Cobham RFC
Encyclopedia
Cobham Rugby Football Club is an English
rugby union
club, located in the town of Cobham, Surrey
, who play in the London Division of the RFU in the 2010-2011 Season. Cobham RFC is based at the Old Surbitonians Memorial Ground in Cobham
. Cobham RFC is affiliated to the English RFU
via the Surrey RFU
. The club was founded in 1930 by the first leavers of the Surbiton County Grammar
(now Esher College
)
, the grounds at Fairmile Lane, Cobham
, were purchased. After the school moved from its original site in Surbiton to Esher as a boys' grammar school, The Braemar Club was created to honour the old school building. The change of name of the school to Esher County Grammar School and more prominently the evolution of the old school into a mixed sixth form college had a significant and detrimental impact on the flow of young players into the Club, which was one of the driving forces behind the club being one of the first in the country to set up a Mini Rugby section, in the Golden Jubilee year of 1980. Mini Rugby spawned a sizeable and flourishing Youth section, which has produced national Champions at various levels. The club was placed in the new 1st division of the new Surrey Leagues when the RFU introduced League Rugby in 1987. Prior to this, the club had enjoyed much success, including a famous unbeaten season of 1963-64, and a Surrey Cup Final appearance in 1976. The club changed its name in 1989 to Cobham Rugby Football Club, to both identify more closely with the immediate surrounding area, and to signify the change to an open membership club. Recent years have seen the clubs' steady progress through the leagues, with four promotions in six seasons in the Leagues since 1987, and success elsewhere in winning the Surrey Shield in 1999. The 1sts now play in London South Division 2 following successive promotions under the stewardship of Head Coach, Billy Davison. Despite its name change, it still recognises its heritage and association with the old school.
Cobham Rugby have a strong heritage as a community sports club with one of the largest Minis sections (U5 to U12) in the country leading to a strong Youth section (U13-U18) and onto senior sides including a veterans side, the All Stars. During 2007 the club raised significant funds from within alongside a legacy from a former player, Peter Marsh, which was Sportsmatched allowing the rebuilding of the clubhouse with a two storey sports and social facility. It announced on 9 May 2011 the acquisition of rights to double the playing areas to six pitches by utilising the derilict golf driving range behind the local Fairmile Pub. The rugby Club share the facilities with Cobham Tennis, Cobham Lacrosse and Cobham Netball.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rugby 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...
club, located in the town of Cobham, Surrey
Cobham, Surrey
Cobham is a town in the Borough of Elmbridge in Surrey, England, about south-west of central London and north of Leatherhead. Elmbridge has been acclaimed by the Daily Mail as the best place to live in the UK, and Cobham is a prosperous part of the London commuter belt...
, who play in the London Division of the RFU in the 2010-2011 Season. Cobham RFC is based at the Old Surbitonians Memorial Ground in Cobham
Cobham, Surrey
Cobham is a town in the Borough of Elmbridge in Surrey, England, about south-west of central London and north of Leatherhead. Elmbridge has been acclaimed by the Daily Mail as the best place to live in the UK, and Cobham is a prosperous part of the London commuter belt...
. Cobham RFC is affiliated to the English RFU
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...
via the Surrey RFU
Surrey Rugby Football Union
The Surrey County Rugby Football Union is the union responsible for rugby union in the county of Surrey, England and is one of the constituent bodies of the national Rugby Football Union having been formed in 1879.-Early years of County representative team:...
. The club was founded in 1930 by the first leavers of the Surbiton County Grammar
Surbiton County Grammar
Surbiton County Grammar was a school in Surbiton on the borders of London and Surrey, that having been established in the 1920s, went through a number of changes, moving location and changing name. The school was attended by boys from the whole of north Surrey. It boasted a number of notable...
(now Esher College
Esher College
Esher College is a sixth form college located in Thames Ditton, Elmbridge, U.K-Admissions:It has just under 1700 students enrolled. Esher College is very close to Thames Ditton railway station on the northern edge of Surrey...
)
History
The club was formed in 1930 as Old Surbitonians RFC by the first group of school leavers from Surbiton County Grammar School for Boys. In 1949, as a memorial to those Old Boys who perished in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the grounds at Fairmile Lane, Cobham
Cobham
- Towns or districts :* Cobham, Kent, England* Cobham, Surrey, England* Cobham, Virginia , multiple places- Other place names :* Cobham Intermediate School* Cobham Sports and Social Club...
, were purchased. After the school moved from its original site in Surbiton to Esher as a boys' grammar school, The Braemar Club was created to honour the old school building. The change of name of the school to Esher County Grammar School and more prominently the evolution of the old school into a mixed sixth form college had a significant and detrimental impact on the flow of young players into the Club, which was one of the driving forces behind the club being one of the first in the country to set up a Mini Rugby section, in the Golden Jubilee year of 1980. Mini Rugby spawned a sizeable and flourishing Youth section, which has produced national Champions at various levels. The club was placed in the new 1st division of the new Surrey Leagues when the RFU introduced League Rugby in 1987. Prior to this, the club had enjoyed much success, including a famous unbeaten season of 1963-64, and a Surrey Cup Final appearance in 1976. The club changed its name in 1989 to Cobham Rugby Football Club, to both identify more closely with the immediate surrounding area, and to signify the change to an open membership club. Recent years have seen the clubs' steady progress through the leagues, with four promotions in six seasons in the Leagues since 1987, and success elsewhere in winning the Surrey Shield in 1999. The 1sts now play in London South Division 2 following successive promotions under the stewardship of Head Coach, Billy Davison. Despite its name change, it still recognises its heritage and association with the old school.
Cobham Rugby have a strong heritage as a community sports club with one of the largest Minis sections (U5 to U12) in the country leading to a strong Youth section (U13-U18) and onto senior sides including a veterans side, the All Stars. During 2007 the club raised significant funds from within alongside a legacy from a former player, Peter Marsh, which was Sportsmatched allowing the rebuilding of the clubhouse with a two storey sports and social facility. It announced on 9 May 2011 the acquisition of rights to double the playing areas to six pitches by utilising the derilict golf driving range behind the local Fairmile Pub. The rugby Club share the facilities with Cobham Tennis, Cobham Lacrosse and Cobham Netball.