the leagues have changed greatly since their beginnings in 1987...
). The club was founded in 1926 as Calder Vale Rugby Club but the 2002 - 03 season saw the name of 75 years changed to help raise Burnley's rugby profile locally and beyond. The club plays from Holden Road, the site of Belvedere and Calder Vale Sports Club in the Reedley area of Burnley
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
. The club coach is former Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
player Getty Schinkel.
The club's motto is "Nil Nisi Optimum Sufficiet" (which the true Burnleyite would translate as: "Nowt But Best Will Do").
Early
There is a record of a rugby club in Burnley in 1880, the club named Burnley Rovers one of the earliest clubs in the country, later to become Burnley Football Club in 1882Calder Vale Rugby Club played their first match against a Blackburn XV on Saturday November 29, 1926 at Cockshot Farm, Simonstone. It was won 19 - 3. [5 tries and a drop goal worth 4 points]
In 1985, the first experimental RFU league structure -the Girobank League- was set up in the North West of England and Calder Vale was involved.
Recent
Burnley were Team of the Month for the October 2002 Rugby World Magazine after a series of victories over Heaton Moor, Lytham and Carnforth.In 2006 a memorable tour took place to China with matches played in Hong Kong and Ghanzou. Included in this trip was an extra event in the shape of a typhoon!
In the 2007 - 08 season Burnley won the league play-off against Netherall 20 - 0 and promotion was won to the North Lancs/Cumbria league.
The start of the 2008 - 09 season saw the award of the RFU's Seal of Approval to the Club which was presented at a pre-match lunch by Burnley's then M.P. Kitty Ussher
Kitty Ussher
Katharine Anne "Kitty" Ussher is a British economist and former Labour Party politician.After training as an economist, she was elected Member of Parliament for Burnley from 2005 until 2010, succeeding Peter Pike. Ussher formerly held the position of Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury in Gordon...
.
Also in 2008, the club was shocked to learn of the untimely death of Fred Picton-Turbervill at his home in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He captained 1st XV from 1984 to 1986 and played for the club until 1992.
Despite finishing last in the North Lancs/Cumbria league in 2009 Burnley were not relegated.
Burnley currently field three senior sides, with the 1st XV currently competing in the North Lancs 1 league, and the 2nd and 3rd XVs playing in the Salford University League, along with a thriving junior section with teams at most age groups from under 7s right through to under 16s. The club keeps strong community ties and works with local schools, colleges and community groups.
| Season | League | Finish position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05-06 | North Lancs 1 | 5th/11 | 24 |
| 06-07 | North Lancs 1 | 7th/12 | 20 |
| 07-08 | North Lancs 1 | 2nd/12 | 36 |
| 08-09 | North Lancs / Cumbria | 12th/12 | 6 |
| 09-10 | North Lancs / Cumbria | 11th/12 | 4 |